Kuramata Shiro Exhibition

Schedule: Dec. 8 [Fri.] – Dec. 23 [Sat.] 2023 11:00-19:00
※Gallery closed Sun., Mon., and national holidays.

*Click images to view in original size

Toki-no-Wasuremono moved from Aoyama to Komagome in 2017, and coincidentally, Kuramata Shiro was born in this neighborhood and studied at the nearby Showa Elementary School. To mark Kuramata Shiro's upcoming 90th birthday next year, we are hosting the "Kuramata Shiro Exhibition" in this place of his roots.

The exhibition will feature a variety of artworks, including an ongoing edition of silkscreen work collections titled "Shiro Kuramata Cahier" (Volumes 1, 2, and 3), a rare original print titled "Non-Pole II," exhibited at the 1979 Tokyo International Print Biennial, mirrors created for the Tsukuba Daiichi Hotel in 1983, "Cabinet de Curiosite" made for a solo exhibition in Paris in 1989, chairs like "How High the Moon," small items such as perfume bottle and flower vases, and sculptures like "Sealing of Roses."

Furthermore, from November 18, the Setagaya Art Museum will host a retrospective exhibition titled " The Work of Shiro KURAMATA: A Microcosmos of Memory," which offers a fresh perspective on Kuramata Shiro's work and personality. This exhibition will tour to the Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art in February and the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto in June. In 2024, a small archive exhibition will be organized at the Shizuoka City Museum of Art, summarizing Kuramata Shiro's work in Shizuoka, and events are taking place as part of the pre-exhibition at "COMBLÉ," a bar in Shizuoka designed by Kuramata Shiro. In the December issue of the interior and design magazine "ELLE DECO," there is an extensive 28-page feature on his work. Kuramata Shiro’s influence is continually growing, even 32 years after his passing.

We encourage you to visit the Kuramata Shiro exhibitions taking place in various locations.

■Kuramata Shiro
1934 On November 29, born in the RIKEN Institute residence in Hongo, Tokyo (now Honkomagome, Bunkyo Ward).
1941 Entered Showa National Elementary School. World War II began.
1943 Evacuated to an acquaintance’s house in Numazu due to family circumstance. Tokyo home destroyed in air raids.
1945 On August 15, the war ended. Lived in Komagome, Bunkyo Ward after the war.
1950 Graduated from Bunkyo-Ku Daiku Junior High School and entered Tokyo Metropolitan Kogei High School (Graduated in 1953).
1955 Entered the Living Design Department of the Kuwasawa Design Institute (Graduated in 1956).
1957 Joined Sanai advertising department (Until 1964).
1965 Working as a commissioned designer at Matsuya Interior Design Office. Later founded the Kuramata Design Office.
1972 Received the 18th Mainichi Industrial Design Prize.
1981 Joined "Memphis" at the invitation of Ettore Sottsass. Awarded the 2nd Japanese Cultural Prize for design.
1990 Awarded the distinguished Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from the France Minister of Culture.
1991 On February 1, passed away due to acute heart failure (at the age of 56).

Exhibition View

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