Celebrating Japan – Denmark 150 years with Design Collaborations by Lars Vejen
2017 marks 150 years of diplomatic relations between Japan and Denmark. To celebrate this anniversary, Danish architect and designer Lars Vejen has designed new series of products in collaboration with selected Danish and Japanese craftsmen.
Lars Vejen believes in the power of design to reunite talented people of different creative fields. Besides individual product planning and design, he undertakes diverse collaboration projects across various industries and countries. Japan is especially dear to his heart: he was offered an internship at a company in Kyoto in 1995, and has visited the country every year ever since. Japanese exquisite craftsmanship has inspired him to design new products, and his ideas took shape in skillful hands of Japanese and Danish artisans.
The exhibition Design Collaborations by Lars Vejen / Celebrating Japan – Denmark 150 years was held at the gallery of Kyoto Museum of Crafts and Design (where these images were taken) from November 3, 2017 to December 3, 2017 and at the gallery A. Petersen Collection & Crafts in Copenhagen from December 7, 2017 to February 11, 2018.
The STICK lantern manufactured by Kojima Shouten is an example of fusion of traditional Japanese techniques and innovative design challenges. Made by a traditional paper lantern maker, it brings Kyoto handicraft heritage to the modern design scene. Image credit: Tomomi Takano
Image credit: Tomomi Takano
ENSO lamp by Kohseki celebrates the harmony between Japanese craftsmanship and Danish design. Image credit: Dejan Alankhan
STOOLBOX by Washitaka is a multifunctional piece of furniture : it can be used as a toolbox, bookshelf, side table and stool.
Image credit: Tomomi Takano
Zabuton set and Furoshiki MOKUWASHI cover by Iwata is perfect for your guest bedding. Image credit: Naoki Miyashita
This beautiful flower vase with an innovative modular design was made by Asada Kawara Factory, a maker of traditional Kyoto roof tiles.
COOL CARAFE series, a fascinating result of a collaboration between Stenholt Glass, a Danish-based glassblower, and Nishimura Stone Lantern. If the stone base is chilled, the carafe can serve as a wine or water cooler.
SAIBI tray series by Gato Mikio explores functional appeal of trays with slight but transformative changes in their shapes.
Wooden boxes by Kazuki Hanafusa made of high-quality cedar wood bring out some simple yet unique details in surface, colour and pattern.
PAPER BOXES, other wonderful products by Kazuki Hanafusa, are patiently handcrafted with extreme precision: multiple layers of paper are glued together one by one.
CUT bag series by Leather by Hand, SAIBI tea canisters by Seikado and FUROSHIKI wool covers by Nikolai Bisgaard.
Every piece of ASA ceramic series made by Satoshi Masuda bears tactile striped patterns.
SAIBI set of cups and pitcher by Seikado, a pewterer founded in Kyoto in 1838.
Gato Mikio masters not only the techniques of woodturning, but also those of lacquerware.
SAIBI wood and tin cup series brings together the work of Seikado and Gato Mikio.
BOND lounge chair celebrates the fundamental values of Mogens Hansen: sustainability, design and high Danish quality.
HOYO lounge chair with a graphically simple design for both private and commercial use (manufactured by JENSENplus) and FRAMED door, a collaboration between Vahle and Dinesen.
A modern door handle by Randi-Line® NORDIC with its insert of birch tree bark is warm and soft to touch.
