in the Akihisa Hirata exhibition
The Nerima Art Museum is hosting a Exhibition presents the world of Japanese architecture Akihisa HirataThroughout his career, Hirata coined and used the term “Karamarishiro” to explain his architectural philosophy. To quote his words: “As opposed to clearly defined spatial regions, it refers to the interwoven gaps that are like ‘fluffy spaces in between,’ essentially overlapping areas that border all kinds of matter. This concept is not limited to the human world, but also explores the potential for coexistence with a broader meaning of life forms, including plants, animals, and cultures from different times and spaces. It is also an attempt to free humanity from the narrow definition of ‘human.'” The exhibition runs in museum until 23 September 2024.
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the philosophy of “Karamarishiro”: Man meets nature
Akihisa Hirata’s focus is not only on the human world. The scenes evoked from nature include flocks of birds perched on branches, clouds settling over the Alps, fish eggs clinging to seaweed, and plants intertwining. These scenes create countless surfaces and unexpected spaces by chance. Such natural imagery helps shape his architectural philosophy. As seen throughout the Nerima Art Museum (see more Here), The Architect’One of the key elements of his work is his approach to finding spatial qualities in the randomness of nature rather than in carefully man-made structures.
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a three-part experience at the Nerima Art Museum
Akihisa Hirata’s exhibition is divided into three sections, the central theme of which is a new term: “Hamachigiwa” (where the waves meet the shore). The first section focuses on “Karamarishiro,” a concept that, as explained, was central to Hirata’s architecture. The architecture of “Karamarishiro” emerges at the boundaries and intersections between humans and animals. The second and third sections deal with the theme of “resonance.” This can resemble a feeling of harmony – a resonance between the thoughts of countless people, between the past and the present, or between here and faraway places.
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Architecture imbued with such “resonance” suggests another “human coastline” that expands our once familiar human consciousness beyond “Karamarishiro.” The exhibition will create a space where visitors can experientially understand the concept of “Hamachigiwa” through sketches, models, and installations. It is a presentation that approaches the mental imagination of Akihisa Hirata, a philosophizing architect.
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One of the public buildings that embodies Hirata’s concepts is the Ota City Museum and Library (2017), which won the Architectural Institute of Japan Award in 2022. This building is popular among the population as a landmark that realizes the idea of ”karamarishiro” where various segmented spaces and the interior and exterior merge into one another. Hirata has also worked on several residential and commercial buildings, bringing to life spaces full of originality that reflect his philosophical theories and admiration for nature and life.
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Now the Nerima City Art Museum will be added to these representative architectural works. The museum will be reborn as a cultural complex with an integrated library, marking a new beginning. The architectural concept is “21st century Fujizuka / Cloud of Art / Mountain of Books”. Inspired by the “Fujizuka” hills that have existed in Nerima for centuries, the new museum is intended to be a place that connects art and books with the city and its people.In this exhibition, visitors not only gain conceptual access to Hirata’s architectural philosophy, but also an insight into the future potential inherent in his architectural works. closes the museum.
Image © designboom
Image © designboom
