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Little pieces of cloth

What is Quilt? My impression about this activity was of women knitting little pieces of cloth. I may be right about women doing it, but Quilt is much more than my first idea of it.

Kyoto Station held an exhibition of Japan's most talented Quilt artists and it was evident to me that art can be expresed in many ways: Quilt is one of them. With all kinds of fabrics and other textile materials, these women artists create patterns and compositions about their own life experiences. The designs can range from small pieces, to large ones, meters long.

The patterns are very complex, created all by different shapes and colors. Some of the designs do not fit a square shape, but rather get out of it, like flying fish.

I enjoyed in first place Goke Keiko and Emiko Toda Loeb. Subarashii.

Noritake Kinashi

I have had the fortune to visit many and very beautiful exhibitions in Japan, but there is always one exceptional. Noritake Kinashi's certainly is it. I visited an exhibition of his work in Kyoto Station where I had the opportunity to enjoy the strenght of his paintings. He plays with colors and shapes that come together in images that evoque not only beauty, but emotion, full of expresiveness thru all kind of resources and materials. His message:　REACH OUT

Beautiful garbage

Is it possible to have art in garbage?, in Japan it is. Maishima's incineration plant in Osaka is an outstandingly beautiful building designed by Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser, architect, painter and sculptor as well.

Hundertwasser has a very special style that goes against straight lines. He cares more about irregular forms, related to nature. Among his many works, he designed a proposal for a second flag for New Zealand, which he considered his home.

The incineration plant itself is a master of engineering that has the latest in technology. It is impressive to see how much waste humans create in everyday life. I guess the point is not only to have the best resources to deal with garbage, but also to prevent from generating that much, based on a more conscious consumption.

Follow the yellow brick road

If you happen to be blind, Japan is your place. Everywhere, everything has considered blind people's needs, attending the principles of Universal Design: to be used by people with different needs and abilities.

Just like in the famous Wizard of Oz, in Japan there is a yellow texturized road that blind people can follow and get to their destination without getting lost or injured.

One of the most complicated aspects of living in Japan may be public transportation, since there are many lines, that go in many directions. The Subway system has ticket machines with tactile instructions and also, the popular yellow guide road.

Again, there are all kind of considerations for blind people, but I experience that there are not as many for the elder population, which consists of a larger population, since Japan's birthrate is considerably decreasing (http://www.ipss.go.jp/p-info/e/PSJ2006.pdf). There is a lack of conditions for this big and growing segment of the population.

Hirocoledge

Recently in Tokyo, I met by chance -if that exists- Japanese Designer Takahashi Hiroko. She plays with simple shapes and colors and creates patterns that represent the Japanese spirit in a very contemporary style. She is the Design Director of her own brand, Hirocoledge, where she develops products that value the traditional techniques of Japan incorporing new ones.

In Japanese culture it is believed that black Kimonos should only be worn in funerals. Takahashi Hiroko`s recently received her Doctorate in fine Arts with a challenging line of black and white Kimonos that can be worn in happier ocasions. Why not question what has always been the same way?

http://www.hirocoledge-store.com/

www.hirocoledge.com/events_en/

Don't wanna be the president of America

All I want to do is bicycle!

Before living in Japan, I thought of bicycles as a sports and amusement device only. In Japan I would say that they are some of the most representative objects of their culture. Bicycles have been part of the Japanese culture as a very important way of transportation. It so practical to just take your bicycle for short or even long distances. And even if the weather is very hot, during the summer, when you move you can feel the wind refreshing you.

There are two basic types of bicycles in Japan: a big one whose objective is to carry things. It usually has a basquet and may also have a flat device on the back where you can either put a baby or a friend. The other one is smaller and its main purpose is to be folded in two, so you can take it everywhere with you.

The Bicycle Museum in Sakai, where 40% of all bicycles in Japan are produced (I just read that) is the only museum of this kind.

It was absolutelly amazing to see how well designed is this museum. They first show a video about the history of this important object. Then, they have an exhibition of the different models, showing the development of the bicycle, since the very first one from 1790, the "Celefere" from Frenchman Sivrac, which still had no pedals, so actually the user had to propell him along with his feet.

There is also a place where it is possible to realize how the mechanism of a bicycle works: the relation between the size of the chainring and the wheel (that is comething that I have already experienced with the two bicycles that I ride, one small and one large).

The three main contributions of the bicycle: sports, health and environment.

Bicycle is freedom.

Happi=happy

It has been very important for me to understand that everything about Japanese design -from buildings to fashion- follows a deeper meaning, rather than just the shape itself.

Happi is a traditional straight sleeved Japanese coat that firefighters wore during the Edo Period, as they were made out of a very resistant cotton which they sprayed with water. It has a reversible design: on one side it is dark, meant for protection during their duty. On the other, it has a beautiful Japanese scene which may include a dragon or a tiger. The firefighters would wear happi on this side after the fire has been extinguished, so the crowd could receive them.

Practical and beautiful, that is how design should be.

Kansai Yamamoto

A few weeks ago, I went to Tokyo to visit an exhibition at the Edo Museum from a designer called Kansai. I didn't know his work, but I loved it because he is a very talented and creative Japanese artist.

The guide of the museum explained me that Kansai comes from a very humble environment, but since early age he was determined to be succesful. At his time, after World War II, everything that Japan did was a copy of the Occident, but he decided to stand out as a proud embassador of the Japanese culture, of course, from his own particular perspective. He was the first Japanese Designer to have a fashion show in London. And, yes, he designed David Bowie's first world tour's wardrobe. Ziggy Stardust!

He takes the escence of Japan, transforming it into something new, fresh, contemporary and he certainly is very proud about it.

As a restless artist, he now moved from fashion into big performing scenarios.

http://www.kansai-inc.co.jp/ky/fashion/index.html

Shinsetsu

There is something -among many other things- that I love from Japanese people: they are absolutely kind, "shinsetsu". If you get lost -which is quite easy- they will show you, with every possible detail, how to get to your destination (as long as you know it, of course). Sometimes this may not be so convenient because they assume that you speak Japanese fluently, so you may only understand the sign language part.

I did little fish of paper with Koinobori shape (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koinobori) and I wrote on their back "Arigatougozaimasu" to give to all the shinsetsu people that I meet. I already gave a few...

Le fabuleux destin d'Amelie Poulin

I was surprised to see that many Japanese houses have gnomes in their gardens, such as those of Amelie poulin. Then, I read that they simbolize knowledge and I even found that there is people who think they should be liberated http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_Gnome_Liberation_Front

Mirror, mirror

In Japan, you will always be aware of your looks since every street, station, building, construction is full of mirrors, inside and outside.

There are two types of mirrors: those that are meant for warning, so people can see where they are driving, either a car, a motorcycle or a bicycle (we must remember that in Japan people drive on the left side), and there are also those created especifically for vanity. In the stores there are mirrors everywhere, even in the roof.

In the bathrooms -at least women's- there are many mirrors displayed specially for women to get gorgeous. I have never seen a Japanese young woman who doesn't look outstanding. Every single detail of her looks is very well thought: hairstyle, makeup, clothes, shoes, handbag. Everything has an intention and a relationship with the rest of the outfit. Men do also care about fashion and good looks, as well.

In Japan, everywhere you look at, there is you!

Irashiaimase!!!!!

Irashiaimase is the welcoming phrase that you will hear when you enter every store in Japan.

This blogg is about the stories of good design in everyday life in Japan.