ryosuke harashima morphs traditional japanese artifacts into contemporary objects

ryosuke harashima wanted to change people’s attitudes towards traditional japanese folk tools and antiquities that are considered obsolete in modern day. inspired by these artifacts’ ‘spirits’ and how they represent the passing of time, the designer brought together the old and the new into his STILLIFE collection.

a table made of a brass frame and an old japanese chest with locking bar for storage.

harashima brought the contrast between the old tools, characterized by their deep textures and atmospheres not present in mass-produced products, and modern industrial materials such as brass and glass. combined in a classical yet sophisticated new form, he reinterpreted the ‘old tools’ in a contemporary way.

table combining a brass frame and an old japanese bamboo lattice basket.

the appreciation of old objects is found in the japanese spiritual concept of the ‘tsukumo god’. about this concept the designer says, ‘the belief that after many years, tools transform into something that carries a spirit, attracts people and invokes creativity. perhaps the antiquity in itself is beautiful enough, but by combining the old with the new, it could be thought that the objects are given a new, modern life. I try to inspire people to think about the meaning of sustainability and consumption society.’

combining old nesting boxes, called ‘kiri-dame’ used to cut vegetables in old japanese kitchens, with cylinder brass parts. 

table made of a brass frame and an old japanese bamboo basket with legs.

 old Japanese clothing tray which is redecorated by combining pattern which replica of the fabric that was made in java around the 18th.

a lighting piece made of light hanging on an old japanese bamboo ladder.

a light which combines a brass frame and an old japanese lattice tray.

these trays were lids of boxes of urushi layered boxes, transformed in a new object.

products on exhibition at SOMEWHERE TOKYO, japan, from june 22 to july 15, 2019. upcoming exhibition in the same gallery in fall 2019. 

project info:

project name: STILLIFE

design: ryosuke harashima

photography: nik van der giesen

exhibition: SOMEWHERE TOKYO, japan, from june 22 to july 15, 2019. upcoming exhibition in the same gallery in fall 2019. 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: cristina gomez | designboom