Unleashing the Spectrum – Tokujin Yoshioka

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Renowned designer creates a mesmerizing sculpture of prisms, projecting infinite rainbows, a riot of light and color
 
As children, we have all gone bananas over the light, played shadow shapes on the walls, made the dog dance around trying to catch the elusive spot of light, and more than anything, stood in awe as the sky gave its own show of rainbows. There is a magnetism in watching the dance of natural light and colour and their congruence.
 
Inspired by the same fascination, Japanese luminary designer Tokujin Yoshioka explores and plays with the natural light in his experiments with luminescence using glass and crystal.
 
 
His solo installation, aptly named ‘Spectrum’, being held at Shiseido Gallery, Tokyo until 26th March 2017, is one such experiment. The sculpture is up made of 200 prisms on the wall refracting thousands of rainbow rays, and projecting light spectrum to the entire space. Inspired by the relationship between man and natural light, this installation conveys the aura of nature, the passage of time and the beauty of light itself, and aims to arouse human senses conveying the mystery of rainbow rays refracted through prisms.
 
“This experience offers an almost mystical journey through light, with seemingly infinite rainbow colours created from the sculpture made of prisms”, says Tokujin, “Sunlight, moonlight and shimmers of water – all living creatures can sense the power of the natural world. The beauty of it transcends time and has mystic energy that cannot be fully grasped.”
 
 
Tokujin Yoshioka is known as one of the most influential creators in the world. 
 
In this masterpiece, he attempted to recreate sunlight. Corresponding to light, the sculpture made of 200 prisms on the wall refracts thousands of rainbow rays, and here in this installation, shards of light project spectrum to the entire space.
 
“I’ve studied and experimented with sunlight many times because it is such a unique phenomenon. Through this process, I’ve learned the unpredictable character of natural light, and I tried to create this sublime beauty with my own approach. I see transparency as a colour which is closest to light, and I use this as a material. The colour of transparency is radiant in the sunlight.”
 
 
“I’ve always felt that there is nothing more beautiful than natural light. Light itself doesn’t have a form, but it exists with a mystic aura which can change the surrounding atmosphere and resonate with our innermost emotions.”
 
 
“We are all fascinated by nature. This installation is inspired by the relationship between man and natural light, and the beauty of light itself, and aims to arouse human senses by conveying the mystery of light. The transparency and mystique of natural light is created from layers of numerous colours. “
 
 
“For me, the important thing in my work, tracing the origin, is conveying the passage of time created by nature. I am to capture the essence of time and nature in an experience comprised of simple designs to allow viewers to integrate with nature and light in a way that is palpable. If we focus too much on style, it becomes difficult to see the essence.”
 
 
His other works include “VENUS” – a Natural crystal chair, Swarovski Crystal Palace “Stellar”, “Honey Pop”, “Pane Chair” and “Tornado”. His projects transcend the boundaries of product design, architecture, and exhibition installation, more artwork than architecture,
 
In 2013, Yoshioka installed the “Rainbow Church”, a giant architectural installation of some five hundred crystal prisms positioned to refract light in spectacular curves of colour across the space it inhabited. The exhibition, Crystalize, was held in Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo.
 
Rainbow Church
 
Some find his art to have a kind of Japanese influence, though there are no direct references. To which he says, “The Japanese concept of nature finds life and mysteries in the natural world stemming from a sensation of energy or an aura projected by nature,  This kind of perception and unique understanding of nature in Japan has echoed down to us from ancient times.”
 
KOU-AN Glass Tea House
 
In 2011, the design for the architectural project “KOU-AN Glass Tea House” was presented at Glasstress 2011, the collateral event of the 54th La biennale di Venezia, and in 2015, his interpretation of the traditional Tea House was installed on the stage of Shougunzuka Mound, Seiryu-den, a precinct of Tendai Sect Shoren-in Temple, which is, both a sacred Buddhist site and a designated Important Cultural Property of Japan. He aimed to capture the essence of time and nature in Japanese culture by integrating the glass Tea House with nature and light in a way that is palpable.
 
Katana
 
“Water Block”, a representative work of optical glass projects started since 2002, is permanently exhibited in Musée d’Orsay, Paris. “KATANA” is an evolution of “Water Block”. This glass is made with a traditional Japanese technique and a platinum mold, which indicates ripples on the surface of water. The solid glass with a triangular section expresses the beauty in nature. It becomes a transparent dynamic form as if sculpted from a mass of water.
 
Swarovski Crystal Palace “Stellar”
 
VENUS – Natural crystal chair
 
Honey Pop
 
Pane Chair
 
Tornado
 
To learn more about Tokujin Yoshioka, click here.
 
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