Craftwork: Muji's 'Tatazumai' collection comprises new artisanal wares
Muji might be known for its utilitarian approach to minimalist living, but a limited edition collection and exhibition of artisanal wares proves that there’s more to its appeal than just that. Building off a similar venture in Paris last year, the Japanese brand's Fifth Avenue emporium is hosting ‘Tatazumai’ for the next three days – a collection of new work by six Japanese artisans, ranging from glass to ceramics to kitchenware, all of whom will be present for the show's duration.
‘For this exhibit, we wanted to bring the artisans forward and have them speak directly about their work to our customers,’ explains Asako Shimazaki, president of Muji USA. ‘As a company that values anonymity, this exhibition marks a big step for us. While we typically prefer limited branding, we also recognise that many designers put their heart and soul into their craft, and wanted to give the artists the opportunity to speak directly about their work to our customers.’
While Muji is known as a master of the functional and quotidian, ‘the items in the collection are all one of a kind, hand-crafted works, so we wanted to make sure the... exhibition reflected how special the collection is’, Shimazaki explains.
The Japanese word and concept 'tatazumai' means ‘appearance’, ‘shape’ or ‘atmosphere’. Thus, Muji chose artists whose work embodied this ethos. Included in the show are gorgeous minimalist ceramic jars by Kazumi Tsuji, textured hand-carved wood trays by Ryuji Mitani, paulownia pulp boxes from Michiko Iwata, hand-potted tea kettles by Keisuke Iwata, wabi-sabi plates by Masanobu Ando and raw-stitched clothing by Akiko Ando.
‘We also feel strongly that the products we live with everyday should be well made and well designed,’ says Shimazaki, ‘Though "Tatazumai" is more limited edition in nature, we feel the pieces included in the exhibition are functional and add to the user’s daily life.’
INFORMATION
The 'Tatazumai' collection will be available to purchase from 23–26 June. For more details, visit Muji's website
ADDRESS
Muji
475 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Julie Baumgardner is an arts and culture writer, editor and journalist who's spent nearly 15 years covering all aspects of art, design, culture and travel. Julie's work has appeared in publications including Bloomberg, Cultured, Financial Times, New York magazine, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, as well as Wallpaper*. She has also been interviewed for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Miami Herald, Observer, Vox, USA Today, as well as worked on publications with Rizzoli press and spoken at art fairs and conferences in the US, Middle East and Asia. Find her @juliewithab or juliebaumgardnerwriter.com
-
Three new coffee makers for a contemporary brew, from a casual cup to a full-on branded espresso
Three new coffee makers, from AeroPress, Jura and Porsche x La Marzocco, range from the defiantly manual to the bells and whistles of a traditional countertop espresso machine
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Don't miss Luxembourg's retro-futuristic lab pavilion in Venice
As the Venice Biennale enters its last few weeks, catch 'A Comparative Dialogue Act' at the Luxembourg Pavilion
By Amah-Rose Abrams Published
-
A Berlin park atop an office building offers a new model of urban landscaping
A Berlin park and office space by Grüntuch Ernst Architeken offer a symbiotic relationship between urban design and green living materials
By Michael Webb Published
-
Designart Tokyo transforms the city into a museum of creativity
Designart Tokyo presents global design highlights through a series of exhibitions involving global creative talent and traditional Japanese craft
By Danielle Demetriou Last updated
-
Mingardo crafts candleholders as beacon of hope against cancer
‘A Flame for Research’, launching Milan Design Week, sees Italian metal designer Daniele Mingardo invite ten major talents, including Jaime Hayon, Patricia Urquiola, and Philippe Malouin, to create a candleholder in support of cancer research
By Shawn Adams Last updated
-
Celebrating the beauty of Japanese carpentry tools
Now on show at New York's Japan Society, ‘When Practice Becomes Form: Carpentry Tools from Japan' presents an overview of the techniques at the heart of Japanese wooden craftsmanship
By Pei-Ru Keh Last updated
-
London Craft Week supports the maker community for 2020 showcase
From a day of global creativity to emerging designs uncovered, London Craft Week hones in on the reassuring nature of craft and the community
By Sujata Burman Last updated
-
30 Loewe Foundation Craft Prize finalists show mastery with material
Loewe Foundation Craft Prize announces 30 global finalists for its annual award that celebrates contemporary makers
By Sujata Burman Last updated
-
Designart Tokyo transforms the city into a living, multi-sensory museum
The third edition of the fair (18-27 October) showcases over 100 exhibitions across the Japanese capital
By Danielle Demetriou Last updated
-
London designer Max Lamb takes a shine to the Japanese art of lacquerware
By Jens H Jensen Last updated
-
Genta Ishizuka wins the Loewe Foundation Craft Prize 2019
By Laura Hawkins Last updated