Shiro Kuramata

One of Japan's most famous designers, Shiro Kuramata, was born in 1934. He would become part of a generation of Japanese designers born just before World War II who have had a major impact on how the world views Japanese design. This generation of creatives includes Issey Miake, Yokoo Tadanori, Isozaki Arata and Tadao Ando.

Shiro Kuramata studied architecture at Tokyo Technical College before training as a cabinetmaker at the Kuwasawa Institute of Design in 1953. After graduating, he worked for several companies, including the furniture manufacturer Teikoku.

In 1965, Shiro Kuramata set up his own design firm in Tokyo. During the 1960s, Kuramata experimented with materials and shapes while developing his own unique style. His style has been described as a mix of popular culture, Japanese aesthetics and Western avant-garde.

Common materials used in Kuramata's creations include plexiglass and steel. One of his most famous pieces of furniture is the 'How High the Moon' chair from 1986. This armchair is characterized by its structure consisting of a steel mesh. Another famous creation is his 'Miss Blanche' chair from 1988. Named after the main character in the drama 'A Streetcar Named Desire', the chair is characterized by its Plexiglas construction and the roses embedded in the glass.

In 1981, he received the prestigious Japanese Cultural Prize for design and was later invited by Ettore Sottssa to co-found the Memphis design collective. In 1990, Shiro Kuramata was awarded the French government's Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in recognition of his great contribution to art and design.

MoMA's permanent collection includes the Progetti Compiuti storage series designed in 1970. The collection consists of storage cabinets in various designs and is characterized by its imaginative curved shapes. The furniture has been manufactured by Cappellini since the 1970s and are some of the furniture designed by Shiro Kuramata that you can find at NO-GA.