In other words, i have attempted to find the source of a japanese aesthetic that produces simplicity. In his beautifully written book, japanese graphic designer and curator kenya hara explores the essence of white. Against a white backdrop sits a white display platform featuring a white exhibit. Buy white book online at low prices in india white.
It is rather the authors attempt to explore the essence of white, which he sees as being closely related to the origin of japanese aestheticssymbolizing simplicity and subtlety. It is rather an exploration of the essence of white by author kenya hara, who sees it as being closely related to the origin of. Kenya hara also sees his work as a designer as a form of. Its simplicity should be gorgeous without a feeling of. If white is not simply a color, mightnt we be able to understand it as functioning like a design or expressive concept. Kenya hara, born in 1958, is a japanese graphic designer and professor at the musashino art university. Hara describes how he experiments with the different. From the textured white in the title, the pure white on the first page and the printed white within the pages.
Its not often that i come by a book that is so true to its core ethos in both form and message. It is rather kenya haras attempt to explore the essence of white, which he sees as being closely related to the origin of japanese aesthetics symbolizing simplicity and subtlety. Designing design book summary my little bookshelf medium. It is rather kenya haras attempt to explore the essence of white, which he sees as being closely related to. This book does not talk about the colour white but rather the empty space or the emptiness in design. Art shows dont come much whiter than this, and the artist involved, kenya hara, admits that, for him, white is. Following white, which was first published in 2008 by chuokoronshinsha, 100 whites by kenya hara deals with the theme of whiteness, a concept closely related to his design philosophy. As a wellknown graphic designer and art director at muji, author kenya hara uses a variety of colors all the time. Jun 18, 2019 white not only plays an important role in japanese culture in general but also in the work of designer kenya hara.
Rather, i have attempted to investigate an entity called white in order to locate those resources of sensitivity that are posited by ones own culture. This realization consequently resulted in a book series that hara is working on, which through 100 essays explores the concept of white. Marciano, who like her books narrator is an italian living in kenya, offers a wise and beautifully written account of esmes quest. Here are some spreads and the cover below from japanese designer kenya haras latest book, designing design. I have attemped to find the source of a japanese aesthetic that produces simplicity and subtlety through the concept of white. The publication explores the essence of white, which hara sees as symbolizing simplicity and subtlety. Pdf, epubs, mobi, emagazines, epaper, ejournal and more. In particular, i was struck by the following words. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Kenya haras designing design is just that book, and you should buy it immediately before it goes out of print.
It is rather an exploration of the essence of white by author kenya hara, who sees it as being closely related to the origin of japanese aesthetics symbolizing simplicity and subtlety. Kenya haras book was first published in 2009 in an attempt to explore the essence of white. White is a work of kenya haras in which he tries to reassess white not as a color but as the foundation of japanese sensibilities. You will get depth, clarity, and insight into the design philosophy and process of a design master. He is art director of muji, and a key figure of the brand. They stand in stark contrast to another popular maxim, those who cant do, teach. The world of white, from muji art director kenya hara white not only plays an important role in japanese cultures in general but also in the work of kenya hara, art director for muji. White, silence, tree i recently read kenya haras exceptionally interesting book white, in which he explores the simplicity, the subtlety, and, ultimately, the emptiness of white an emptiness that seems to invite one to fill it. This is a white book, a volume of information and illustration that embraces the purity of white as the matrix upon which everything blossoms and emerges. The opening sentence of kenya haras recent book designing design states that verbalizing design is another act of design.
White industrial designers society of america idsa. He is a graduate of musashino art university hara is one of the leading designers in japan and his books designing design and white are recognized as essential for anyone studying design theory and aesthetics. Most books today touch on the howto and the what of design. In designing design the renowned japanese designer kenya hara impresses upon the reader the importance of emptiness in both the visual and. The central concepts discussed by kenya hara in this publication are emptiness and the absolute void. Kenya hara born 1958 is a japanese graphic designer, a professor at the musashino art university and, since 2002, the art director for muji. This awesome book ready for download, you can get this book now for free.
Hara is one of the leading designers in japan and his books designing design and white are recognized as essential for anyone studying design theory and aesthetics. Buy kenya hara designing design 4th edition by kenya hara isbn. White, silence, tree i recently read kenya hara s exceptionally interesting book white, in which he explores the simplicity, the subtlety, and, ultimately, the emptiness of white an emptiness that seems to invite one to fill it. So when it was announced that the brands art director, design legend kenya hara, was releasing a coffee table book about the color white, we couldnt wait to. Mar 20, 2015 most books today touch on the howto and the what of design. White brims with immaculate, serene silence as well as an embryonic. In 100 whites, hara gives 100 examples of white, such as snow, iceland, rice and wax. Not as a color or noncolor only, but associating it with emptiness and therefore, as limitless potential. It is rather kenya haras attempt to explore the essence of white, which he sees as being closely related to the origin of japanese aesthetics symbolising simplicity and subtlety. Hara has put an amazing amount of meticulous detail into making the act of reading his book such a physically and mentally enjoyable experience. Hara explaines that an empty space is not merely a plain surface or a space that holds nothing but instead a space that gives us a chance to imagine and to put meaning into. Kenya hara is a japanese graphic designer and curator. White not only plays an important role in japanese culture in general but also in the work of designer kenya hara. If the written content was not enough for you, the book is beautifully designed and has so many examples of great design inside.
On the basis of these examples he discusses the importance of white in designnot only as a color but as a philosophy. It is rather kenya haras attempt to explore the essence of white, which he sees as being closely related to the origin of japanese. Kenya hara s designing design is just that book, and you should buy it immediately before it goes out of print. Apr 23, 2019 100 whites is the extension of hara s previously published book white. In 100 whites, hara gives one hundred specific examples of whitesuch as snow, iceland, rice, and wax. In designing design the renowned japanese designer kenya hara impresses upon the. Kenya haras house vision unites futurethinking companies with architects, designers and artists to propose innovative new ways of living. It is rather kenya haras attempt to explore the essence of white, which he sees as being closely related to the origin of japanese aesthetics a symbolizing simplicity and subtlety. In 100 whites, hara gives one hundred specific examples of white such as snow, iceland, rice, and wax. Kenya hara has 15 books on goodreads with 5987 ratings. Apr 24, 2018 this realization consequently resulted in a book series that hara is working on, which through 100 essays explores the concept of white. The latest publication by designer kenya hara following his acclaimed designing design.
During the span of his artistic career, he has published multiple book and is a leading figure in the japanese design industry. White is a system of aesthetics, it is the symbol of simplicity and subtlety that through kenya hara s brief but enlightening book embody the key concepts of japanese design. For those of us involved as much in design criticism as design itself, those are welcome words. He believes in the possibility of hightech housing taking over tokyo. Kenya hara also sees his work as a designer as a form of communication. His follow up title 100 whites is a collection of essays depicting one hundred specific examples of white such as. It is rather kenya haras attempt to explore the essence of white, which he sees as being closely related to the origin of. This is a test, from the standpoint of design, of the study that runs through the aesthetics of books like novelist junichiro tanizakis in praise of shadows, philosopher shuzo kukis the structure of iki, art thinker tenshin okakuras book of tea and. Hara is one of the leading designers in japan and his books designing design and white are recognized as essential for. The godrej india culture lab proudly hosted the iconic japanese designer kenya hara of muji fame during his visit to mumbai in february 2012 and organized a lecture by him called exploring.
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