art, somewhere in between New York and Tokyo

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Maruwakaya iPhone cover made from deerskin

Looking to pimp your iPhone in 400-year old bling? Maruwakaya has designed an iPhone cover made from Inden, a process dating back to the early edo period when artisans used tanned deerskin to make shoes and pouches. The design, which reorients traditional crafts as an evolving modern technique, was originally showcased during Design Tide ’09 in Tokyo.

maruwakaya iPhone case 425x284 Maruwakaya iPhone cover made from deerskin

They are available in 4 traditional Japanese patterns, and two colors, black or yellow. Black goes for 11,000 yen while yellow is 12,500 yen. The limited editions are being shipped on February 1, 2010 and you have to fill out this form if you want to get in line.

left: Asanoha | right: Takarazukushi

maruwakaya iPhone case asanoha Maruwakaya iPhone cover made from deerskinmaruwakaya iPhone case takarazukushi Maruwakaya iPhone cover made from deerskin
left: Asanoha | right: Takarazukushi
maruwakaya iPhone case seigaiha Maruwakaya iPhone cover made from deerskinmaruwakaya iPhone case sayagata Maruwakaya iPhone cover made from deerskin

Here is your tid-bit for the day: there is only one man in all of Japan who is an official Inden artisan, with a license from the state. (according to wikipedia)

via voice of kyoto

January 15, 2010   2 Comments

Mitsuru Katsumoto | Sculptor

I realize that “sculptor” may not be the most accurate description of Mitsuru Katsumoto but I dislike the term “multimedia artist” so indulge me in my peculiarities as I attempt to convey my thoughts about the artist. Mitsuru Katsumoto was born 1961 in Shiga Prefecture. Her first exhibition took place at Gallery Eve in 1995 and was aptly titled “Secret Garden.” Since then her work has revolved around the curious and mysterious, often offering sneak peeks into her secretive world of eye-catching details and anachronistic furnishings.

mitsuru katsumoto a field a home poster 214x318 Mitsuru Katsumoto | Sculptor mitsuru katsumoto living things flora 246x318 Mitsuru Katsumoto | Sculptor
mitsuru katsumoto a field a home 369x318 Mitsuru Katsumoto | Sculptor
click to enlarge. Courtesy Galleria Graffica Tokyo

clockwise: poster for a field, a home (2007) | living things-flora (2004) | a field, a home (2007)

Katsumoto walks an interesting line between cute and surreal and maintains, I might add, just enough cuteness to remain within the mainstream likings of the Japanese. Furthermore, by including French-Antique charm to the formula she is practically guaranteeing herself a fan-base. That’s not to undermine her work in any way though. There is no doubt in my mind that Katsumoto creates beautiful pieces that keep me coming back to them time after time.

mitsuru katsumoto a study in green grass 400x318 Mitsuru Katsumoto | Sculptor

mitsuru katsumoto 5 224x318 Mitsuru Katsumoto | Sculptor mitsuru katsumoto 6 207x318 Mitsuru Katsumoto | Sculptor

mitsuru katsumoto 4 425x291 Mitsuru Katsumoto | Sculptor

click to enlarge

top: a study in green grass (2002) | all other images part of the “Odd” collection

Her latest exhibition “Odd,” which concluded late last year at the Yukiko Koide gallery, was an ode to some of the more hand-made oddities of her career. I particularly enjoy her vintage postcards – probably the quirkiest of her work.

mitsuru katsumoto postcard 1 223x318 Mitsuru Katsumoto | Sculptor mitsuru katsumoto postcard 2 227x318 Mitsuru Katsumoto | Sculptor

mitsuru katsumoto postcard 4 226x318 Mitsuru Katsumoto | Sculptor mitsuru katsumoto postcard 5 215x318 Mitsuru Katsumoto | Sculptor
click to enlarge. Courtesy Mademoiselle Loulou

