Tokujin Yoshioka, a designer renowned both in Japan and abroad, opened his solo exhibition "Crystallized" at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo on October 3rd. It will run until January 19th, 2014. This is Yoshioka's first large-scale solo exhibition at a public museum, and features three new works, as well as representative works including an installation and works shown in Japan for the first time.

The highlight of this exhibition, which spans three venues, is the art installation on the second basement floor. Upon entering this floor, visitors are greeted by "Tornado," a translucent, grass-like installation made up of an accumulation of thin straws. Installed within the installation is "Water Block," a glass bench whose various expressions change depending on the refraction of light. This work, which is also exhibited at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, is available for visitors to sit on.

After passing "Tornado," the space transforms into a serene space. However, a melancholic late-Romantic piece is playing in the background. This corner features the new crystal painting "Swan Lake," based on the concept that "one song becomes a painting." Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake" plays as natural crystals grow in an aquarium, changing shape with the vibrations of the music.

As you walk further, "Tornado" comes into view again, more amplified than at the entrance. Nestled within the "tussock" are two new sculptures: "Rose," a crystallized living rose, and "Spider's Thread," a sculpture made by stretching seven threads in the shape of a chair and cultivating and growing crystals. Each of these new crystal paintings displays its stage of creation. "Swan Lake" shows the crystals growing in the aquarium in response to the vibrations of the music, "Rose" a portrait taken during its creation, and "Spider's Thread" a thread in its growth stage.

The next space, with its high ceiling, is bathed in a divine rainbow of light. This is the light emitted by stained glass, a key element of the architectural project "Rainbow Church," making its Japan debut. This large-scale work, comprised of 500 stacked crystal prisms, approximately 40cm in diameter, transforms natural light into vibrant rainbow colors, creating a sacred space. The next room also features the "Rainbow Chair" and "Ray of Light," both made of crystal prisms and specifically designed for the church. The seven colors of the prisms shine in a room with minimal lighting to create contrast. Yoshioka hints at his vision, saying, "I would ultimately like to complete this as an architectural structure." On the first floor, two of his signature chairs, the "Pane Chair" and "Honey Pop," are on display, along with a screening of a video archive of his 50-piece collection, which marks his origins. Next to the museum shop, a video showing the Issey Miyake collections is screened, showcasing design products from 1990 to 2014. Visitors can see Yoshioka's diverse work, from his early work for Issey Miyake to his recent cosmetics packaging. Yoshioka, who typically spends at least two years creating a single piece, spent a long time preparing for this exhibition. The Great East Japan Earthquake occurred after he received his first offer. "I'm not a doctor and can't help people, but I wondered if there was anything I could do to help through design. That's when I decided to hold this exhibition," Yoshioka says. "Crystallization means crystallizing the energy of nature itself, and having grown up in the countryside, I know the terror of nature. I think some of my works offer a glimpse of that side of nature." Yoshioka studied under interior designer Shiro Kuramata. Kuramata introduced him to Issey Miyake, who began designing Issey Miyake stores. At the time, Miyake was looking for someone capable of designing accessories, and when he showed him the "Silicon hat" (shown in this exhibition), he liked it so much that he began working on accessory design. "As you can see from my works at Issey Miyake, my essential style has not changed, but I always want to create something new. It doesn't have to be small, but I want to create a space that can be felt with the body," he said.


[Event Information]
"Tokujin Yoshioka - Crystallize"
Location: Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
Address: 4-1-1 Miyoshi, Koto-ku, Tokyo
Dates: October 3rd to January 19th, 2014
Time: 10:00 to 18:00
Closed: Mondays (open on public holidays, closed the following day)
Admission Fee: Adults 1,100 yen, Students and those 65 and over 800 yen, Junior and Senior High School Students 600 yen