Photos by Masafumi Kanno courtesy Hideo Kanbara
The avant-garde filmmaker and poet Shuji Terayama died 31 years ago from liver failure. The infamous figure was known to quote his own poems on stage and in film, creating an interconnectedness that was, in part, responsible for his legacy as an “alchemist of words.” And his words live on, most recently, in the form of an exhibition titled “The Words of Shuji Terayama.” 15 artists and designers were asked to create art pieces inspired by quotes from the enigmatic writer. One of the more intriguing pieces was a ring created by designer Hideo Kanbara.
“Teardrops are man’s most transparent jewel” was the quote that prompted Kanbara to create “Water Droplet Ring.” Rather than opting for the traditional teardrop shape, the Tokyo-based product designer created a platinum ring that appears to be set with a single droplet of water. The tension created by the appearance that, at any moment, the water might drip through the setting and fall to the ground, contrasts nicely with the softness of the drop itself.
The ring was to be sold for 150,000 yen but it was unfortunately stolen while on display at the Shuji Terayama Museum.
(all quotes translated from Japanese to English by the author. Apologies that they do not give the original text justice.)
