2015
SECRETS OF NORTHERN JAPAN
Venue: Aomori Museum of Art, Hakkakudo
Design: COMPANY / Aamu Song & Johan Olin
Curator: Yoshitomo Nara, Shigemi Takahashi / Aomori Museum of Art
Collaborators: Igarashi Yoshiyuki, Abo Mutsihide, Kon Akira, Hiraga Teruyuki, Kouhei Hashimoto, Mikami Yuji, Miyata Orimono, Kyouzou Shimokawa, Bunaco.
Rudi Merz, Arto Salminen, Jukka Merta, Sari Manner, Punavuoren Puuhevonen, Painopojat, Kirinord.
Cinematographer (Spirit videos): Ville Vainio
Photograps: Masako Kakizaki


 

SECRETS OF NORTHERN JAPAN
is a project and a collection of items designed by COMPANY inspired by northern Japanese tradition, craft and belief. Products are crafted by Japanese masters and local industries, with some items also visited Finnish handcraft masters.

The central concept of SECRETS OF NORTHERN JAPAN revolves around the spirit of products.

”We already knew Japan as the country of handcraft and tradition.
But there was one thing we found out this time – the spirit.
We learned from Ozorezan, from a shrine in Akagura, Tsugaru, from the works of Kokeshi masters that belief can be visually expressive, beautifully sad and melted into the normal life.
This time we not only design new items based on traditional techniques, but will create the sprit of each product.
Each spirit is created based on COMPANY's belief that a good product has good spirit.”



Exhibition view Secrets of Northern Japan at Hakkakudo, Aomori Museum of Art, Japan.






Product: Sakunami Trees. Spirit:The Sakunami Tree Spirit.



The central concept of SECRETS OF NORTHERN JAPAN revolves around the spirit of products. COMPANY states, “Every product has their own spirit.” Kindled by the spirituality that dwells within everything from northland’s handmade traditional crafts to mass-manufactured everyday goods, they intend on accomplishing new value creation through product design.



Sakunami Tree Spirit (Cedar tree)
Material: Cotton, Pine wood, Plastic
Made by Aamu Song in Helsinki, Finland
Designed by COMPANY / Aamu Song



Sakunami Tree Spirit (Sakura tree)
Material: Hard board paper, pine wood, leather
Made by Aamu Song in Helsinki, Finland
Designed by COMPANY / Aamu Song



Sakunami Trees
Material: Japanese Maple, Paint
Made by Hiraga Teruyuki in Sakunami, Japan
Designed by COMPANY / Aamu Song



Kokeshi Spirit
Material: Tulle fabric, Cotton fabric, Foamboard, Styrofoam
Made by Aamu Song in Helsinki, Finland
Designed by COMPANY / Aamu Song



Kokeshi Fountain
Material: Japanese Maple wood, Finnish birch wood, Paint
Kokeshi made by Kouhei Hashimoto in Tokyo/Tsuruoka, Japan
Maple stool made by Arto Salminen in Korpiaho, Finland
Designed by COMPANY / Aamu Song



Kokeshi Spirit
Material: Linen fabric, Cotton fabric, Fabric hardener, Foam board, Umbrella
Made by Aamu Song in Helsinki, Finland
Designed by COMPANY / Aamu Song



Kokeshi Dress
Material: Kurume Kasuri
Hanten manufactured by Miyata Orimono in Kurume, Japan
Kurume Kasuri manufactured by Shimokawa Kyouzou in Kurume, Japan
Pattern and dress design by COMPANY / Aamu Song





T-shirt Hanten
Material: Kokeshi Kurume Kasuri, Wadding, Cotton fabric
Hanten manufactured by Miyata Orimono in Kurume, Japan
Kokeshi Kurume Kasuri manufactured by Shimokawa Kyouzou in Kurume, Japan
Pattern and costume design by COMPANY / Aamu Song



Tsugary Nuri Spirit
Material: Fleece fabric, Cotton fabric
Made by Johan Olin and Sari Manner in Helsinki, Finland
Designed by COMPANY / Johan Olin



