Poul Kjærholm: Timeless MinimalismPanasonic Shiodome Museum 10:00
Adults ¥1,200, seniors aged 65 and above ¥1,100, college and high school students ¥700, free for junior high school students and younger children
Poul Kjærholm (1929–1980) was among the foremost Danish furniture designers of the mid-20th century, a time when the country’s visionary designers helped develop the Mid-century Modern aesthetic, which today is arguably more popular than ever. As demonstrated by this extensive exhibition of Kjærholm’s chairs, however, he boldly deviated from the warm wood tones associated with Mid-century Scandinavian design, instead choosing to utilise harder materials such as metal and stone.
Far from giving a cold or harsh impression, Kjærholm’s angular, clean-lined chairs instead evoke a subtle and beautiful tension, which echoes that of contemporary Japanese architecture. Japan’s design fans, in fact, continue to be one of the global audiences most receptive to his work.
This show, the very first in Japan to include Kjærholm’s most influential creations, presents around 50 exhibits in a space conceived by acclaimed architect Tsuyoshi Tane.
The exhibition is closed on Wednesdays (except September 11).