Tea ceremony is one of the most well known Japanese culture. However, it is a little hard to find the place for Japanese tea ceremony.
Now The National Art Center, Tokyo has “Glass Tea House – KOU-AN” until May 30 2022.
“Glass Tea House – KOU-AN” is Japanese designer and artist, Tokujin Yoshioka’s work and it was first presented at the 54th International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale in 2011.
At the National Art Center, Tokyo, “Glass Tea House – KOU-AN” was installed in front of the main entrance so that visitors can see how it changes its appearance under natural light.
The Japanese view of nature as a way of perceiving energy is also inherent in the philosophy of the tea ceremony.
KOU-AN transcends the notions of space and time and makes us rethink the roots of Japanese culture.
This teahouse, which uses glass to express light, has no traditional hanging scrolls or flower arrangements, but is illuminated by the sun’s rays, which create a water-like glow.
The light emitted from the crystal prism sculptures forms a rainbow, “flower of light”. The architecture of the light frees us from the concept of materials and reveals a poetic scene.
Tokujin Yoshioka, after studying design under Shiro Kuramata and Issey Miyake, who are very famous Japanese designers, he founded his own design office in 2000.
Working in the fields of design, architecture and contemporary art, Tokujin Yoshioka’s poetic works on the themes of light and nature reflect the roots of Japanese beauty.
His work, which embodies light and other immaterial elements, transcends the concept of form and the human senses, creating a unique form of expression.
His works are in the permanent collections of major museums around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art, New York (USA), the Centre Georges Pompidou (France) and the Victoria and Albert Museum (UK).
This beautiful tea house is exhibited for just almost 1 year, so don’t miss the excellent mix of modern and traditional Japanese culture.
Date: Apr. 17th 2019 ~ May 30 2022
Open Date and hour: Check the NACT’s website
Website: https://www.nact.jp/english/
