New Material × Old Material

Acclaimed worldwide as a photographer, Sugimoto is renowned for projects such as his eerie yet strikingly beautiful long-exposure images of theatres. Before establishing his own practice in 2003, Sakakida worked for the prestigious architectural firm Nihon Sekkei Architects, with projects including the elegant AO Aoyama building. He currently teaches at Kyoto University of Art and Design and acts as director for the New Material Research Laboratory (NMRL), which he cofounded with Sugimoto in 2008.

“New Material x Old Material” celebrates the duo’s roots in Japanese materials research and design. It showcases the ten years of achievements by the NMRL, which states its mission is to “undertake the challenge of reinterpreting and reimagining the use of materials and construction methods from ancient and medieval times and apply them in the modern setting.”

As you enter the space, you will be greeted by traditional Japanese straw brooms, setting the tone for the appreciation of old materials. In addition to viewing architectural models throughout the exhibition, you will learn how traditional Japanese “found” materials such as stones from the Kyushu region are now being utilized in a modern urban context. The entryway also presents the model for an unexpected architectural commission work, Go-Oh Shrine/Appropriate Proportions (2002). This site on the island of Naoshima ignited Sugimoto’s interest in architecture, which eventually led him to collaborate with Sakakida in establishing an architectural practice.

Gorgeous prints highlight the eight major projects by NMRL, as well as one of Sugimoto’s special gems: the photo series ‘Seascapes’ (1980–). Installed with an exceptional curatorial eye, shikigawara floor tiles (a signature NMRL design element) serve as a tribute to Japanese design and offer a tactile experience beneath your feet as you move throughout the show. Sugimoto’s talent and devotion to his practice is further highlighted in a video clip about the Enoura Observatory, which opened in Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture in 2017.

Sugimoto and Sakakida demonstrate a spectacular partnership through their mission of presenting old materials in new lights. A little excursion out to Shinagawa is worth the trip as visitors can also tour the museum’s warehouse, which specializes in preserving and displaying the architectural studies and finished models of world-renowned buildings both in Japan and overseas. Admission also includes access to Nomadic Rhapsody in exhibition room B and a free copy of NMRL’s portfolio booklet with high-quality color photographs.