DESIGNART tokyo is a design and art festival annually held every fall. the many exhibitions, and the range of creative fields they cover, bring together diverse objects and experiences created in the crossover between interior design, art, fashion, and food from around the globe. the event ‘venue’ is the city of tokyo, one of the world’s leading mixed culture cities. for 12 days — from october 23 – november 3, 2020 — the 2020 edition sees over 100 exhibitors join the event across more than 60 venues. under the theme, ‘power to the creatives!’, the goal of DESIGNART tokyo is to generate a mind-enriching, modern version of the arts and crafts movement, which took place in the UK in the 19th century. just as it placed value on the return to nature and indigenous culture for the purpose of realizing artistic life, the event also aims to change society through our own approaches.

 

‘at a time when a new normal lifestyle is required, design and art will likely increase its importance by enriching our everyday lives,’ the DESIGNART tokyo team states. ‘unique talents from all over the world will gather — physically and virtually — so, ‘take a journey’ with your curiosity and adventurous spirit and help reboot a new art and design movement.’

 

as a media partner of DESIGNART tokyo 2020, designboom previews the themes, venues and exhibitors set to enliven the city this fall. 

DESIGNART tokyo 2020: for 12-days, japan's capital city becomes an open-air museum
for the first time in japan, studio PEPE’s video installation explores an imaginary constellation, called desiderio

 

 

DESIGNART tokyo 2020 is a socially-distanced, multi-venue festival that offers visitors the opportunity to explore the streets of tokyo to experience unique works by international creators. this year’s event spotlights three themes that reflect on society today:

 

REBOOT at JASMAC AOYAMA — tokyo’s reboot of the culture of design & art
venue: jasmac aoyama 4 -11-1 minami-aoyama minato-ku, tokyo
exhibiting works/artists: studio PEPE; giovanni pellone design; 9+1; YOY; aida; denis guidone x ARITA; shunya sugawara; TENOHA MILANO connection

 

as the COVID-19 pandemic forced milan design week 2020 to be canceled this year, DESIGNART tokyo 2020 is offering domestic and foreign companies and creators an opportunity to bring their works from japan, to italy, and to the global stage. the venue for REBOOT will be JASMAC AOYAMA, the architectural work of aldo rossi, which boasts an avant-garde expression seen in italy’s postmodern design.

DESIGNART tokyo 2020: for 12-days, japan's capital city becomes an open-air museum
denis guidone x ARITA
an exhibition of sketches, moulds, tools and final products of a new porcelain series developed by riso porcelain and denis guidone during the creative residency with ARITA

DESIGNART tokyo 2020: for 12-days, japan's capital city becomes an open-air museum
YOY will show three new works for REBOOT at JASMAC AOYAMA

 

 

DESIGNART gallery — puncturing boundaries
venue: 4-12-10 jiugu-mae shibuya-ku, tokyo omotesando hills B3F space O
period: october 27 – november 3
exhibiting works/artists: yasuhiro suzuki; batten and kamp; drill ⁄ nottuo inc.; AaaM architects ⁄ shuyan chan, bobpang, kevin siu; FIL; stellar works (new collection by nendo); RYOTA AKIYAMA; toyooka craft x flavien delbergue; DESIGN PIER; pim sudhikam; SOVET italia; studio EJ; docomo ⁄ kakezan

 

 

DESIGNART gallery will be held at omotesando hills, located in the center of omotesando in tokyo, and will exhibit innovative works by up-and-coming designers and artists from japan and overseas. under the theme ‘puncturing boundaries’, works will be gathered across the boundary of design and art, so visitors can understand the appeal and approach of DESIGNART tokyo in a single place.

DESIGNART tokyo 2020: for 12-days, japan's capital city becomes an open-air museum
stellar works and nendo unveil first furniture collaboration

DESIGNART tokyo 2020: for 12-days, japan's capital city becomes an open-air museum
studio EJ is a part of design pier’s latest curation for DESIGNART tokyo 2020
‘introverted chameleon’ is a series of tables with contrasting surfaces; a simple and elegant shell and mirror inside

DESIGNART tokyo 2020: for 12-days, japan's capital city becomes an open-air museum
alexandra batten and daniel kamp’s installation consists of sculptural furniture from their renowned ‘shelter to ground’ collection along with new experimental works

