Original project [JOTARO×SHOWKO/Aura] series orders started

Thank you very much for your continued patronage of Seikado.

At Seikado, three works in the [ JOTARO We would like to inform you that we have announced the new products (cube, board plate ) and have started accepting orders for the first time.

Nowadays, it is not uncommon for traditional crafts to collaborate with each other or with famous designers. Seikado's goal is to create a completely new series of products that express the "Japanese lifestyle" as traditional Japanese crafts, while also being able to be presented to the world as "art." As more and more traditional craft potteries and workshops decide to close their businesses due to the coronavirus pandemic, is it possible to pursue further possibilities by creating organic connections and chemical reactions between traditional crafts without limiting the genre? When I thought about this, I came up with the idea of ​​a collaboration between Kyoto's kimono and pottery.

Although both are traditional crafts from Kyoto, there is a decisive difference between the two-dimensional beauty of kimono patterns and the three-dimensional beauty of pottery. If you can skillfully combine these two, you will surely create a work that you have never seen before. With this in mind, the two creators Seikado has offered this time are "Mr. JORARO SAITO" and "Mr. SHOWKO."

[JOTARO×SHOWKO/Aura] is a series that took about two years to create by two internationally active men who inherited tradition but are rich in new creativity. In response to Seikado's offer, we have opened up the possibilities of traditional crafts by expressing and embodying the beauty of the patterns of kimonos in the form of pottery, and we have created a project that is rich in message as art. A completely new work has been completed.

" Aura" means "wind" in Latin, and the three works announced this time, Rock glass, Flower cube, and Board plate, are based on the theme of "Polaris", which has been the place of reference for people throughout the ages, and each one has a unique atmosphere. It was created with the hope that it would add an accent to your lifestyle, like a fresh breeze blowing through. Although it has a strong presence as a single item, it is also an interesting series to collect three pieces and enjoy creating a space by combining them.

If you would like to know more about the features and specifications of each product, or if you would like to place an order, please see the product page below. There will also be special benefits for those who apply by the online pre-order deadline, June 30, 2024 (Sunday) .

[ Flower cube product details page ]

[JOTARO×SHOWKO/Aura] flower cube (made to order) – SEIKADO (seika-dou.com)

[ Board plate product details page ]

[JOTARO×SHOWKO/Aura] Board plate Moon/Star (made to order) – SEIKADO (seika-dou.com)

[ Rock glass product details page ]

[JOTARO×SHOWKO/Aura] Rock glass (made to order) – SEIKADO (seika-dou.com)

[JOTARO×SHOWKO/Aura]'s Rock glass and Board plate make you think, ``Let's have a drink with my partner today'', and the Flower cube makes you think, ``Maybe I should buy a seasonal flower.'' Change = can be a motivation to change your life. Why not enjoy your daily life with these works that have such power?

Creator's interview① JOTARO SAITO

JOTARO SAITO (kimono designer): Born in Kyoto. Born into a family that laid the foundation for modern dyeing artists, with her grandfather being the late dyer Saisaburo Saito and her father being contemporary kimono artist Sansai Saito. Since making her debut as the youngest kimono artist at the age of 27, she has pursued kimonos as fashion that matches modern spaces. He has been frequently introduced in the media, and has provided costume assistance for various productions, such as being in charge of the costumes for GACKT and Taichi Saotome's starring roles. Overseas, exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum "Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk". It is now part of the permanent collection and is receiving increasing international acclaim. Since 2010, we have participated in the Tokyo Collection every year as the only kimono brand. Currently, we have a flagship store with a cafe in GINZA SIX and a store in Matsuzakaya, Nagoya. Advocating ``the evolution of tradition'' and ``a lifestyle that enjoys harmony,'' he is expanding his activities into a wide range of fields, including the production of products and interiors, as a kimono designer and textile artist.

Q 1. This time, the framework of ``Kyoto's traditional crafts'' is the same, but I think it is a collaboration with a different industry. Please let us know what expectations (or enjoyments) you had for the collaboration, or if there were any concerns you had.

A1. Since it's a collaboration between two creators, can their two completely different styles resonate with each other? That was the biggest anxiety factor. However, when I met Mr. SHOWKO, his personality and taste erased my concerns.

Q2. How did your feelings in Q1 change after seeing the actual work?

I think we have created a rare product that combines A2.SHOWKO's delicate and unique design and craftsmanship with the boldness of JOTARO's striped button pattern.

 

Q3. What did you express in this first collaboration, “Aura Series”? Or did you feel like expressing yourself?

A3.First of all, I wanted to create a piece that would blend into everyday life. We aimed to create items that would add a little accent to your daily life.

Q4.What kind of people do you want to pick up this “Aura series”? Also, how would you like people to use and enjoy it?

A4.I think it is a work that will accent each customer's lifestyle, and I would like them to use it every day rather than keep it as a treasure. The brand Aura was created through miraculous connections, so one of the things I look forward to is seeing this project spread.

Creator's interview② SHOWKO

SHOWKO ( headed by potter SIONE ): Born in the 330-year-old tea pottery "Makuzuyaki". After training in pottery in Saga, he established his own studio in Kyoto and began producing ceramic board paintings using unique techniques. After gaining experience as a graphic designer, in 2009 he launched SIONE, a brand with a story behind the concept of reading devices. Currently, they have a directly managed store in the Ginkakuji area of ​​Kyoto. His books on the theme of the five senses, such as ``The Habits of Sensitive People,'' have become long sellers, and he is also active as a writer. Through his creations, he creates time and spaces of hospitality and holds exhibitions both domestically and internationally.

Q1. This time, the framework of "Traditional Crafts of Kyoto" is the same, but I think it's a collaboration with a different industry. Please let us know what expectations (or enjoyments) you had for the collaboration, or if there were any concerns you had.

A1.It was my first time collaborating with Kimono, but I had been aware of Mr. JOTARO's activities for a long time. I was looking forward to collaborating with Mr. JOTARO, who is not bound by existing frameworks, and I was also interested in the synergistic effect that could be created by expressing a kimono, which is flat when folded, with pottery, which is three-dimensional. On the other hand, I was also worried about what kind of sensibilities I could put into the finished kimono's designs.

Q2. How did your feelings in Q1 change after seeing the actual work?

A2. After receiving instructions from JOTARO about how and where to include the images, we had several meetings, but I feel that I was given a lot of freedom in many aspects. Although there was some pressure, I was relieved to receive praise from Mr. JOTARO in the review after completion. During production, I felt confident the moment I was able to see that the composition of the image was complete no matter which angle or direction I looked at it as a three-dimensional object.

Q3. What did you express in this first collaboration, “Aura Series”? Or did you feel like expressing yourself?

A3. We follow a single theme of Polaris. However, the North Star is not drawn directly as a pattern. By depicting only the Big Dipper and the constellation Cassiopeia, it is expressed as something that cannot be seen but is definitely there. Since ancient times, the North Star has served as an immovable guideline in people's lives, and I feel that we all seek something like that today. We live in a time when we don't know what is the right answer, but we hope that you will be able to find your own unique values ​​that are unwavering like the North Star.

Q4.What kind of people do you want to pick up this “Aura series”? Also, how would you like people to use and enjoy it?

A4. There is something to see from any direction, and I hope you will enjoy creating a space with the set by combining or arranging it with other items, and enjoy your daily life as well. Also, for example, if you have a flower cube at home this time, you will be motivated to buy one flower and go home.Utsuwa has that effect. When you change your habits through small things like that, your life will change as well. I would be happy if I could be an opportunity to do something like that.