Finnish design and style duo Company has designed a assortment of items combining conventional abilities and types from northern Japan with craft from Finland and has provided every single one a “spirit” – a person dressed in a costume to represent the soul of the object .

The items and their accompanying “spirits” have been designed for an exhibition referred to as Tricks of North Japan at the Aomori Museum of Artwork, in Japan’s Aomori prefecture.

Secrets of North Japan by Company Geta Roller shoes

Each product is made to reflect the culture and climate of the surrounding surroundings, including classic wooden geta shoes turned into roller-skates and a stool with a household of turned-wood dolls as legs.

The exhibition is the most current in a series from Organization, every single focusing on the “hidden” crafts and culture of a distinct nation – such as Secrets and techniques of Finland from 2007, as nicely as exhibitions focused to Korea, Belgium, Russia and Estonia.

Secrets of North Japan by Company Geta roller spirit

“We began the Secrets and techniques of venture in 2007 when questioning what is even now manufactured in Finland,” Johan Olin and Aamu Song of Company informed Dezeen. “Given that 2007, we’ve visited factories and makers about Finland and created new items based on each and every of their traditions.”

During their exploration of conventional Russian craft in 2012, the duo noticed a powerful connection in between the woodturning strategies utilized there and in northern Japan.

Secrets of North Japan by Company Bunaco Tree

“Artist Nara Yoshitomo located out our Secrets of Russia had a sturdy connection with the hidden culture of northern Japan, and we were invited by him and the Aomori Museum of Artwork to discover northern Japanese secrets,” mentioned the designers.


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Having invested time observing the cultures and standard craft techniques in a variety of prefectures across the north of the nation, the duo designed every piece in the demonstrate primarily based on the study they had gathered.

Secrets of North Japan by Company Bunaco spirit

“All objects are inspired by northern Japanese tradition, craft and belief,” the designers explained. “Even though most products are crafted by Japanese masters and local industries, some are also created by Finnish handcraft masters.”

By utilizing Finland-based mostly producers, Company hoped to “bring a new touch” to the objects.

Secrets of North Japan by Company Sakunami trees

“We needed to draw a connection among the traditions in Finland and in northern Japan and also to deliver a new touch into a sturdy tradition,” stated Olin and Song.

Ghosts and spirits play a central role in Japanese folklore, and this and the designers’ belief that “every item has their very own spirit” is central to the notion of the exhibition. Every single piece is accompanied by a video projection of a particular person dressed in the matching spirit–inspired costume.

Secrets of North Japan by Company Sakunami Tree spirit

“Getting learnt from northern Japan, we decided to make our belief noticeable and tactile,” said the designers. “Some patterns materialised as a item first, and then came the spirit. Sometimes it was the other way about.”


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A mushroom-shaped lamp and conventional geta sneakers turned into roller-skates are amongst the pieces exhibited in an octagonal open-air area created by artist Yoshitomo Nara in the courtyard of the Aomori Museum of Artwork.

Secrets of North Japan by Company Household Kokeshi stool

The legs of a wooden stool have been modelled on the family of a Kokeshi (a wooden Japanese doll) master, Abo Mutsihide, who the duo met on their travels.

“Abo Mutsihide’s whole loved ones is involved in Kokeshi making,” stated Olin. “We realised a tiny stool design and style expressing 1 man’s stunning planet, he is in the middle as a column, and all other loved ones members are around him under his umbrella.”

Secrets of North Japan by Company Kokeshi family members spirit

A parade of men and women dressed as the “spirits” took location on the exhibition’s opening night.

Strategies of Northern Japan took place from 1 August to 13 September at the Aomori Museum of Artwork.

Dezeen

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