Yuki Nara Solo Exhibition "Synergism"

Yuki Nara Solo Exhibition “Synergism” In collaboration with ROLF BENZ TOKYO, Yuki Nara will present “Synergism,” a solo exhibition of 10 works from his latest “Bone Flower meets Rolf Benz” series inspired by the ROLF BENZ.

Nara is proud to have a history of over 350 years, whose father is   Ohi Cyozaemon the 11th generation of Ohi potter, and his grandfather is a recipient of the Order of Culture.

In the mid 1600’s, when the lord of the Kaga domain introduced the Senke tea ceremony from Kyoto, Ohi ware was born in the area of Kanazawa as the only Raku ware side kiln, and the name was passed down from generation to generation in the family from the founder, Ohi Chozaemon.

Born the eldest son of a traditional family, Nara initially distanced himself from ceramics and studied architecture at Tokyo University of the Arts, graduating with honors from the university’s Graduate School of Art, majoring in architecture.

In 2021, he was selected as a finalist in the Under 35 Architects exhibition 2021, a competition for young architects in Japan.

【Event Summary】■Date: October 23, 2020 (Friday) – November 3, 2020 (Tuesday, holiday) 11:00-19:00

Press: October 21, 2020 (Wednesday) 16:00- / VIP: October 21, 2021 (Wednesday) 18:30-21:00, October 22, 2021 (Thursday) 13: October 22 (Thu.) 13: 00-19:00

■Venue：ROLF BENZ TOKYO Address｜6-4-6 Minamiaoyama, Almost Blue Bldg.A, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Omotesando Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Hanzomon Line, or Chiyoda Line. 8 minutes walk from Exit A5 10 minutes walk from Exit B3

■Yuki Nara’s latest work series “Bone Flower meets Rolf Benz” 10 pieces will be exhibited and sold for the first time.

■ROLF BENZ latest work “Liv” unveiled and on sale

The “Bone Flower meets Rolf Benz” series, which will be presented in this exhibition, is the result of the fusion of the “Bone Flower” series, which was created by combining architectural design techniques using the latest technology with traditional ceramic techniques, with furniture from ROLF BENZ, a complete brand that excels in both design and high quality, retaining traditional qualities and captivating the world in a timeless manner.

*Preventive measures are being taken to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the museum. 　

Please refrain from visiting the museum if you are not feeling well. 　

Please wear a mask, wash your hands, disinfect your fingers, and practice good cough etiquette.

The contents and events are subject to change. Please check the website for the latest information.

【Synergism】“Synergism” (interaction), which is the name of our solo exhibition, has been a part of Japanese culture since ancient times.

Starting with the Manyoshu anthology of poetry, the poetry of tanka and haiku, which have the appeal of allowing people to express what they feel in their daily lives, and the improvised dance and exquisite dialogue between performers in Noh and Kabuki.

In modern times, we have focused on the relationship between two things that mutually influence and complement each other, as seen in manzai (comic dialogue) and rap battles.

　Traditionally, art and furniture have not mingled with each other because they are considered through separate thought processes that diverge from the sense of the individual and the sense of the whole, respectively.

However, Mr. Nara believes that art and furniture are essentially like parents and children, or like lovers, who mutually enhance each other through their pairing.　

Japan and Germany, which share similarities in miraculous recovery and economic growth from defeat, have also influenced each other and fostered cultural exchange in the field of the arts.

The Bauhaus, a German design school that has greatly influenced the Japanese design, architecture, and education worlds with its educational methods, rationalism, and functionalism, and Meissen porcelain, which is said to have been influenced by Arita-yaki porcelain, are just a few examples.

We hope you will feel the affinity between Japan and Germany at this exhibition.

　We would like to take this opportunity to invite you to view the new world of Mr. Nara, which includes not only the fusion of architecture and ceramics, tradition and cutting-edge, which he has always been conscious of, but also a cross between art and furniture, everyday and extraordinary, and Japanese and German cultures.

Yuki Nara, a ceramic artist, and architect, was born in Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan in 1989, graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts in 2013, completed the Tajimi City Ceramic Design Institute in 2016, graduated first in his class from Tokyo University of the Arts in 2017, and has been the president of the architectural design office EARTHEN since 2021. In the field of ceramics, he has been invited to participate in Art Basel / Design Miami (Switzerland), TEFAF (Netherlands), and SOFA (USA). His major awards include the Jury’s Special Prize at the Kanazawa World Crafts Triennial (2017).

