Ginza Maison Hermès' window display celebrated its 100th anniversary on January 18th. To commemorate this, a special website and talk event will look back on the brand's history and introduce the spirit of Hermès' (HERMÈS) windows from various angles.
Tokujin Yoshioka, "Breath," 2004/2009
Since the completion of Ginza Maison Hermès in June 2001, its window displays have served as the "Hermès Theater" in the Ginza district, introducing the brand's worldview to passersby. Every year, based on an annual theme that forms the basis of Hermès' creations, the show is reborn every two months with free-spirited designs by artists and designers active both in Japan and abroad, creating a stage where the featured products take on a different look each time.
After the opening with a creation by Leïla Menchari, new stories have been woven by artists and designers active both in Japan and abroad to express the current state of Ginza, Tokyo, and the current state of Hermès, in harmony with the contemporary glass block architecture designed by Renzo Piano.
Kohei Oda, "On the Journey," 2016© Satoshi Asakawa / Courtesy of Hermès Japon The commemorative 100th window was designed by product designer Shigeki Fujishiro. Based on the 2018 annual theme, "Let's Play," the window features a game. The windows of Ginza Maison Hermès are likened to buildings, with boards used to create a space that gives the impression of depth, and a ball rolling between products that resemble obstacles appears and then disappears suddenly.
A special page (http://www.maisonhermes.jp/feature/670959) has been opened on the official website, which looks back on the history of the 100 windows in a video, as well as providing an archive that makes it easier to view images and concepts for each window. A special contribution by London-based design critic Alice Rawsthorn will also be published.
In addition, a talk event with invited guests will be held at Ginza Maison Hermès Forum (8F, 5-4-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo). A lecture by design critic Alice Rawsthorn is scheduled for March 17th from 3pm to 4pm, a conversation between graphic designer Hattori Kazunari and Alice Rawsthorn from 11:30am to 12:30pm on March 18th, and a lecture by Austrian design unit Mischer'traxler from 3pm to 4pm on the same day.
Each session will be limited to 80 people, and participation will be determined by lottery, with applications opening on February 16th on a special page on the official website.
Tokujin Yoshioka, "Breath," 2004/2009© Satoshi Asakawa / Courtesy of Hermès Japon
Since the completion of Ginza Maison Hermès in June 2001, its window displays have served as the "Hermès Theater" in the Ginza district, introducing the brand's worldview to passersby. Every year, based on an annual theme that forms the basis of Hermès' creations, the show is reborn every two months with free-spirited designs by artists and designers active both in Japan and abroad, creating a stage where the featured products take on a different look each time.
After the opening with a creation by Leïla Menchari, new stories have been woven by artists and designers active both in Japan and abroad to express the current state of Ginza, Tokyo, and the current state of Hermès, in harmony with the contemporary glass block architecture designed by Renzo Piano.
Kohei Oda, "On the Journey," 2016© Satoshi Asakawa / Courtesy of Hermès JaponA special page (http://www.maisonhermes.jp/feature/670959) has been opened on the official website, which looks back on the history of the 100 windows in a video, as well as providing an archive that makes it easier to view images and concepts for each window. A special contribution by London-based design critic Alice Rawsthorn will also be published.
In addition, a talk event with invited guests will be held at Ginza Maison Hermès Forum (8F, 5-4-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo). A lecture by design critic Alice Rawsthorn is scheduled for March 17th from 3pm to 4pm, a conversation between graphic designer Hattori Kazunari and Alice Rawsthorn from 11:30am to 12:30pm on March 18th, and a lecture by Austrian design unit Mischer'traxler from 3pm to 4pm on the same day.
Each session will be limited to 80 people, and participation will be determined by lottery, with applications opening on February 16th on a special page on the official website.
