LAB #1(40) 2008

LAB interview _

about the chair as much as possible, I would like people to feel close. – What major companies and designers would you like to cooperate with? – I do not have any idea on designers. I would like to work with companies who are flexible and avant-garde. However, I will direct an exhibition entitled «second nature». There, we will create a second nature by using second nature. (This means that we would create nature by using our second nature.)

and SWAROVSKI flagship store that will open in Tokyo in the end of March. – What is your favorite stage of design process? – I prefer the moment when I think of a good idea. – Have you made any mistakes in creative proc- ess which have not spoiled the idea, but brought luck and success to the project? – Yes, of course. I always arrive at the comple- tion after giving many tries. When I am in the process, I sometimes come to face chances that I never expect. – What was the most difficult project for you and why? – As I am trying to create what has never existed before, there is no project which went smoothly. Images do not turn into the real easily… – Today, when people have all the necessary things for comfortable life, you offer emotions instead of pure function. Are emotions a trend in design or a major feature of your creative work? – I think it is outstanding feature of my creativ- ity. For me, everything needs to have function: the function is the minimum requirements. The most important thing in design is «something that moves people’s emotion». – Facing a new material or a process, how do you see what is only an idea, a utopian dream, and what is real and viable? What is the material that you prefer to work with? – There are no other words than «Exciting» when colliding with newmaterials. I always look for new materials and stock them. – Architecture is frozen music. What music do you listen to when you work?

– The original idea of this installation comes from a half year before at MOROSO showroom of Milan. While I was creating a straw installa- tion for MOROSO, the piled up straws once fell apart during the construction. I found the straws beautiful so that I had been wondering if there was any place to realize that beauty. Inspired by natural phenomenon in Miami, I created the space in that form with using approximately 2 millions of transparent straws and entitled it «Tornado». The straws used for the installation is just normal ones. – Please tell us about Rain bow chair product. What technology did you use? What was the mood of this project? – I have been inspired by the strong sunlight of Miami. The backside of this chair is made of highly polished special prism glass. This glass is molded in platinum and is inserted into a solid acrylic. When the prism reflects in the sunlight, the rainbow will emerge around the chair. – Please tell us more about that particular time when the installation is assembled and mounted. When you find yourself face to face with the space and the idea, do you fear fiasco?Who helps you with the organization? What are the difficulties? – As I had never made the straw installation with disrupt form, I tried to design and adjust the form at the site. About 10 local students helped me. – What feedback from visitors did you expect? Are you upset with inadequate attitude to your projects? – I could not expect any reactions but try to move people. Therefore, I was really pleased to see people enjoying my works. Moreover, I had never imagined people reacting in such a way: to say thank you to me. – This installation reminds of clouds, it is fantasy- like. And what do you dream about now? – I am not dreaming of expressing the differ- ence of art and design but transcending those things: to think about creating fundamentally and design people’s feelings. – You tell about the technology, about the «know- how» of Pane Chair. Aren’t you afraid that it can be copied? – I do not think so because it is quite difficult to complete PANE chair. Moreover, it was com- pleted after cumulative experiments. As I tell

–What do you like better: to decorate the assigned space or to create new objects? – It depends on the projects. I would prefer to create the most proper thing for the project. – You wanted to be a designer since you were six years old. And what did you create in that time? Do you maybe pursue a child dream these days? – I created Leonardo da Vinci’s airscrew. (see the attached image) – Your persona enjoys special attention of the world press and major companies. In which way does such attention of press and designers influ- ence your creativity? – I think it does not influence on my creativity much. I realize that I come to receive recognition little by little. It is a great honor for me. As people give me their recognition, it becomes easier for became to be receptive to what I would do. – How did your style change since your first project? How have you changed yourself? – Nothing especially. What has NOT been changed from the beginning is to design peo- ple’s feeling, not arranging the appearances. – What does your day consist of? – My days are passing by thinking of desig­ ning. – What are you working on now? – I am mainly working for Milano Salone 2008

– I do not listen to the music when creating, but I prefer to listen to ambient music. – Does white color embody the mood of your projects or is it a part of a corporate identity? Why have you chosen this local tone in particular? What is your relation with this color? – I have not chosen white color but «transpar- ent». Just like clouds, snow, or bead of water, straw is transparent by itself, but it gives depth and white color when numerous numbers are piled up together and transparency gets dense.

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№1 _ 40 _ 2008