Transient ice furniture crafted by Tokujin Yoshioka dissolves in Milan
Tokujin Yoshioka's "Aqua Chairs" Light Sculptures at Milan Design Week 2025
Japanese artist Tokujin Yoshioka's latest creation, the "Aqua Chairs," are a captivating addition to Milan Design Week 2025. The exhibit, titled "Frozen," showcases these unique light sculptures at Palazzo Landriani, a historic venue in Milan.
The Aqua Chairs, designed in collaboration with Grand Seiko, a renowned Japanese watchmaker known for its craftsmanship and nature-inspired design philosophies, are a testament to Yoshioka's ongoing exploration of harnessing the energy of nature and expressing the elemental purity of light.
Each chair sculpture, weighing approximately 850kg, is designed to resemble pools of clear water, with transparency intentional to give material form to light itself. The chairs' design includes curved corners that create a lens effect, refracting and projecting light in ways reminiscent of natural water.
The core concept behind the Aqua Chairs involves light not as an accessory but as a fundamental building material. Light is treated as an active, sculptural element, shaping the perception of the object and space through its interaction with surfaces and form. The chairs reflect and refract light in ways that evoke a sensory experience of elemental purity.
The minimalist design principles employed in the Aqua Chairs allow light and shadow to interplay, creating emotional resonance and a sense of tranquility. The chairs' materials and shapes allow light to play across their surfaces, revealing textures and contours that shift dynamically, much like water ripples or the morning light's softness.
Tokujin Yoshioka's goal is to create works that transcend the concept of form, going beyond materiality. He views the chairs' eventual disappearance due to weather as a natural phenomenon, echoing the rhythms of nature. Yoshioka believes that the chairs' disappearance is part of the exhibit's essence, as it underscores the transient beauty of natural phenomena captured in design form.
Grand Seiko is also showcasing its new spring drive technology at the exhibition, further emphasizing the collaboration's commitment to innovation and craftsmanship. The "Frozen" exhibit will be on view at Palazzo Landriani until 13 April 2025.
[1] Source: Tokujin Yoshioka's official website [5] Source: Dezeen, "Tokujin Yoshioka's 'Aqua Chairs' for Milan Design Week 2025 are made from pure water," 16 April 2023.
Tokujin Yoshioka's exhibition, "Frozen," not only includes his unique light sculptures, the "Aqua Chairs," but also showcases Grand Seiko's advanced spring drive technology, blending lifestyle, fashion-and-beauty, home-and-garden, and technology into a captivating experience at Milan Design Week 2025. The exhibit's focus on light as a fundamental building material resonates with the world of technology, where light and shadow shape our digital landscapes.