Finally, here is a sneak peak into 2 of her photo books that she has published. At the top is Study In Green (2008), an intimate exploration into everything from animal fur to boxes, that are, of course, green or dyed green. Below that is One Day (2007), a compilation of Katsumoto’s early work. Both are fascinating meditations on the relationship between art and design.

mitsuru katsumoto a study in green book 235x318 Mitsuru Katsumoto | Sculptor mitsuru katsumoto a study in green book 1 Mitsuru Katsumoto | Sculptor

mitsuuru katsumoto one day book 210x318 Mitsuru Katsumoto | Sculptormitsuuru katsumoto one day book 2 Mitsuru Katsumoto | Sculptor
click to enlarge. Courtesy milebooks

January 13, 2010   6 Comments

Bottle Baguette by Issey Miyake

This clever design done for the holiday season somehow slipped under my radar and into one of my wife’s magazines. The Bottle Baguette (3,700 yen), by Japanese haute couture heavyweight Issey Miyake, is a essentially pretty packaging for a wine bottle to be used when attending dinner parties. The packaging then remains on the bottle, which can be transformed into a flower vase.

issey miyake bottle baguette Bottle Baguette by Issey Miyake

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January 12, 2010   1 Comment

Mast Humidifier by Shin Okada

This weekend New York was hit with a bout of cold weather. All the stations were hyping it as the coldest temperatures of the winter so far. We figured, if not now, when do we succumb to the corrupt border-town sheriff, also known as central heating? So we reluctantly flipped on the switch and, as we heard the motor begin to hum, immediately sensed the iron hand descend, securing us from the outside frost for the price of every last penny of moisture.

masuto humidifier 424x318 Mast Humidifier by Shin Okada

We have yet to find a humidifier that we like because every crappy one becomes a cesspool of bacteria within days. And all the other ones are either too bulky, too ugly or too expensive. Until today. Meet Mast, an exquisite creation of pure Hinoki (Japanese Cypress), recently designed by Shin Okada and crafted by Masuya Koubou. Known for its high-quality timber, rot-resistant qualities and lemony scent, the thinly sliced Hinoki mast absorbs water from the hull and diffuses it, and its intrinsic aroma, into the room. And it goes without saying, but no electricity needed.  I am willing to bet money that it will look more elegant than the damp washcloth draped over my ceiling fan.

masuto humidifier 2 Mast Humidifier by Shin Okadamasuto humidifier 3 Mast Humidifier by Shin Okada

You can purchase it here (Japanese) for 6,300 yen.

January 11, 2010   17 Comments

2010 calendar by Nobumasa Takahashi

calendar2010  nobumasa takahashi 2 2010 calendar by Nobumasa Takahashi

For all you late-bloomers and procrastinators still looking to get your 2010 on, check out this beautiful calendar by Japanese illustrator Nobumasa Takahashi. Recognize the name or the work? That is because he you know him as the illustrator of the brilliant Art Space Tokyo, by Ashley Rawlings and Craig Mod.
The calendar is on sale at Cibone for 2,300 yen.

calendar2010  nobumasa takahashi 3 2010 calendar by Nobumasa Takahashi

January 8, 2010   2 Comments

MM Apartment by Nakae Architects

Nakae Architects MM apartment full view MM Apartment by Nakae Architects

Yuji Nakae of Nakae Architects, along with the help from Hirofumi Ohno and Yamada Hiroyuki, created MM Apartment in Tokyo. Approximately 2 years since the completion of their last building, the highly acclaimed NE Apartment, the 8 unit structure comes with Nakae’s signature style of incorporating indoor parking for your bicycle or motorcycle, which I am sure there are plenty of people in Tokyo who can appreciate.

MM Apartment was completed back in September of 2009 but the architects just recently released photos of their work.

