I admire the sense of not pretending to have good taste.
"I admire the sense of fusing Eastern and Western cultures in a way that reflects a person's experiences and personality," says interior designer Masamichi Katayama, head of Wonderwall®. He is a key figure in the design world who continues to create popular spaces around the world, from boutiques and large commercial facilities to homes.
For Katayama, the mentor who taught him how to create beautiful spaces is Junzo Yoshimura, known for his architecture that combines modernism with traditional Japanese elements. "Yoshimura's modernist architecture may look modest, but when you actually visit it, you're overwhelmed by its comfort and beauty. One reason for this is his extraordinary attention to detail, from the proportions of the fixtures to the fit-out of openings. His sense lies in things that don't just look good. I see it as both a warning and encouragement for us designers who strive to create photogenic spaces."
On the other hand, Katayama, who loves movies and music and is knowledgeable about art, says, "These cultures have a flat relationship with my design work and have influenced me a lot." In particular, he has recently become obsessed with books on promotional goods for famous movies compiled by the film production company A24, and the band YIN YIN, whose live performance was a huge hit.
[ARCHITECTURE] Junzo Yoshimura
1908-1997. A master of modernist architecture who studied under the American architect Antonin Raymond. "He was one of the people who paved the way for the fusion of Eastern and Western architectural cultures in Japan. He is a legend who gave us the answer to what it means to have a 'stylish space' - a space that is not flashy but is cool in every detail when you experience it." Above is his "Karuizawa Mountain Villa."
[MUSIC] YIN YIN
An exotic funk disco band from Maastricht, the oldest city in the Netherlands. "If I had to compare it to something, it would be like the time before Yellow Magic Orchestra. For my generation, the way the synths come in and the sudden appearance of Japanese lyrics is nostalgic, embarrassing, and cool. They're not sophisticated, but their live performances are groovy, and I get hooked on that 'What is this?' feeling."
And then there's Jesse Eisenberg's film "Real Pain." "It's a road movie that progresses calmly without any grandiose production or surprises, but the relationship between the two main characters and the delicate emotional turmoil are carefully portrayed, and it made me cry so much. The film's sincere sense, which doesn't pretend to be good taste, highlights the loveliness and pain of human beings."
Or the clothes made by shoemaker and designer Paul Harden. "His slightly intricate designs, made using fabric woven on 19th-century looms, are truly lovely to wear. He's been making more or less the same designs for over 30 years, only changing the fabric. He's managed to strike a balance between the core elements that he stubbornly refuses to change and the timeline, which has earned him a loyal fan base. It's amazing to think that his clothes will still look fresh 30 years from now."
[MOVIE] Real Pain: A Journey of the Heart
Jesse Eisenberg directed, wrote and co-starred in this film, which stars Kieran Culkin. "This is a road movie about two people living in New York, struggling to make ends meet, traveling to Poland, where the scars of war still remain. The mood is comedic, but it's also deeply moving and tear-jerking. The way the title is handled is also outstanding."
[FASHION] Paul Harden
Shoemaker and fashion designer from Brighton, England. "The designs are consistent yet never lose their freshness. The silhouette remains constant and the fabric is constantly updated. The combination of these two creates a unique meaning. A friend of mine said that it was about time to wear some clothes he bought 30 years ago. There's a mysterious charm that makes that dream come true."
Katayama says that good taste is not something you can acquire instantly. It is something you acquire by going to places, looking, listening, reading, and wearing.
"I don't even think it's a big deal if something can be conveyed without experiencing it. That's why I want to continue to be bombarded with architecture, art, film, and design. What emerges from what has become like noise will nourish my sense and will seep into my work."
[EDIT] 『FOR PROMOTIONAL USE ONLY：A catalog of Hollywood movie swag and promo merch from 1975-2005』
"The American film production company A24 has a keen sense of editing even outside of the film industry. For example, this photo book is a collection of novelty items from famous Hollywood films. When viewed individually, they're not very impressive, but when you look at the whole book, they look really cool. The theme and the way they're presented are brilliant. The selection of scenes to be quoted on T-shirts and merchandise for released films is also excellent."
[SHOP] LEMAIRE EBISU
Lemaire's flagship store is located in a renovated old Japanese house in Ebisu, Tokyo. "I was impressed by the sense of fusing Eastern and Western sensibilities. What surprised me was the Japanese-style room. By laying a carpet and fitting wooden frames around the edges of the tatami mats, it retains the design and atmosphere of a tatami room while still being finished in a Parisian style. The casualness and lack of force is also very comfortable."
[PRODUCT] Forma Fantasma
This Italian design duo is centered around research. "ARTEK's Wild Birch series, in particular, finds new value by broadening the selection criteria for wild birch wood with insect damage and knots, giving new meaning to Alvar Aalto's masterpieces. This duo is attracting a lot of attention for their ideas that effortlessly overturn the definition of beauty."
[ART] Ryan Gander
A pioneer of conceptual art based in the UK. "His appeal lies in his outstanding sense of how he communicates concepts and his output. In this famous piece, a small mouse delivers a powerful speech about the world in the voice of a young girl (his 9-year-old daughter). It makes you laugh, but at the same time, it encourages the viewer to think for themselves."
