デザイン英会話コミュのWanna hear what you think 'bout design in japan

Hi マテリーナ-san,

This is such an interesting and difficult topic!

I definitely agree with you that there are differences in works done by people in different places. This is both due to culture and to the materials available. I also agree with you that these differences are gradually disappearing. Oftentimes, this is kind of sad.

I do however, believe it is important to separate 'culture' from 'ethnicity.' Having a Japanese cultural background will influence an artists work. Having a Japanese ethnic background will not. Because ethnicity and cultural background are often confused, this can be dangerous. Genetic and sociological studies have shown that culture is 100% conditioned (learned). Hence, ethnicity can have no effect on an artist's creative works.

Isamu Noguchi is a good example. Being born in L.A. and having lived in Japan for most of his childhood (during the Taisho period, when the Meiji government was trying to re-introduce 'traditional' Japanese culture), he was exposed to a lot of Japanese traditional arts and ideas. Returning to America at age 14, however, he expressed a much stronger interest in modern European art. Hence, he became Brancusi's assistant. Both Noguchi and most art critics still consider Brancusi and European modernism to be his main influence. It wasn't until he was an adult that he decided to return to Japan and learn about traditional arts (pottery, calligraphy, ink painting and print making). My point is, he did have a strong Japanese sensibility because he both lived in Japan, studied Japanese culture, and had a Japanese poet as a parent. A 'non-Japanese' person who spends time here or studies Japanese traditional arts can also develop the same sensibility.

I have one last example. My favorite Japanese interior designer, Katayama Masamichi of Wonderwall, last year had a book published about his work by Wallpaper in both Europe and Japan. His work is VERY popular throughout the world right now because of his designs for Sony, Bathing Ape, etc. His office asked me to help with some translations of articles from European magazines for the Japanese version of the book.

One Italian design writer said that Katayama showed a strong Japanese identity in his design work. He wrote that Katayama uses whitish tones, soft light and minimalism because he was influenced by Japanese traditional culture and the aesthetics of Zen Buddhism. This made Katayama-san mad. Katayama replied that he had grown up in the city and no contact with Zen Buddhism or minimalism. Katayama continued by saying that he grew up watching American and European science fiction movies. Most of his work is trying to copy the scenes of Kubrick's 2001, he said.

Almost all contemporary designers around the world deal with minimalism and themes similar to those in Katayama's work. The only reason the Italian writer tried to tie Katayama to Zen Buddhist aesthetics was ethnicity. This was a mistake. Like all artists, Katayama's work is influenced by the culture he is exposed to (movies, toys, modern Tokyo).

I hope more people join in this topic! よろしく！