Issey Miyake: a fascinating exhibition in Tokyo

We love the fusion between art and fashion, that’s why we decided that a must-see during our stay in Japan was the exhibition “The Work of Miyake Issey”, displayed at the National Art Center of Tokyo, which explores the work of the renowned Japanese artist.

The exhibition surprises from the very beginning and awakes all the senses. Suddenly finding yourself surrounded by Miyake’s pieces of clothing and discovering that already in the 80s all the items he created, both from the textile perspective as well as morphologically, were revolutionary and contemporary is really stunning.

Everything is an ode to creativity and good taste. The museum, a state-of-the-art building, is the perfect place for the exhibition. Besides, the curator makes it possible that the itinerary be an organized journey along three rooms in which Issey’s oeuvre is slowly revealed.

The first one, whose space was designed by Tokujin Yoshioka, examines his early work, which already showed that he would be an unparalleled creator. The second one, also designed by Yoshioka, shows the series “Body”, from 1980, in which Issey started to use materials such as plastic, paper and wire, and in which he goes deep into the special relationship between the body and the items of cloting.

And the third one, where Miyaki’s works of art can be seen in a display design created by Graphic designer Taku Satoh, goes deeply into the artist most innovative aspects: the creative use of materials, the variety of pleats, and the use of new technologies.

In that way, the three rooms go through Issey Miyake’s haute couture and make it clear why he is one of the best fashion designers of the world. Each piece of clothing is a journey to the future and a perfect combination of abstract shapes that dialogue in sheer harmony: the purest form of art.