Official website ： http://yukinara.jp/

1989 Born in Kanazawa City, the eldest son of the 11th generation of Ohi Chozaemon.

2013 BA in Architecture from Tokyo University of the Arts 2016 BA in Ceramic Design from the Ceramic Design Institute of Tajimi City 2017 BA in Architecture from Tokyo University of the Arts

Exhibitions 2016 Kikuchi Biennale (Kikuchi Kanji Memorial Museum of Art / Tokyo) 2016 Utsuwa Sono Saki ni Ceramics – Form of Soul (Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store / Tokyo) 2016 SOFA CHICAGO (USA) 2017 Collect (UK) 2017 TEFAF Maastricht (Netherlands) 2017 Art Fair Tokyo (Tokyo International Forum / Tokyo) 2017 Design Miami / Art Basel (Switzerland) 2017 ASIA NOW (France) 2017 KOGEI Art Fair Kanazawa (KUMU / Kanazawa, Japan) 2018 Les Promesses du Feu / Flame of Concentration (Pierre-Yves Cas.r Gallery / France) 2018 Art Fair Tokyo (Tokyo International Forum / Tokyo) 2018 Asia Contemporary Art Show (Hong Kong) 2018 Art Taipei (Taiwan) 2018 Art Expo New York (Pier94 / USA) 2019 Art Central (Central Harborfront / Hong Kong) 2019 The 21st Mokichi Okada Award Exhibition (MOA Museum of Art / Atami) 2019 Art KYOTO (Nanijo Castle / Kyoto) 2020 Hybridizing (Akio Nagasawa Gallery / Tokyo)

Architecture 2018 Five Tea Rooms (Kanazawa 21st Century Museum of Fine Arts, Tainan City Museum of Art / Kanazawa, Taiwan)

Product 2013 Rokkakudo Pudding (Design/ Asataya) 2015 Kizuna (Beer tumbler/ Nikko)

His works are in the collections of Nezu Museum (Tokyo), Victoria & Albert Museum (UK), and others.

ROLF BENZ ROLF BENZ was founded in 1964 in the city of Nagold, Germany, where essential sofa-making technologies, such as strong frame construction and careful upholstery techniques, flourish. Known for introducing the world’s first corner sofa and establishing a new lifestyle, the company has been a constant industry leader ever since.

　ROLF BENZ”, a leading German luxury furniture brand, has announced the world’s first officially certified ROLF BENZ flagship shop “ROLF BENZ TOKYO” with “Global Flagship Design” for the world market last year. ROLF BENZ TOKYO, the world’s first officially authorized ROLF BENZ flagship store, is the venue for Yuki Nara’s first collaboration with interior design.

　Please also experience newest sofa, “Liv,” which will make its first appearance in Japan.

ROLF BENZ TOKYO

Address｜6-4-6 Minamiaoyama, Almost Blue Bldg.A, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 107-0062 Phone Number｜03-6419-4321 FAX number｜03-6419-4322 Closed on Wednesdays (except holidays) Business hours｜11:00am-7:00pm Access｜Omotesando Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Hanzomon Line, or Chiyoda Line. 8 minutes walk from Exit A5 10 minutes walk from Exit B3

Official Website https://www.rolf-benz-tokyo.jp/

First appearance in Japan ROLF BENZ Liv, the newest ROLF BENZ sofa The sofa is the centerpiece of a contemporary living space that symbolizes a way of life.

This is a space where new ideas are born, healing takes place, or events are enjoyed.

From the Black Forest region of southern Germany comes the 2020 luxury sofa ROLF BENZ “Liv”, a fusion of Italian sofa art and German technology.

　The name of this new living concept, “Liv,” means “life” itself in Scandinavian, and in English, “Live!

Profile Luca Nichetto　Born in Venice in 1976. 　After graduating from Istituto statale d’arte in Venice, he studied industrial design at Università Iuav di Venezia, graduating in 1998.

Since 1999, he has worked as a product designer and lighting consultant for Foscarini, a lighting manufacturer after working for a manufacturer of Murano glass, and established his own office in Venice in 2006. In 2011, he opened a second office in Stockholm, Sweden, where he directs the design work of many major companies. 　

His innovative designs for furniture, accessories, and other products, as well as architectural and exhibition spaces, have won numerous design awards and recognition around the world. 　He is a professor at Università Iuav di Venezia and a member of the jury for many international design competitions.