Shimura Fukumi Exhibition, Paris, 2014

Exhibition design for Fukumi Shimura in Paris. Fukumi Shimura is a Living National Treasure of Japan and a textile artist renowned for her handwoven silk textiles dyed with natural plant pigments. Considered one of the most influential figures in contemporary Japanese craft, she transformed traditional tsumugi weaving into a poetic art form inspired by nature, color, and literature. The project began with a simple ambition: to allow only Shimura’s works to emerge. Rather than creating a backdrop for the exhibition, the design sought to make the space itself disappear. The architecture was conceived as a nearly invisible framework through which the garments could be experienced with maximum clarity. Traditional ikō kimono stands were reinterpreted through white wall niches and transparent acrylic rods, creating the impression that the garments were floating in space. A continuous wall of works was initially envisioned, but the proportions of the venue led to a folded wall configuration. This adapted the display to the existing space while creating a sequence that helped curate the collection by color, tone, and style. The project aimed to reduce architecture to its minimum presence, allowing the work itself to become the space.

Photo : Archiee Studio