The joint conversation will explore the recent work and research by leading Japanese designer Kenya Hara (原研哉) and London-based architect Asif Khan.
They most recently collaborated at Kenya Hara's curation of Architecture for Dogs, featuring a collection of architectural designs for dogs by world-class architects and designers. The internationally acclaimed exhibition has been a constantly evolving project first launched at Design Miami in 2012 and continued to tour the world. Khan joined the series as the 16th architect, bringing the architectural scene in London into the scope with his project 'I see you!' on display in the Japan House Gallery last year. The online event will highlight the trans-cultural discussion and inspiration between Japan and the UK behind their work.
The conversation will be partially in Japanese. Japanese-English interpretation is available for this event.
Speaker's Biography
Kenya Hara (原研哉)
Kenya Hara (b.1958) is a graphic designer, president of the Nippon Design Center Inc., and professor at Musashino Art University.
His highly-influential exhibition "RE-DESIGN: Daily Products of the 21st Century" toured worldwide, and he has built a reputation for producing exhibitions and educational programs that bring focus to new values by embracing keywords, such as “HAPTIC,” “SENSEWARE,” and “Ex-formation.” Much of his work, including the programs for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Nagano Winter Olympic Games and promotion of Expo 2005, is deeply rooted in Japanese culture.
In 2002, Hara became MUJI's art director. His wide-ranging work is noted for its attention to transparency, and includes visual identity for Matsuya Ginza, Mori Building, Tsutaya Shoten, GINZA SIX, and MIKIMOTO. He was Chief Creative Director of the Japan House project for Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In July 2019, he launched the HIGH RESOLUTION TOUR website as a new approach to tourism, exploring specific locations in Japan from an individual perspective.
Many of Hara’s books have been published in English, including Designing Design (Lars Müller Publishers, 2007), White (Lars Müller Publishers, 2009), Designing Japan (Japan Publishing Industry Foundation for Culture, 2018), and 100 Whites (Lars Müller Publishers, 2009).
Asif Khan
Asif Khan (London, 1979) founded his architecture office in 2007, after graduating from the Bartlett, UCL and the Architectural Association. He works internationally on a wide range of projects from large cultural buildings and landscapes to experimental structures and has taught at the Royal College of Art and Musashino Art University. His recent works include the New Museum of London, currently under construction, the blackest building on Earth - the Hyundai Pavilion at PyeongChang Winter Olympics 2018 and the vast Carbon-Fibre Entry Portals for Dubai Expo 2020. He was a finalist in the competition for the Helsinki Guggenheim Art Museum. In 2014 Asif was recipient of the Cannes Lion Grand Prix for Innovation. He was awarded Architect of the Year in 2018 by the German Design Council and received an MBE for services to Architecture in 2017.
