Tokujin Yoshioka, an internationally active designer, architect, and artist, held the "TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA - Frozen" exhibition at Milan Design Week 2025, held in Italy from April 8 to 13, 2025, where he unveiled an installation called "Aqua Chair," an ice chair made from crystallized water.
Courtesy of TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA INC.
Yoshioka has previously used light to create works that transcend form. His latest creation is the "Aqua Chair," a chair with a natural structure made from crystallized water. Taking on a new challenge in the "water" element that Yoshioka has been exploring, this piece is a sculpture of light created by crystallizing the transparent "water" that the Earth provides. When asked why he decided to take on the challenge of making a chair out of "water," Yoshioka replied, "For several years, I have wanted to create a 'chair' out of transparent water that would become an icon in the history of design. Water is a mysterious, transparent, formless substance that can change into liquid, solid, and gas. Water is also the source of life. I took on the challenge of making a transparent chair out of the formless 'water' that nature produces."
Courtesy of TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA INC.
Explaining his "Aqua Chair," he said, "I wanted to create a chair out of transparent, formless water itself. By crystallizing water to support the human body, I envisioned creating a chair with a natural structure made of ice. The shape, composed of curved surfaces with a lens effect, refracts light and is designed to allow it to be emitted from the ice block. I wanted to create a work that radiates an innocent light, emitted from a transparent ice block. The ice changes over time, and natural phenomena complete the work."
Courtesy of TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA INC.
◾️Work Overview
・Title: Ice Chair "Aqua Chair"
・Designer: Tokujin Yoshioka
・Dimensions: Width 120cm, Depth 100cm, Height 89cm
・Weight: 850kg
◾️Exhibition Overview
Organizer: Grand Seiko Europe S.A.S.
Exhibition: TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA - Frozen
Dates: Tuesday, April 8th – Sunday, April 13th, 2025
Venue: Palazzo Landriani
Address: Via Borgonuovo, 25, 20121 Milano
Courtesy of TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA INC.Yoshioka has previously used light to create works that transcend form. His latest creation is the "Aqua Chair," a chair with a natural structure made from crystallized water. Taking on a new challenge in the "water" element that Yoshioka has been exploring, this piece is a sculpture of light created by crystallizing the transparent "water" that the Earth provides. When asked why he decided to take on the challenge of making a chair out of "water," Yoshioka replied, "For several years, I have wanted to create a 'chair' out of transparent water that would become an icon in the history of design. Water is a mysterious, transparent, formless substance that can change into liquid, solid, and gas. Water is also the source of life. I took on the challenge of making a transparent chair out of the formless 'water' that nature produces."
Courtesy of TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA INC.Explaining his "Aqua Chair," he said, "I wanted to create a chair out of transparent, formless water itself. By crystallizing water to support the human body, I envisioned creating a chair with a natural structure made of ice. The shape, composed of curved surfaces with a lens effect, refracts light and is designed to allow it to be emitted from the ice block. I wanted to create a work that radiates an innocent light, emitted from a transparent ice block. The ice changes over time, and natural phenomena complete the work."
Courtesy of TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA INC.◾️Work Overview
・Title: Ice Chair "Aqua Chair"
・Designer: Tokujin Yoshioka
・Dimensions: Width 120cm, Depth 100cm, Height 89cm
・Weight: 850kg
◾️Exhibition Overview
Organizer: Grand Seiko Europe S.A.S.
Exhibition: TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA - Frozen
Dates: Tuesday, April 8th – Sunday, April 13th, 2025
Venue: Palazzo Landriani
Address: Via Borgonuovo, 25, 20121 Milano
