Categories
Architecture

Royal Gold for Ito

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The Japanese architect, Toyo Ito, is the winner of one of architecture’s most prestigious prizes, the Royal Gold Medal.

More from Archinect here.

Categories
General TB.Movel

OK Fred 6

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The new issue of OK FRED! It goes on sale October 6.

Categories
Design Events

Reading Space

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I’m definitely all for more reading spaces!

This exhibition proposes reading space designs. Just like different people appreciate different books, readers have preferences about atmospheres for reading. The concept is that changing something about your reading environment or creating a reading space will enable you to create your own world of books. (TAB)

It’s happening at Living Design Center Ozone (where Jesper will giving a talk during Tokyo Design Week in a Swedish Style-related event) until October 11.

Categories
General TB.Movel

Cut Again

Fresh cut. I really should get cuts more often, I always feel so good afterwards — I’m just not big on going to the salon.

Categories
Events Music

Tokumaru at O-Nest

Shugo Tokumaru will be supporting the release of his new record, L.S.T. (which I loved, and reviewed quite positively for the next issue of OK FRED, out next week), with a show at Shibuya O-Nest on October 14. Start time is 18:30, with entry at 2000 yen (2300 yen at the door, includes a drink).

Categories
Art Events Photography

GAW: Goldengai Art Waves Part 5

GAW? That has got to be one of the worst acronyms ever — which doesn’t change that the idea behind this take-it-to-the-street approach to art exhibition is quite a good one, and it seems to be a growing trend (see CET 2005).

Held at various places each year since its launch in Shinjuku’s Goldengai (“Golden Street”) in 1999, this unique exhibition project traveled so far to Okikamurojima (Yamaguchi Prefecture), Tappizaki, Minmaya-mura (Aomori Prefecture), and a village near Nimes in France. This year marks GAW’s return to Shinjuku. If you roam the streets of the area and keep your eyes open you will spot installations by the likes of Endo Toshikatsu, and chances are you encounter the photographic work of Moriyama Daido, Narahashi Asako, Suzuki Risaku and Onaka Koji while having a drink or two at a bar. Interesting sound also contributions by newcomer artists, such as Akutsu Chihiro’s video art or Moriwaki Tamaho’s Japanese folk tale-flavored installation. (REALTOKYO)

The event is taking place in Shinjuku’s Goldengai area until October 9.

Categories
Art Events

Bend++

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I don’t even know what to expect from “Bend++,” but the description at REALTOKYO makes it sound intriguing.

The term “bending” doesn’t only stand for working with electricity off one’s own bat, but implies also Frankenstein-esque experimentation with consumer-friendly devices, electric circuits and programs, with the aim to create little technological monsters. Required for that is no manual, but only creativity and a love of groping for ways to make things. This event is a gathering of a handful of crazy folks from the sound and media art sphere, who come together under the “bending” banner to explore the new possibilities this form of technology holds in store. Organizer is Kubota Akihiro, always a good name when it’s about interesting, innovative things. The event coincides with the second installment of Dorkbot Tokyo, a meeting of “people doing strange things with electricity”.

More event info here.

Categories
Architecture Design

MisoSoupDesign

I don’t have time to explore it much right now, but a quick look at MisoSoupDesign’s site shows some interesting works/concepts. From Archinect:

MisoSoupDesign. directed by Daisuke Nagatomo & Minnie Jan, has been investigating architecture through material, space, and fluidity. As each project develops, we discover different ways to approach and design architecture and furniture, with layers of convergence and divergence. Innovative use of technology is the main player in this investigation because it could maximize or minimize the potential structure and connections. Wondering about the limits of technology inspires us to think how to generate architecture with functionality and sustainability.
Categories
Art Events

Yokohama 2005

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After some delays and an almost-cancellation, Yokohama’s International Triennale of Contemporary Art is now upon us.

Yokohama’s second International Triennale of Contemporary Art – builds on the success of Yokohama 2001 and will feature the work of around 80 participating international and Japanese artists exhibiting in the main venue – two enormous warehouses located on Yamashita Pier. The Triennale offers an alternative to the conventional style of art exhibition in which the observer simply looks at the works, instead offering a dialogue-based exhibition in which the barrier between the observer and the exhibitor is transcended, with the observer present during the artist creative process and being able to actually experience the work.

There will be an emphasis on “involvement with the site”. This will be a new type of venue for people to encounter art realized through initiatives such as home-stays by artists and also by featuring participation-based art. The public will have the opportunity to view or be involved in the artist’s creative process while much of the work will undergo change as a result of interaction with the community (works-in-progress).

Triennale plans also include movie screenings, community workshops on theater and other art-related topics, and events such as symposiums and gallery lectures to encourage interaction between art and the community. (TAB)

It takes place at the Yokohama Yamashita Pier No. 3/4 Warehouse, until December 18.

Categories
Design Meta

In the Paper

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For those who were curious to see what the column looked like in today’s paper and couldn’t get their hands on a copy, here’s a scan. It ran all along one side of the page (top to bottom).