Nori Takabayashi's first solo exhibition was in Paris in 2019, when he presented "MUSUBI," a work depicting traditional Japanese hair tying. Since then, he has been actively creating new works. A major turning point came in 2020.
Amidst an unprecedented pandemic, he relocated from France to Japan, settling in Chiba Prefecture, close to the sea. One day, while strolling on a nearby beach, he came across some driftwood washed up. "Man-made objects have deteriorated to the point where their original form is no longer recognizable. There is a transience and beauty in their appearance, of wanting to return to nature but unable to do so." He says he was moved intuitively and his motivation to create surged forth.
From then on, he began to diligently collect driftwood in between his busy days and steadily assemble masks and chandeliers.
Unwanted driftwood is reborn as a chandelier
The works are made up of colorful toy parts and fragments of everyday items that have been melted by heat, all of which Nori Takabayashi has collected because he finds their shapes and textures interesting.
He senses that the driftwood, which has deteriorated and faded while being carried by ocean currents and sea breezes, "contains something that gives off a special energy," and like a hunter searching for rare natural minerals, he intuitively picks up unique shapes and colors.
For this reason, he says he has created his works with the stance that "I did not collect and create my works with the current trends in environmental conservation such as SDGs and sustainability in mind."
His criteria for collecting driftwood are similar to those of his childhood days, when he would go to the sea and pick up pebbles that fit comfortably in his hand. "I pick up the rubbish that has washed up, hold it up to the sun to see through it, feel the texture, and collect the pieces that I like. In this way, each time I go to the sea, I collect about three supermarket baskets' worth of 'loot'."
©️ Nori Takabayashi
Even now, a corner of his studio is filled with his collection of items, which he carefully sorts by color before beginning his creative work.
"If you look closely at my works, you'll see that they contain fragments of familiar everyday items. The transparency of each part varies depending on the material and the degree of deterioration, which creates an unintentional gradation of light. One piece that I spent the most time creating was the giant white chandelier. It weighs over 100kg and is made up of over 1,000 pieces of ocean plastic that have been worn down by the waves and rotted by the tide."
The gigantic chandelier, which was featured at the beginning of this article, is made entirely from white plastic. Holes are drilled into each piece of plastic and wires are threaded through to assemble it. 
The chandelier is turned on and viewed from below. The different shapes of plastic reflect and transmit light, creating a mysterious appearance.
An exhibition where you can experience Nori Takabayashi's imagination
The exhibition "EXPLORE ANOTHER WAY -NORI TAKABAYASHI-" will be held at THE NORTH FACE Horie store in Osaka, featuring 10 pieces of work created by Nori Takabayashi's imagination, including not only chandeliers but also lampshades and masks, all of which will broaden the viewer's perspective.
"I wanted to create a performance that would light something in people's hearts, like sitting around a fire, so I asked musician Kakudo Mami to compose background music for the exhibition. I went with Kakudo to the beach in Ibaraki Prefecture, where he regularly collects driftwood, and we also conducted field recordings. I won't know how the samples were used to accent the background music until the day of the exhibition."
This exhibition allows visitors to feel with their eyes and ears the memories, strength, and above all, the overwhelming energy of these driftwood items, which may have once been used and treasured by someone, as they wandered the sea and traveled far and wide before finally reaching the shore.
