Tokyo Design Week 2015. Kawaii & Cool

The Tokyo Design Week 2015 in Milan is an event not to be missed, for fans of the Japanese culture both for lovers of technology. This year's show as part of Milan Design Week was held in Zona Tortona and it was a real triumph of art, fashion, technology and interactivity. In this article take a ride discovering the exhibitors who showed their most interesting projects.

Having endorsed the Brera district and have seen several interesting projects expected with trepidation to see the event dedicated to Japan and in fact I have visited Zona Tortona (my favorite of all time) and I'm not disappointed.

The main theme of this year is TOKYO who wants to express the constant shuffling of today city through a mix of Kawaii & Cool. Extreme creativity and technology to tell Edo (the historical period from 1603 to 1868 and the ancient city) mixed with the most extreme modernity of modern district Harajuku.

Room Tokyo Girls by CHINTAI

The event is divided into some micro events the first of these is absolutely super Kawaii. The artist Sebastian Masuda presents “Colorful Rebellion – Seventh Nightmare” This is an installation designed especially for the Salone del Mobile 2015. As the name you enter in a feminine universe sui generis. Everything in its own way.

It is the classic idea of the adolescent and overly colorful Japanese kawaii, lover of plush and super deformed manga characters, a triumph of strong colors blinding almost suffocating.

Zipper × HARAJUKU Fashion

For fans of fashion with the kawaii trend is the Magazine Zipper (from 1993) who will present the 4 typical styles representing the neighborhood and lifestyle of Harajuku. The works exhibited are made by students of 3 most professional fashion schools.

Homage to UKIYOE

As for the art back into the limelight Ukiyoe, pictures of the floating world, created during the Edo period to celebrate the artistic ferment of the capital Japanese audience.

It comes to artistic prints made on wooden blocks inexpensive because they were mass produced mainly designed for the townspeople who could not afford the real paintings in their homes.

In this case, six international artists have reinterpreted the fine art thanks to the knowledge of craftsmen specialized in genre. Artists are James Jean, Alan Chan, Alex Puvilland, Dan Schlesinger, Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas and Ross Lovegrove.

Hokusai Manga Inspired Exhibition

The 2014 was the 200th anniversary of the Japanese artist best known to the world: Katsushika Hokusai. His best-known work is the series “36 views of Mount Fuji“, including the most famous “The great wave of Kanagawa”.

At the Tokyo Design Week of Milan 20 artists were invited to revisit in a modern works of Japanese master. While visiting the pavilion also discover an artist that I have already talked about in this blog: OHGUSHI.

Tokyo Creative & Creators

This section is especially dedicated to companies and creators who produce the excellence of design Made in Japan.

As always Japan is great source of inspiration and this event proves it. Have you visited the Tokyo Design Week? What do you think?

If some project has intrigued you and you liked it please write a comment and let me know. See you.