Mushroom Forest
Material: Maple wood, Paint (trad. Tsugaru nuri technique) Brass, LED light
Wooden Mushroom Made by Kon Akira in Odate, Japan
Tsugaru nuri painting made by Mikami Yuji in Aomori, Japan
Wooden base made by Punavuoren Puuhevonen in Helsinki, Finland
Brass lamp shade made by Painopojat in Urjalankylä, Finland
Brass structure made by Jukka Merta in Selki, Finland
Designed by COMPANY / Aamu Song



Kokeshi Company Spirit
Material: Polyethylene Rope
Made by Johan Olin in Helsinki, Finland
Designed by COMPANY / Johan Olin



Kokeshi Stool I
Material: maple, painted
Kokeshi dolls made by Igarashi Yoshiyuki in Tsuruoka, Japan
Maple top and assembly made by Punavuoren Puuhevonen, Finland
Designed by COMPANY / Aamu Song



Kokeshi Stool II
Material: maple, painted
Kokeshi dolls made by Kouhei Hashimoto in Tsuruoka, Japan
Maple top and assembly made by Punavuoren Puuhevonen, Finland
Designed by COMPANY / Aamu Song



Geta Roller Spirit
Material: paulownia wood, ball bearings, steel rod
Made in Hirosaki, Japan. Modifiied by Johan Olin in Helsinki, Finland
Designed by COMPANY / Johan Olin



Geta Rollers
Material: Paulownia Wood, Ball bearings, Steel rod
Geta shoes made in Hirosaki, Japan.
Wooden wheels manufactured in USA.
Modified and assembled by Johan Olin in Helsinki, Finland
Designed by COMPANY / Johan Olin



Finnish Tree Spirits
Material: Birch bark, Pine bark
Made by COMPANY in Helsinki, Finland
Design by COMPANY / Aamu Song & Johan Olin



Finnish Tansu
Material: Apple tree wood, Ash wood
Made by Rudi Merz in Lohja, Finland
Designed by COMPANY / Aamu Song



The Bunaco Spirit
Material: Cellular plastic
Made by Johan Olin in Helsinki, Finland
Designed by COMPANY / Johan Olin



The Bunaco Tree
Material: Beech, Lacquer
Made by Bunaco in Hirosaki, Japan
Designed by COMPANY / Johan Olin



Kokeshi Family Spirit
Material: Wool, Wadding
Fabric knitted by Kirinord in Estonia
Sewing by Sari Manner in Helsinki, Finland
Designed by COMPANY / Aamu Song



Family Kokeshi Stool
Material: Japanese & Finnish Maple wood, Paint, Lacquer
Made by Master Abo Mutsihide in Kuroishi, Japan
Maple top, base and assembly made by Punavuoren Puuhevonen, Finland
Designed by COMPANY / Aamu Song



Rokuro Kokeshi
Material: Maple, Yarn, Paint
Made by Master Kon Akira in Odate, Japan
Designed by COMPANY / Johan Olin



The Omikuji Spirit
Material: Tyvek paper, Acryl net
Made by Johan Olin in Helsinki, Finland
Designed by COMPANY / Johan Olin
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THE MAKING OF THE ’SECRETS OF NORTHERN JAPAN‘
More pictures of the preparing for the exhibition can also be seen at: phase2015-amoa.tumblr.com/



31.7.2015. Opening ceremony. The Parade of Spirits ending when Spirits enter the exhibition space Hakkakudo. Photo: Masako Kakisaki.



Entrance to the exhibition.



At the opening with the amazing people from Miyata Orimono, Shimokawa textiles and Unagi. COMPANY is wearing dress and pants we designed and made with Shimokawa and Miyata Orimono using traditional Kurume Kasuri technique.



Russian Kiosk inside the Aomori Museum of Art. We show a selection from our previous secrets from Russia and from Finland.



