Modern Japanese Design

Drawn from Manchester’s own collections, the show provides an overview of the past fifty years of Japanese design. It highlights the breadth of Manchester’s collections, bringing together fashion, furniture, lighting, ceramics, glass, metalwork and jewellery.

The exhibition, located in the refurbished 19th century former Athenaeum theatre space, includes works from thirty two designers with over one hundred pieces on display. It shows how respect for nature and natural forces and the innovative use of materials and revolutionary techniques have influenced Japanese design. The display also reveals the importance of philosophical and spiritual ideas derived from Buddhism that have influenced the aesthetic and conceptual direction of Japanese design through the approaches of minimalism, deconstruction, and wabi sabi.

Image courtesy of Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester, UK