Kanji Takahashi
Focusing on Ise-katagami, which has a history of more than 1,000 years, we aimed to create a work that could transmit the ancient Japanese kimono design to the world, even if in a different form, and also introduce a wide range of traditional Japanese techniques. The key point is how faithfully the delicate hand-carving technique and designs can be reproduced. Traditional Japanese patterns are projected using the latest light technology to create a “fantastic healing space. For the light source, colors close to natural light were used, making the light familiar to people without any sense of discomfort.
Then, using this light source, “Miyabi”, “Kaoru Andon”, “Kataribe”, and “Itokake Lamp”, a new work created with silk threads, were added to the series of lampshades metalized with traditional patterns, Ukiyoe, and other artworks.
In Japan, there are numerous traditional crafts using ancient designs and techniques. We have developed lighting devices that transform these traditional designs and crafts into lampshades and fuse them with the latest electronics technology to create fantastic and healing spaces. We propose a peaceful and rich lifestyle for residential spaces through the production of light. We focused on katagami, which has been used in dyeing, a traditional Japanese craft. We aimed to create products that would preserve this wonderful traditional Japanese technique and work design for future generations. We aimed to create a product that could transmit the ancient Japanese kimono design to the world, even if in a different form, and at the same time introduce a wide range of traditional Japanese techniques. The beauty of traditional Japanese delicate patterns and designs are used in the lampshade, and the patterns projected by the latest lighting technology are projected as shadow pictures in the room space.
Ise-katagami is a dyeing stencil used to dye patterns and designs on kimono fabrics. It has flourished for more than 1,000 years centering on the Shirako and Teraya families in Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture. In the Edo period (1603-1867), most orders from all over Japan came to the Shirako-Teraya area, and the area developed greatly. The pattern is a dyeing stencil used for dyeing. It has flourished for more than 1,000 years centering on the Shirako-Teraya family in Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture. For the “Kataribe” series, we asked a traditional craftsman (Mr. Isao Uchida) to carve a new pattern for an andon, and reproduced a traditional Japanese craft, using this pattern as a lampshade.
The entire structure was then wrapped into a three-dimensional structure using silk thread, utilizing the dexterity of the Japanese hand, and the design was colored. The structure is illuminated by a highly florescent light to create a fantastic shadow picture on the ceiling and sides of the lamp using optical technology.
This lamp was developed in collaboration with Akatsuki, a thread hanging artist, and is a handmade thread hanging mandala with unique traditional Japanese colors and color matching.
The luster of the silk thread is soft and soothing in appearance, and the mandala pattern is vividly depicted on the ceiling!
2017: Received the Omotenashi Selection Award
2018: Featured on the cover of ANA's in-flight magazine WINGSPAN (International Edition), November issue
2019: Selected for the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's "Challenge Local Cool Japan in Paris" project, and exhibited at Maison wa in Paris from April
2019: Chosen as one of Japan's Top 100 (TAKUMI NEXT 2019) by JETRO, an independent administrative agency under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
2020: Exhibited at Maison & Objet in Paris, January
2020: Selected for the second consecutive year as one of Japan's Top 100 (TAKUMI NEXT 2020) by JETRO
2023: Awarded the Excellent Award at the Japan Cultural Grand Prix