29.07.2015. Spirits awaiting for a Spirit Parade taking place at the opening ceremony of the exhibition.



19.07.2015. Building up our ‘Russian Kiosk’ at Aomori Museum of Art. A selection of our previous secrets from Russia and from Finland will be on display.



Covering exhibition space Hakkakudo with a sun blocking fabric.



19.07.2015. COMPANY setting up studio at Aomori Museum of Art, Japan. We'll be working in this space for the coming week before our exhibition ’Secrets of Northern Japan‘ opens on 31st of July 2015. ’Secrets of Northern Japan’ is a project where COMPANY collaborated with local Japanese craftsmen and manufacturers creating together new items based on local traditions.



Planning the Noren curtains for the exhibition space Hakkakudo.



Sketch of the exhibition plan. The central concept of SECRETS OF NORTHERN JAPAN is about the spirit of products. Every product has a spirit. For us this relation was very strong in the traditions of Northern Japan. Drawign: Johan Olin. Each item on display will be accompanied by a spirit (as a projection).



Tsugaru Nuri Spirit making at COMPANY office.



The Kokeshi Spirit visiting office.



Omikuji Spirit getting ready.



The birth of the Rope Kokeshi Spirit is interrupted by a German TV crew.



Developing Kokeshi Face knitted fabric with Viive at Rakvere, Estonia.


Kokeshi pattern. Drawign: Aamu Song.


Developing Kokeshi pattern at COMPANY office in Helsinki.



Aamu and master cerpenter Arto Salminen with The Great Kokeshi Stools at the office.



Sketches for products: A piece of Woods. Drawign: Aamu Song.


Sakunami Trees. Drawign: Aamu Song.


Plans for Products & Spirits. Drawign: Aamu Song.


Sketches after first trip to Japan.



Sketches after first trip to Japan.

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THE TRAVELS FINDING THE SECRETS OF NORTHERN JAPAN



2015 Tsuruoka, Japan. COMPANY visiting Master Igarashi-san and apprentice Kouhei Hashimoto.



2015 Odate, Japan. Master Kon-san operating a traditional ’Rokuro’ turning machin with his wife. This machine, built by Kon-san himself, showed us the way for a new design: the Rokuko toy.



In early spring 2015 COMPANY is back to Japan, in Ginzan Hot Springs. We came to see the cherry blossom and got a snow blossom. We are working the coming week on our upcoming Secrets of Northern Japan exhibition.



2014. COMPANY inthe spirit of Aomori Nebuta.



2014 Hirosaki, Japan. COMPANY learning the manufacturing secrets of Bunaco bowls. This inventive method of coiling strips of beech to form a shape had us design a new product taking the shape of a beech tree.



2014 Kuroishi, Japan. COMPANY visiting Kokeshi Master Abo-san and family. Abo-san's family was the inspiration for our new collaboration ’The Family Kokeshi Stool’ that features the whole family under same stool.



The amazingly delicate lines painted by Hiraga-san inspired us to design the ’Sakunami Trees’ product family.



2014 Sakunami, Japan. COMPANY visiting Kokeshi Master Hiraga-san.



2014. Our host Shigemi-san, (curator at Aomori Art museum) and Aamu getting hands on traditional indigo dye in Hirosaki.



2014 Hirosaki, Japan. Aamu and Nara-san stop & shop on the way to Iwaki mountain (in the back).
Our project started with an invitation by artist Yoshitomo Nara who curates a special programme for the Aomori Art Museum.



in late summer 2014, COMPANY starts a two week journey into the secrets of Tsugaru (Northern part of Honshu, Japan).

Thank you so much: Takana-san, Kasai-san, Satoh-san, Tanikawa-san, Satoko-san, Laura, Common, Ulla Kinnunen, everyone at Aomori Museum of Art.
Supported by: Finnish Cultural Foundation, Art Promotion Centre Finland, Frame Visual Art Finland and The Finnish Institute in Japan.
The project was invited by artist Yoshitomo Nara who curated a special program for the Aomori Museum of Art.