Japanese glass artist Baku Takahashi teams up with Trueing to create colourful lamp designs
Switched-on lighting and uplifting objects from New York studio Trueing and Japanese glass artist Baku Takahashi
When the founders of the New York lighting studio Trueing visited Japan back in 2016, they stumbled upon an unexpected source of inspiration, spotting and falling for the sculptures of the glass artist Baku Takahashi. However, language barriers prevented Joshua Metersky and Aidan Bowman from uncovering Takahashi’s identity then and there. It was only back in the United States (and after a couple months of Instagram and internet research) that they managed to locate Takahashi. When they planned their next trip to Japan a couple of years later, they decided to get in touch.
‘We decided to reach out ahead of time, over a cold email, to see if Baku might be interested in discussing some kind of collaboration,’ Bowman recalls. ‘He responded positively and we made plans to visit him in Munakata, which is just a bit north of Fukuoka on Kyushu in southern Japan. Everything coalesced from there. We traded prototypes back and forth, discussed technical details and produced test pieces to make sure our concept would work.’
Following a year and a half of long-distance collaboration, ‘Howdy, Neighbor' is a new collection of lighting and objects that showcases the talents of both parties. An exploration into the many capabilities of glass, yet composed with a sense of humour and intimacy that subverts the medium, the collection is a humanistic array of editioned pieces, ranging from chandeliers to pendants and vases, that exude a bright and playful optimism – ideal for these times.
Colour plays a strong role in the collection, with both sides being highly specific with their choices. Metersky says, ‘Colour really links our two practices, and our reference points – while culturally different – are rooted in the same stylistic notions. Baku often cites manga culture (specifically Dragon Ball) and nature as sources of early inspiration. And I would say ours come out of similar or concurrent cultural waves, shaped by our own experiences. It’s not uncommon that we’d reference something like the bright, acidic hues of the early iMac, or the palette of vintage glass from the 1930s. So while we don’t share a language, there is this common desire to utilise colour vis-a-vis glass to tell a story and delight the viewer.’
Takahashi’s tactile, exquisitely proportioned forms are fused onto Trueing’s signature designs to bring out a new character from within. Takahashi fabricated his sculptures in his Munakata workshop, before shipping them to Trueing Studio in Long Island City in Queens, where the pieces were completed. United in the goal to create what Takahashi describes as something that is ‘fresh’ and previously unseen, the joint effort is as much about duality as it celebrates commonality.
‘Even though we both practise in glass, Baku's sculptures are rooted in the tradition of glass art, with clear evidence of the artist's tools and craft latent in the works,’ says Metersky. ‘Trueing's pieces originate from technical glasswork – adjacent, but different – and appear very perfect without giving up any indication of how they were made. However, the meeting point lies in the details. Glass is an incredibly technical medium and as Howdy, Neighbor came to life, it was clear that melding the works as a visual portmanteau would honour each of our backgrounds.’
INFORMATION
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Pei-Ru Keh is a former US Editor at Wallpaper*. Born and raised in Singapore, she has been a New Yorker since 2013. Pei-Ru held various titles at Wallpaper* between 2007 and 2023. She reports on design, tech, art, architecture, fashion, beauty and lifestyle happenings in the United States, both in print and digitally. Pei-Ru took a key role in championing diversity and representation within Wallpaper's content pillars, actively seeking out stories that reflect a wide range of perspectives. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two children, and is currently learning how to drive.
-
Two new books examine the art of the logo, from corporate coherence to rock excess
Pentagram’s new book reveals 1,000 brand marks, while the art of the band logo is laid bare in Logo Rhythm
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Art, culture, watches & jewellery editor Hannah Silver’s gift guide
From a Beryl Cook cushion to an offbeat diamond ring, there's something for everyone on this Wallpaper* editor's gift guide, embracing art, culture and style
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Feldspar makes its mark on Mayfair with a festive pop-up at Corinthia Hotel
Devon-based bone china brand Feldspar makes its first foray into shopkeeping with a pop-up at London’s Corinthia Hotel. Ali Morris speaks with the founders and peeks inside
By Ali Morris Published
-
Is Emeco's 'No Foam KNIT' a sustainable answer to synthetic upholstery textiles?
'Make more with less' is Emeco's guiding light. Now, the US furniture maker's new mono-material textile, the 'No Foam KNIT', may offer a sustainable solution to upholstery materials
By Ali Morris Published
-
Smooth operator: Willett debuts new furniture at Design Miami 2024, with a playful touch of retro allure
LA furniture designer Willett turned heads in the design world with the launch of his eponymous brand earlier this year. Ahead of his Design Miami debut, he told us what’s in store for 2025
By Ali Morris Published
-
Hella Jongerius’ ‘Angry Animals’ take a humorous and poignant bite out of the climate crisis
At Salon 94 Design in New York, Hella Jongerius presents animal ceramics, ‘Bead Tables’ and experimental ‘Textile Studies’ – three series that challenge traditional ideas about function, craft, and narrative
By Ali Morris Published
-
One to Watch: designer Valerie Name infuses contemporary objects and spaces with historical detail
From vessels to furnishings and interiors, New York- and Athens-based designer Valerie Name finds new relevance for age-old craft techniques
By Adrian Madlener Published
-
First look: Matthew Fisher opens the doors to his first gallery in Manhattan
History, design, and environmental consciousness converge at M. Fisher in New York City, offering an experience that is as meaningful as it is visually striking
By Jacob Gaines Published
-
Cooper Hewitt’s ‘Making Home’ triennial reveals an intimate side of the museum’s Gilded Age architecture
'We live and work in the Carnegie Mansion, but it's not typically something that we engage with directly in our exhibitions,' says Alexandra Cunningham-Cameron, one of the co-curators
By Diana Budds Published
-
Forged in the California desert, Jonathan Cross’ brutalist ceramic sculptures go on show in NYC
Joshua Tree-based artist Jonathan Cross’ sci-fi-influenced works are on view at Elliott Templeton Fine Arts in New York's Chinatown
By Dan Howarth Published
-
Italian designer Enrico Marone Cinzano fuses natural perfection with industrial imperfection
Enrico Marone Cinzano's first solo show at New York’s Friedman Benda gallery debuts collectible furniture designs that marry organic materials with upcycled industrial components
By Adrian Madlener Published