A NEW HORIZON – A showcase of Contemporary Design from East Asia –

Last year, Asia Creative Relation held a talk session on “Contributing to the World through Creativity,” with the conviction that the creation of a new platform to make a difference in the world is essential. Further expanding the ideas and connections developed in the previous event, this year, we welcome Suzy Anneta as guest curator and space designer Kentaro Ishida for our special exhibit,A NEW HORIZON―A showcase of contemporary design from East Asia.

Showcasing contemporary works by designers originating from across East Asia — Japan, South Korea, Mainland China and Taiwan — A New Horizon looks at future trends in design and contemporary lifestyles. Curator Suzy Annetta has divided the works into four categories that represent the potentiality of our future lifestyles — the what, how and why of objects we choose to live with. These chapters, entitled Biomorphism, Upcycled, New Belle Epoque and Future Traditions, naturally revealed themselves during the curatorial process, implying that these themes were present in existing works, not externally imposed. Given that these works represent self-driven fields of inquiry, the viewer is given an opportunity to gain insight into the current mindset, philosophical approach and practice of these leading designers.

Chapter 1. Biomorphism

Dongwook Choi(South Korea)

The word ‘Biomorphism’ refers to abstract forms or images that evoke naturally occurring forms such as plants, organisms and body parts. This group showcases work that relates to these natural forms in a contemporary way, and is suitable for contemporary or future living spaces.

Dongwook Choi （South Korea）
Jingjin Naihan Li （China）
SDANLEY DESIGN WORKS （Taiwan）
we+ （Japan）

Chapter 2. Upcycled

we+

These works are made or assembled using recycled materials, offcuts or leftovers (such as recycled or discarded plastic, construction, post-consumer or agricultural waste). As we move into the future, the growing scarcity of natural resources will only become more urgent; these works may point a way forward.

AtMa （Japan）
Curiosity （Japan）
Kairo Kusamoto （Japan）
Kodai Iwamoto （Japan）
PAN-PROJECTS + REMARE （Japan）
Studio Osoh （South Korea）
Takuto Ohta （Japan）
we+ （Japan）
Yosuke Matsushita （Japan）

Chapter 3. New Belle Epoque

Cleverclaire

The Belle Epoque, situated between wars and other hardships, was a period of economic prosperity, an era of cultural and artistic exuberance, and a time of excess and hedonism. This is somewhat mirrored in our politically unstable post-pandemic world, in which people crave enjoyment and fulfilment.

CLEVERCLAIRE （South Korea）
Kairo Kusamoto （Japan）
Shizuka Tatsuno（Japan）
Studio Orijeen（South Korea）
Studio Osoh （South Korea）

Chapter 4. Future Traditions

Ryosuke Harashima

With continuing rapid globalisation, we are seeing skills for the creation of fine art and craft being lost. But designers in North Asia are playing a key role in saving and preserving traditional skills, techniques and materials, and by doing so are playing a role in keeping that cultural history alive for subsequent generations.

Bumki Song （South Korea）
Funi Ding （Hong Kong)
Jingjin Naihan Li （China)
Kodai Iwamoto （Japan)
OPEN OBJECT （China)
Ryosuke Harashima （Japan)
Zougei Hiroyuki Nishimura （Japan)