Simple life, chew the real taste; simple design, play with the beauty of use. Under todays distorted values ??of "Form follows money", the "use is beauty" proposed by the Japanese industrial design master Sori Yanagi has made product designers rethink "form follows function" ( Form follows function) manufacturing nature.
As the saying goes, design is used to solve problems, not to create (garbage) problems. Therefore, in his 60-year design career, Yanagi Sori has always used his hands to constantly question the value of manufacturing between people and daily props. And carefully explore the hand-made warmth of daily utensils. This plain, simple and craftsman-like design attitude is the classic Ryu aesthetics that has deeply influenced the Japanese design industry.
In his later years, Yanagi Sori is still as cheerful and friendly as when he was young, and he likes to travel around in his jeep between life and design work. Just like his design philosophy of exploring the beauty of use with "hands", his life also abandons unnecessary forms. Let the "soul" seek the simple taste of daily life. (Photo credit: Tokyo Heilongjiangsha)
When it comes to Japanese design, minimalism and sophistication are the impressions most people have. However, what is truly amazing is the unparalleled meticulousness and insistence on perfection of Japanese design. As the saying goes, "Design is used to solve problems." Japanese design has already implemented various thoughtful solutions in life, while also taking into account the beauty of art. Therefore, no matter how turbulent the global design world is, Japanese designers have always quietly occupied it. a place. Sori Yanagi, who just passed away in 2011, was such a Japanese craftsmanship and design master with a prolific output and highly respected internationally.
Although Sori Yanagi is an industrial designer, he places great emphasis on "handmade" manufacturing and never adopts the mass-manufacturing production method of industrialized models. Even if Sori Yanagi needs to use three-dimensional models for discussion in his creation, he will insist on making the models by hand because he believes: "How can you make things that are used by hands without using hands?" (Photo credit: Yanagi Design Office)< /p>
The handmade philosophy of a son of folk art
Born in 1915, Sori Yanagi is the son of Etsu Yanagi, an important figure in promoting the Japanese folk arts movement. He inherited the spirit of "beauty of use" that puts practicality first. Sori Yanagi majored in art and architecture, integrating the spirit of Western modernism and the characteristics of folk arts. , developed a unique Liu style.
It is worth mentioning that he valued practical aesthetics and traditional Japanese craftsmanship and was deeply influenced by French modernist architect Le Corbusier and design master Charlotte Perriand in his early days. , his works always use natural materials and minimalist lines, with the finishing touch of craftsmanship. Looking back on Yanagi Soris works over the years, they do not appear outdated at all due to changes in the times. And Sori Yanagi, who insists on designing by himself, believes that hands are the best way to convey human thoughts and touch. Especially when designing household appliances, you can use your hands to feel the fit between the appliance and people to create products that are most usable; and hands The warm texture of the product also makes the product itself full of vitality as if it can breathe.
Although the elegant curves of the "Butterfly Stool" were an unintentional masterpiece of Sori Yanagi, no factory at the time could produce such a complex curved surface. Therefore, Sori Yanagi jointly studied it with Sensaburo, a Japanese craftsman who specializes in plywood molding. Five years later, the "Butterfly Stool" was successfully developed and manufactured. (Photo credit: Vitra)
Three masterpieces of Liu’s aesthetics that you must know
Active in the design circle for nearly half a century, Sori Yanagi is not only a pioneer of contemporary Japanese design after World War II, but Yanagis style has also left an influence that cannot be underestimated in the history of design, bringing great influence to the backward development of Eastern and Western designs. Lots of inspiration. For example, in 1952, the "turntable player" designed by Sori Yanagi for Japans Columbia Company won the first prize in the first New Japan Industrial Design Competition. People began to become curious about this designer who combined the spirit of traditional craftsmanship with modernism. Nowadays, Yanagi Soris designs can be found all over the world, among which three major works are the most well-known.
1. Butterfly Stool
The famous work that really made Sori Yanagi shine and attracted international attention was "The Butterfly Stool" published in 1956.
Inspired by the plywood furniture designed by Charles and Ray Eames, it is said that the butterfly stool’s two pieces of beech wood flying like butterfly wings were accidentally “folded” into the shape. The hand-made curvature is not only It is light and has a warm feel, making people want to touch and use it from the bottom of their hearts. The exquisite design of this chair not only won the gold medal at the Milan Triennale in 1957, but was also selected as a permanent collection of MoMA the following year (later the Vitra Design Museum also collected this classic chair).
The "Elephant Stool" is not only Yanagi Soris only plastic chair, but also the worlds first one-piece plastic chair. Its shape is simple and functional, fully demonstrating the essence of Yanagis design. (Photo credit: Vitra, Sam Kaufman Gallery)
2. Elephant Stool
Another piece that is also world-famous and is more widely used in homes and public places, the "Elephant Stool" is based on the Eames couples plastic furniture series. The slightly concave seat surface and thick stool legs can bear the weight of the human body calmly like an elephant, and comfortably support the arc of the seat. It is simple yet deeply functional.
In 2000, the "Elephant Stool" was reproduced by Tom Dixon, the then Habitat design director and British design genius, and changed to use polypropylne (PP) as the main material to reduce environmental burden. In 2004, Vitra obtained authorization from Europe and the United States and began selling it. It is still popular all over the world and is a common furniture chair in the homes and studios of many designers.
Liu Zongli, who advocates the folk art movement, believes that the aesthetics of daily life begins with daily utensils.He designed many pots and pans for use in kitchens and dining tables. Although these life props with minimal lines may not seem to be powerful designs, they are full of craftsmanship and are in line with the "beauty of use" philosophy advocated by Yanagi Sori. (Photo credit: Mark Robinson, Gateaway Japan)
3. Stainless steel tableware and cast iron pots
In addition to furniture, Sori Yanagi is better known for his series of stainless steel tableware and cast iron pots and pans, including a variety of cutlery, spoons, cooking basins, pots and pans and other utensils. The curvature, depth and size of each piece of equipment are all adjusted and calculated by Sori Yanagi himself, and there are slight differences in appearance according to different uses. Not only does the materials characteristics bring out the best in use, but the appearance is also consistent. The minimalist and neat beauty. In the former residence of Charlotte Perriand, located in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, you can also see complete sets of Sori Yanagi tableware. The minimalist and refreshing style was her first choice for decorating her home and entertaining guests.
Japanese designer Naoto Fukasawa (left 1) and British designer Jasper Morrison (right 1) not only respect Sori Yanagi, but are also fans of his designs. For example, both of them use Sori Yanagis stainless steel pots and tableware in their homes. group, and was also deeply fascinated by the "handmade" lines of the products. The picture shows the two designers taking a photo with Sori Yanagi at the "Super Normal" exhibition in Japan in 2006, reproduced from the Super Normal exhibition publication. (Photo credit: Lars Müller Publishers)
Yagi Soris design style also reflects his personal philosophy - true beauty is not created, but appears naturally. As Japanese designer Naoto Fukasawa said: "The great thing about Sori Yanagi is that he does not highlight his personality, but naturally reveals the beauty of his personality." He combines the natural form with the purpose, creating a natural and natural appearance. Highlighting the functionality is the best interpretation of Yanagi Sori’s approach to design and life.