DESIGNART tokyo 2020: for 12-days, japan's capital city becomes an open-air museum
yasuhiro suzuki, ‘bench of the japanese islands’
on the bench set in the same direction as the japanese archipelago, visitors can feel a connection with a faraway place

DESIGNART tokyo 2020: for 12-days, japan's capital city becomes an open-air museum
ryota akiyama — [not implemented error] is a group show that exhibits new findings originated by redefining ‘errors’ from daily works

 

 

HOME OFFICE EXHIBITION — the new workstyle
venue: world kita-aoyama building 3-5-10 kita-aoyama minatoku, tokyo
exhibitors: 1518; SEMPRE/vitra; varier/shinwa shop, steelcase/wsi, emu, muuto(clockwise from top left)

 

through the exhibition ‘the new workstyle’, DESIGNART tokyo 2020 attempts to redefine the new style of the ‘home office’ — one that can deal with changes in the work environment, and the feelings and attitudes that they have had in various fields. the venue is the world famous kita aoyama building, known as an incubation space. the venue has been designed by shuhei kamiya, an architect who continues to refine his unique view of the world, from architecture and design to creative direction.

DESIGNART tokyo 2020: for 12-days, japan's capital city becomes an open-air museum
(clockwise from top left) 1518, SEMPRE/vitra, varier/shinwa shop, steelcase/wsi, emu, muuto

 

 

KASHIYAMA DAIKANYAMA — a collection of unique artistic works
venue: kashiyama daikanyama 14-18 daikanyama-cho shibuya-ku tokyo.
period: october 27 – november 3 
exhibiting works/artists: h220430; knit all together / motohiro tanji; TANAKA, philippe baudelocque x plethora magazine, amane, yu qi

DESIGNART tokyo 2020: for 12-days, japan's capital city becomes an open-air museum
philippe baudelocque x plethora magazine 
a special exhibition by a french artist philippe baudelocque, who selected by danish art magazine plethora magazine, drawing the universe

DESIGNART tokyo 2020: for 12-days, japan's capital city becomes an open-air museum
based in brooklyn NY, TANAKA is a unisex clothing brand with the concept ‘clothing that connects the past and next 100 years. clothing that goes beyond time and gender.’ using denim as the medium, a new style of upcycling and sustainability is expressed through images and modeling exhibitions.

DESIGNART tokyo 2020: for 12-days, japan's capital city becomes an open-air museum
h220430 / satoshi itasaka
the ‘stump chair’ is by a new project headed by a markable japanese product designer-architect-artist, satoshi itasaka

 

 

NEW HIGHLIGHT / NEW CREATORS

DESIGNART tokyo 2020: for 12-days, japan's capital city becomes an open-air museum
PETIT BATEAU / NORIHIKO TERAYAMA
a special exhibition highlights the collaboration of petit bateau with deyrolle, a parisian institution for natural sciences and pedagogy. terayama will express the collection universe by mixing the softness of petit bateau fabric, the deyrolle illustration’s delicateness, and the details of the real plant with the coldness of artificial flowers

DESIGNART tokyo 2020: for 12-days, japan's capital city becomes an open-air museum
TORY BURCH / RISA MURAKAMI
the collaboration exhibition between japanese-style painter risa murakami and tory burch, a lifestyle brand that embodies the sensibility and style of the designer, comes from the inspirations of art and interior design. this time, murakami will be drawing a new painting inspired by tory burch and its store

DESIGNART tokyo 2020: for 12-days, japan's capital city becomes an open-air museum
ART SUMMIT 2020 — SHIGERU AOI ART COLLECTION
art collectors will spread the fascination of art towards a prosperous future of japan where art would be abundant, at ‘art summit’. the power of art will be disseminated through collections and events hosted by shigeru aoi, a real estate developer in japan and overseas, and an owner that operates a cultural facility complex in hiroo, tokyo

 

 

 

practical information

 

event name: DESIGNART tokyo 2020
period: october 23 –  november 3, 2020
official website: http://designart.jp/designarttokyo2020/en/
area: omotesando, gaien-mae / harajuku, meiji-jingu-mae / shibuya / daikanyama / roppongi / shinjuku / ginza
organizer: DESIGNART tokyo committee
the founders of DESIGNART: akio aoki (miru design) , shun kawakami (artless inc.) , hiroshi koike (non-grid), okisato nagata (timeless) , astrid klein & mark dytham (klein dytham architecture)