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Famous Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, who designed the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Stadium and a swooping 40-storey project in Vancouver, has co-curated an exhibition with Westbank and Peterson that celebrates contemporary Japanese architecture, design, and culture. Hosted at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel from January 27 to February 28, Japan Unlayered capitalizes on Westerners' fascination and admiration for the culture of the land of the rising sun, a specific veneration which the Japanese language actually has a term for: shinnichi.
The exhibition's name denotes the Japanese philosophy of layering, which is the process of overlapping ideas and elements to create a nuanced and full experience. Despite an onslaught of technology threatening to disrupt the entrenched fabric of Japanese design, the exhibition notes how architecture and design in the country continue to be rooted within tradition and history.
In a recent interview with the Vancouver Sun, Westbank President Ian Gillespie prognosticated that Japan Unlayered could spur a cultural and creative exchange of ideas. With Vancouver's relative youth presenting unique opportunities for growth, and the city's ethnic diversity serving as a possible incubator for different design approaches and theories, Vancouver can adopt international best practices and modify them to fit the local context.
The exhibit spans two levels of the historic hotel. The experience immediately begins at the building's entrance, where ponds, a red pine bonsai, and an Acura NSX 2017 set the tone. In the lobby, a traditional Japanese teahouse has been given a contemporary twist, with a helium balloon hoisting a fragile organza roof. Two of Japan's revered brands — MUJI and BEAMS, set to debut their products in Vancouver at designated pop-up stores — are artistically represented as well. On the mezzanine level, a retrospective look at Kuma's noteworthy designs presents a glimpse into the mind of the master architect. Ethereal paper models, including of the aforementioned Alberni project, will be of particular interest to architecture enthusiasts.
In addition to the flowing of Japanese whisky, sake, and teas in the lobby lounge, guests should be sure to hit the several Japanese culinary experiences offered, including gozen lunches created by Tokyo chef Hiromitsu Nozaki. For additional exhibition information, check out the official website.
