Grand Seiko presents TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA - Frozen

Grand Seiko presents an extraordinary project in collaboration with Tokujin Yoshioka, one of Japan’s most renowned designers. Titled “TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA - Frozen,” the project will be showcased during Milan Design Week, from Tuesday, April 8 to Sunday, April 13. 
Born in 1967, Tokujin Yoshioka established his studio, TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA INC., in 2000, after working with Shiro Kuramata and Issey Miyake. Known for his work in design, architecture, and contemporary art, he has created iconic pieces such as the "Sakura Torch" for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the glass bench "Water Block" at the Musée d'Orsay. His works are part of renowned collections like MoMA and the V&A, and he has been recognized as one of Newsweek’s “100 Most Respected Japanese in the World.” We interviewed the designer.


Photo courtesy of Grand Seiko

Your work spans across design, architecture and art. In "TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA- Frozen,” how do you manage to combine these different worlds to create a multisensory experience?

For decades, I have been pursuing a creation that gives form to the energy of nature through expressions that are not confined to the realms of design or art.
For some time, I have wanted to create a chair with water, the source of life and a formless, transparent substance. In this exhibition, I hope to create a mind-bending experience transcending human imagination by visualizing magnificent natural energies.

Focusing on the concept of "water," you create an installation in which a transparent light sculpture transforms with the passage of time. How does this evolution reflect the concept of change and impermanence, and what message do you wish to convey through this transformation?

Nature is timeless and universal, and I think that it will be the most critical element in our future. I have always wanted to create things that bring about an emotional experience by giving form to nature, rather than simply making material objects. Nature transcends what humans can imagine. I desire to express the unfathomable beauty of nature through unexpected phenomena. This involves working with nature. Based on the research of natural principles, my new work, “Aqua Chair,” is created by crystallizing water. The form of crystalline solid water changes over time, bringing beauty beyond human imagination. We want to express such natural energy.


Photo courtesy of Grand Seiko

You’ve worked with great masters such as Shiro Kuramata and Issey Miyake. How do these influences reflect in your approach to design?

I work with the joy of making discoveries that have not been made before. Realizing them can be a challenge, but I believe that in the process, I can create something that moves people. This is the process of design I learned from Issey Miyake and Shiro Kuramata, and I believe it is reflected in my own approach.

What do you think of the Grand Seiko’s philosophy ‘The Nature of Time’?

I find that Grand Seiko’s philosophy, “Nature of Time,” corresponds with Japanese philosophy and aesthetics. Grand Seiko has expressed the beauty of nature and the subtle changes of the seasons in Japan through its craftsmanship. I hope that the audience can feel my pursuit of expression through nature, as well as the Japanese sense of beauty and view of nature, in this collaboration.


Photo courtesy of Grand Seiko

Your works have been displayed in some of the world’s most prestigious museums. What does it mean for you to present a project like “TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA-Frozen” during Milan Design Week, and what do you hope the audience will take from this new visual and sensory experience?

Nature is universal, and most valuable for the future. For decades, I have made works with the theme of nature. I think that the ones in the permanent collections of museums are valued because people find them timeless.  I think the meaning of creating and presenting works of art is the creation of universal value: this is the very philosophy of my design. Through my creations, I continue to question and explore what timeless beauty should be, as well as our seeking out of the sensory, all while going beyond materials and shapes. I hope that through this installation, you can feel the energy of creation.