PRADA MODE TOKYO

Prada presented the ninth iteration of Prada Mode in Tokyo, in association with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Teien Art Museum, one of Japan’s most important cultural properties. This unique architectural and cultural journey was hosted and curated by Kazuyo Sejima, the director of Teien Art Museum, architect and a long-term collaborator of Prada.

On May 12 and 13, 2023, for Prada Mode, the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum was transformed into a space where the guests were able to explore art in different forms and experience the historic architecture, the museum and the site-specific art works, curated by Kazuyo Sejima, located in the large gardens surrounding the museum. The main temporary pavilion, designed by Ryue Nishizawa, a wooden curved surface to host conversations, was placed in the European garden; while various areas were created spreading along the space for the guests to enjoy the venue as a whole.

DAY 1 - PRADA MODE TOKYO

On May 12^th, Prada inaugurated Prada Mode Tokyo with many different activities such as dynamic conversations, workshops, tea ceremony, music performances and sound installations, a private dinner in honor ofKazuyo Sejima and a party:

• Prada Mode presented the following programme of talks:
  • A lecture titled “History of the Teien Art Museum” by Yukihide Muta. The lecture explained the history of the building as an exhibition space.
  • A talk titled “Landscape Architecture” by Ryue Nishizawa & Junya Ishigami. The 21st century is considered to be the age of the environment. The landscape is composed of various elements such as architecture, furniture, garden, history, and environment. Based on the keyword “landscape,” both artists discussed their recent works.
  • A talk titled “Art and Aesthetic” by Hiroshi Sughimoto & Sen Sooku. The discussion focused on the question of whether Western art is different from Japanese cultural sensibilities, and touches on the unique Japanese “honka-tori” technique.
• During the day, guests joined two workshops. The first one, titled “Kids Making the Hat”, was curated by Kaori Shikichi and involved kids. The second one, titled “Everyone making the ethical knit gardening”, was curated by Kaori Shikichi and consisted in creating a garden made by tying cloth and ribbon scraps to a grid of non-slip carpet sheets.
• A party with live performances by Ivan Smagghe, Craig Richards, B2B Ivan Smagghe, E/Tape, Chida and Monkey Timers was held at Unit in the district of Shibuya

DAY 2 - PRADA MODE TOKYO

On May 13^th, Prada Mode Tokyo presented the following program:

• Prada Mode presented the following programme of talks:
  • A talk titled “Inujima Symbiosis: Living Island” by Yuko Hasegawa & Kazuyo Sejima. The discussion was focused on the Japanese “symbiosis aesthetics” where art and the environment are integrated and how people interact with each other.
  • A talk titled “City and Music” by Keiichiro Shibuya & Mariko Asabuki. It has been a long time since architecture made by sound was first proposed, but what are the difficulties that have prevented its realization? To think about this, it has to be considered what time and space are, and what approaches are possible. The theme of the discussion was “city and music” discussed by artists from different fields.
• Performance “Garden of Android” by Keichiiro Shibuya and Android Alter. The android opera consisted in a music performance by Keichiiro Shibuya, playing the piano together with the android ALTER4 - designed by Hiroshi Ishiguro - that accompanied the performance singing and with harmonious movements.
• During the day, guests joined two workshops. The first one, titled “Kids Making the Hat” was curated by Kaori Shikichi, involved kids. The second one, titled “Everyone making the ethical knit gardening”, was curated by Kaori Shikichi and consisted in creating a garden made by tying cloth and ribbon scraps to a grid of non-slip carpet sheets.

The music program of the Prada Mode Tokyo was curated by CRAIG RICHARDS and KUNICHI NOMURA.