The picture above is of the “Vessels of Air”.  They are made of paper.

The Gaudi exhibit is open in Sendai, the last stop on its tour.  For each loaction I’ve been drawing new pieces to fit that specific location.  But with Sendai, I drew something that hadn’t been done for other locations — I was able to draw something that had been in the design from the start. I was happy to see it come to life.

In the year since the exhibit started at the Roppongi Hills Mori Arts Center last July, during its tour through 5 locations, I’ve  been continously working with professional craftsmen to create products related to the exhibit — starting with the Fukunaga Paper Factory.  I’m in constant admiration of the ideas and skill the craftsmen and designers display.  I draw some things at times, and give my opinions at others and I’m always excited throughout the process of bringing something to completion.  We’ve been guided by the tour, and we have, little-by-little, added new products inspired by it.

This week and next, we have opened a small exhibit for the products that were created during the year of the Gaudi exhibit.  Please stop by if you are interested.  Besides the products, there are some original drawings that I feverishly drew for the “Vessels of Air’, a new mobile (it’s great!) by designer Mitsuboshi using some of the washi that I (as an amateur) worked so hard to crete in Echizen, and other pieces that give a glimpse into the process of creation.

(There’s not much, but there are also some manga related products.  Of course they were also created the same way, with me drawing and giving detailed opinions in an enjoyable process.)

It is in the Art and Design Store on the 3rd floor of Roppongi Hills.

It runs from 7/3 (Fri) through 7/12 (Sun).

There will also be workshops on the weekends (Sat/Sun).

We will be doing easily enjoyed activities like creating original mobiles using the “Papel Mobile”, making pin badges using the “Pepita Stickers, and more.  Some of the great staff I work with who normally draw manga with me will also be there as instructors(?).

Takehiko Inoue