Reporting by Marc Thorpe. Images courtesy of Tokujin Yoshioka Studio.
Paris' semiannual design tradeshow honors the creative genius of designers across architectural interiors, furniture and product design through their design à vivre "Design of the Year" program. 2012's nominees the Campana Brothers, Hubert le Gall and Tokujin Yoshioka showcased their work through special installations at the fair.
We were particularly taken by Tokujin's exhibition of his Crystallized project, an ongoing meditation on the "relationship between [the] power of nature and human beings." Through his series, Tokujin attempts to create a new portrait of nature, manifested in crystalline structures. The exhibition debuted a new crystallized painting series grown by the vibration of music, "Rose," a video art piece, and "VENUS - Natural Crystal Chair" (2008).
Marc Thorpe explains that, "the most interesting aspect of [Tokujin's] exhibit is his understanding of time. The work is evolving and changing. It's never the same exhibit in detail. The objects created are not his design by physical hand, but our design by perception."
Tokujin Yoshioka adjusting his Crystallized project. Image by Marc Thorpe
Crystalized "Rose" and video "Rose" in background
Crystal Painting
Venus Chair