Experience the world of "minä perhonen", their biggest exhibition held in Japan
Japanese textile and fashion designer Akira Minagawa is currently holding an exhibition at Nagasaki Prefectural Art Museum.
The title is “1∞ MINAKAKERU : minä perhonen up to now and from now on”. “MINA” meaning “all” and “KAKERU” meaning “multiply” in Japanese, the title expresses the crossing and combination of creators, products, and events. Paris based architect Tsuyoshi Tane’s team DGT. were in charge of the spatial structure.
This exhibition is consisted of two areas, “substance” and “environment”. minä perhonen brand clothes, furniture and tableware are displayed in the substance area, with details explaining background concepts and production. In the environment area, visitors can experience “the world of minä”. This area is divided into ten rooms, and visitors are suggested to enter each one in an order. Each room opens up a new mina world, making visitors lose track of time.
One of the highlights is the eighth room called “Living”. A spacious room with a huge window almost reaching the celling. On the floor, walls and ceiling all covered with minä’s textiles, big and small furniture are placed in an exquisite balance.
Minagawa says he “wanted to suggest as a service, an environment which time and space is combined”. What does he mean by service? “Something that fulfills yourself and others. Your happiness passed on to others,” he says. A product is made from many elements; the intent of making, devotion to the production process, happiness after it’s completion, and hopes it would be used with care. When the creators’ happiness is passed on to people they intend, both creator and user can be fulfilled.
In the last room, a long cloth with multiple patterns catches the eye. The patterns change every 50 centimeters, although it is not patchwork but actually woven differently with the same warp. Minagawa never cut corners, devotes every thought and effort, and submits his work to the world with great passion. His comment, “Service is in the product as an intent” leaves an impression. For 20 years, his attitude towards creating has not changed at all.
Text by Yoko Kawashima
Translated by Chihiro Sekiguchi
