An Exhibition Exploring the Amazing Life of the Japanese Paper Lantern
Luminaires Akari conçus par Isamu Noguchi entre 1952 et 1983. Fabrication Ozeki Co, Gifu. Distribués en France par Sentou / © madd-bordeaux
Until May, the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design in Bordeaux is dedicating an exhibition to the Japanese paper lantern and its history. Known as ‘chochin’ in its native language, the paper lantern, mounted on a bamboo structure and dating back to the 11th century in Japan, has travelled through the ages but its aura and popularity have never waned. Sculptor and designer Isamu Noguchi decided to reinvent it in the 1950s through one hundred models which have now become somewhat of a cult, and experienced worldwide success.
Over the second half of the 20th century, the ‘Akari’ lamps (which means ‘light’ in Japanese) were themselves appropriated by mass market brands, for which they remain one of the flagship products (you need only wander around IKEA to see the proof of this). Through photo archives, sketches and models of lamps borrowed from different places around the world for the occasion, the museum looks back at the incredible life of this ordinary object and displays the work of designers like Ymer & Malta who continue its legacy.
Dans la salle dédiée à l’atelier pour enfants, une centaine de chōchin provenant de l’atelier Tanaka Shōten à Yame (île de Kyushu, préfecture de Fukuoka) / © Mathieu Peyroulet
Dans la salle dédiée à l’atelier pour enfants, une centaine de chōchin provenant de l’atelier Tanaka Shōten à Yame (île de Kyushu, préfecture de Fukuoka) / © Mathieu Peyroulet
Shigeru Uchida, collection Papermoon, 1990 Fabrication Asano, Gifu / © madd-bordeaux - I. Gaspar Ibeas
Avenue Benten-dori à Yokohama, vers 1890. Collection Photovintagefrance
Fabricants de lanternes en papier dites chōchin peignant - Début du XXème siècle / © New York Public Library - D.R.
Détail du salon de la villa de l’industriel Duccio Reggiani près de Bergame (Italie) avec un Akari 10A d’Isamu Noguchi / © Magazine L’Oeil - Pierre Berdoy. Source : « Villa Reggiani », L’Oeil n°99, mars 1963, p. 64, photographie par Pierre Berdoy
As Moveable as Butterflies. Les chōchin du Japon
Musée des Arts décoratifs et du Design
39 rue Bouffard, 33000 Bordeaux
Until 19 May 2019
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