Nakae Architects MM apartment entrance 211x318 MM Apartment by Nakae Architects Nakae Architects MM apartment room A entrance and bike garage 214x318 MM Apartment by Nakae Architects

Each unit has 3 floors but with different layouts. Some have the bathrooms located on the first floor while others have them on the 3rd. Here is a walk-through of some of the units. Above is a shot of the entrance and ground level bike parking.

Nakae Architects MM apartment room A 2nd fl to 3rd fl 208x318 MM Apartment by Nakae Architects Nakae Architects MM apartment room A dining room and kitchen 213x318 MM Apartment by Nakae Architects

Above are 2 shots of room A – the stairs leading from the 2nd floor to the 3rd floor, and the dining room/kitchen located on the 2nd floor. Below we have 2 shots from room B – the 2nd floor bathroom and 3rd floor kitchen.

Nakae Architects MM apartment room B 2nd fl bathroom 216x318 MM Apartment by Nakae Architects Nakae Architects MM apartment room B 3rd fl kitchen bedroom 213x318 MM Apartment by Nakae Architects

Below are 2 shots of room C – the ground level entrance and bathroom, and the 2nd floor bedroom.

Nakae Architects MM apartment room C entrance bathroom 425x284 MM Apartment by Nakae Architects

Nakae Architects MM apartment room C 2nd fl bedroom 425x309 MM Apartment by Nakae Architects

Below is a shot of room F’s 2nd floor bathroom.

Nakae Architects MM apartment room F 2nd fl bedroom 425x281 MM Apartment by Nakae Architects

Nakae Architects MM apartment full view evening 425x313 MM Apartment by Nakae Architects

All photographs © Hiroyasu Sakaguchi

January 7, 2010   2 Comments

johnny x the considered ensemble

johnny strategy the considered ensemble 425x207 johnny x the considered ensemble

just in case you were wondering….
via the considered ensemble

January 6, 2010   1 Comment

Noto Fusai | CanvasWorks

During the summer of ‘09 we featured these awesome canvasworks by husband-and-wife design duo Noto Fusai. Well they have recently added 2 new pieces to their collection of functional wall-art. A rack/holder for odds and ends like glasses and cellphones, and this letter rack, which I am totally getting my hands on as soon as they come out of production.

Object holder

noto fusai object holder Noto Fusai | CanvasWorks

noto fusai object holder 2 Noto Fusai | CanvasWorks

Letter rack

noto fusai letter rack 1 Noto Fusai | CanvasWorks noto fusai letter rack 21 Noto Fusai | CanvasWorks

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January 5, 2010   3 Comments

Yukio Hatoyama has a blog

Picture 2 Yukio Hatoyama has a blog

In order to counteract his plummeting popularity, as of January 1, 2010, Yukio Hatoyama – the prime minister of Japan – has set up a blog and twitter account in order to reach out to the general public. It was all done under the creative direction of Yuji Tokuda (I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t include that tid-bit of design intel), who incorporated the pigeon into the design. Hatoyama literally means pigeon mountain.

Tokuda has added a disclaimer on his website saying he is not affiliated with, nor does he necessarily support, the Democratic Party of Japan.

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January 5, 2010   3 Comments

Designer New Year Cards from Japan

Late in 2009 Dezeen exhibited their favorite Designer Christmas cards. Despite Christmas’ commercial success in Japan, the New Year is really the holiday that takes the cake in Japan. So with that ever-so-brief introduction I give you, designer new year cards: Japan Edition.

new years cards tokujin yoshioka Designer New Year Cards from Japan
Tokujin Yoshioka

new years cards yuji tokuda1 Designer New Year Cards from Japan
Yuji Tokuda

new years cards bob foundation Designer New Year Cards from Japan
Bob Foundation

new years cards masahiro minami Designer New Year Cards from Japan
Masahiro Minami

new years cards tna design studio Designer New Year Cards from Japan
TNA Design Studio

new years cards case real Designer New Year Cards from Japan
CASE-REAL

January 4, 2010   4 Comments