A LIGHT UN LIGHT
The work of designer Kunihiko Morinaga, founder of the Japanese brand Anrealage, reflects on contemporary fashion in Japan and the future.
By JAPAN HOUSE São Paulo
Japan House - 2018
Focus on lighting: Three mannequins from the exhibition 'A LIGHT UN LIGHT' (2018-11-06/2019-01-06) by Japan House São PauloJAPAN HOUSE São Paulo
Embarking on the fashion world, the exhibition A LIGHT UN LIGHT aims to awaken the audience to the clothing of the future,
featuring items created by the Japanese designer Kunihiko Morinaga who, in a perfect combination of high technology and inspirations in simple elements or minor details, surprises because of the innovation in his creations.
Anrealage, by Kunihiko Morinaga
Recognized for his visionary creativity, Morinaga captures the subtlety of everyday life, often imperceptible, to create the design of the Japanese brand Anrealage, of which he is the founder.
The designer bases himself on the continuous innovations of the industry and on technical quality to develop pieces that do not fit into the standard silhouette, to introduce new formats, and value different technological concepts, proposing a reevaluation of how the fashion of the future is seen, worn, and conceived.
The exhibition A LIGHT UN LIGHT 'comes to expand this proposal, highlighting pieces from six collections of the brand that have already been showcased in the Paris fashion weeks: Shadow (2015), Light (2015), Reflect (2016), Prism (2018), Power (2018) and Clear (2019).
Visitors may to see up close a retrospective of ANREALAGE and clothes with the light theme, which reveal new ways of seeing and using materials, employing everything from illusion techniques to new photosensitive fabric technologies.
Light and Shadow
Morinaga’s stated fascination with the brightness of light reinforces this important line of his work: “In the fashion market, light is considered a detriment to clothing; it is the cause of discoloration and deterioration.”
For this project, the designer thoroughly investigated the mixture between light and fabric. As a result, he realized how design can be valued and the phenomenal beauty there is between the two. The brand’s latest collections (2011-2018) appropriated technologies such as the photochromic dye, retro reflections, and augmented reality as new ways to enhance the everyday experience of fashion.
ANREALAGE: A blend of classical with modern (2018-11-06/2019-01-06) by Japan House São PauloJAPAN HOUSE São Paulo
The Multiple Perspectives of Contemporary Japan
“The innovation in Morinaga’s work is amazing, whether from the fashion or from technology point of view. We note a fashion of extreme technical and aesthetic sophistication, permeated by the typically Japanese delicacy and perfection. Simultaneously, we note how technological advances are incorporated into each collection, resulting in extremely bold and original, yet perfectly usable pieces,” says Japan House São Paulo Cultural Director Natasha Barzaghy Geenen.
Detail of the lighting: Three mannequins from the exhibition 'A LIGHT UN LIGHT' (2018-11-06/2019-01-06) by Japan House São PauloJAPAN HOUSE São Paulo
More than just showing his works and experiments, the exhibition hopes to address a new perception of reality through the pieces.
Based on the brand name, which is a combination of the English expressions UN (unreal), REAL (real) and AGE (age), the designer invites visitors to reinterpret the concept of innovation: Instead of simply making new clothes, the brand’s work aims at making clothes in different ways.
About Anrealage
Founded in 2003 by Kunihiko Morinaga, the Anrealage brand - which combines the English words 'a' real', 'unreal' and 'age' - debuted at the Paris Fashion Week in 2014, with the Shadow collection. Morinaga’s most current projects include the creation of a watch for the Swiss brand RADO, in a collaboration with the Kaleidoscope Collection, with the shoe manufacturer ASICS, in addition to constant collaborations with Apple, Panasonic, BMW, Sony, Google, and Amazon.
About Kunihiko Morinaga
A designer holding a degree from the Vantan Design Academy and born in Tokyo, Kunihiko Morinaga is the founder of the Japanese brand Anrealage. His designs originate from easily overlooked discoveries, like subtle twists in fabric that create touches of unreality. Working under the mantra 'God is in the details,' his designs are known for their finely detailed and brilliant patchwork and garments that incorporate innovative technology and techniques.
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