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原研哉。Ex-formation植物：視覺藝術聯想集
以令人驚奇、新鮮的樣貌，重新展現在世人眼前
一種嘗試將已知的事物「未知化」的創作挑戰
原研哉認為，「創造不是填寫答案，而是提出質疑。」
Ex-formation的目的在於「了解自己的無知」，或是透過第一次觀賞、體驗事物的新鮮感，設法傳達事物的樣貌。
其實這種方式並不容易。人類習慣透過媒體接收各種資訊，往往將片面資訊加以整理歸納之後，便以為自己掌握了事物的全貌，卻忽略了其中隱藏著更多尚未被發掘的可能性。然而這個世界是永遠無法被完全解讀的。唯有了解這一點，才能不斷產生更豐富多元的驚喜、感動或疑問。
植物對我們來說是幸福、豐饒的象徵，可是在亞馬遜流域的熱帶雨林等植物茂密旺盛的場所，植物卻是猙獰的。植物不似動物能夠進行移動，卻以旺盛的生命力與繁殖力生存…… 植物究竟是什麼呢？
原研哉每年都會為武藏野美術大學專題研究班主持暑期研習活動，07年的研究主題即為Ex-formation「植物」──也是近年來全世界所關注的綠色保護議題。這一連串的設計猶如一場大型實驗，以前所未有的觀點重新審視植物，並加以表現。
書中共收錄11項主題獨特且極具啟發性與原創性的研究概念。
「如果沒有『花』的存在，這個世界必定單調許多。花擁有耀眼的光芒，人類沐浴在這道光芒之下，走過日常的幸福與生死。『植物』亦然。
我們試圖以不同於植物學、生物學或文學的研究方法來探索植物。透過研究，我認為這樣的探索應該是有其價值的。」──原研哉
一種嘗試將已知的事物「未知化」的創作挑戰
原研哉認為，「創造不是填寫答案，而是提出質疑。」
Ex-formation的目的在於「了解自己的無知」，或是透過第一次觀賞、體驗事物的新鮮感，設法傳達事物的樣貌。
其實這種方式並不容易。人類習慣透過媒體接收各種資訊，往往將片面資訊加以整理歸納之後，便以為自己掌握了事物的全貌，卻忽略了其中隱藏著更多尚未被發掘的可能性。然而這個世界是永遠無法被完全解讀的。唯有了解這一點，才能不斷產生更豐富多元的驚喜、感動或疑問。
植物對我們來說是幸福、豐饒的象徵，可是在亞馬遜流域的熱帶雨林等植物茂密旺盛的場所，植物卻是猙獰的。植物不似動物能夠進行移動，卻以旺盛的生命力與繁殖力生存…… 植物究竟是什麼呢？
原研哉每年都會為武藏野美術大學專題研究班主持暑期研習活動，07年的研究主題即為Ex-formation「植物」──也是近年來全世界所關注的綠色保護議題。這一連串的設計猶如一場大型實驗，以前所未有的觀點重新審視植物，並加以表現。
書中共收錄11項主題獨特且極具啟發性與原創性的研究概念。
「如果沒有『花』的存在，這個世界必定單調許多。花擁有耀眼的光芒，人類沐浴在這道光芒之下，走過日常的幸福與生死。『植物』亦然。
我們試圖以不同於植物學、生物學或文學的研究方法來探索植物。透過研究，我認為這樣的探索應該是有其價值的。」──原研哉
176 pages, Paperback
First published September 25, 2015
11 people are currently reading
331 people want to read
About the author
Kenya Hara
41 books118 followersKenya Hara (born 1958) is a Japanese graphic designer and curator. He is a graduate of Musashino Art University.
Hara has been the art director of Muji since 2001 and designed the opening and closing ceremony programs of the Nagano Winter Olympic Games 1998. He published Designing Design, in which he elaborates on the importance of “emptiness” in both the visual and philosophical traditions of Japan, and its application to design. In 2008, Hara partnered with fashion label Kenzo for the launch of its men's fragrance Kenzo Power.
Hara is a leading design personality in Japan and in 2000 had his own exhibition “Re-Design: The Daily Products of the 21st Century”.
(from Wikipedia)
Hara has been the art director of Muji since 2001 and designed the opening and closing ceremony programs of the Nagano Winter Olympic Games 1998. He published Designing Design, in which he elaborates on the importance of “emptiness” in both the visual and philosophical traditions of Japan, and its application to design. In 2008, Hara partnered with fashion label Kenzo for the launch of its men's fragrance Kenzo Power.
Hara is a leading design personality in Japan and in 2000 had his own exhibition “Re-Design: The Daily Products of the 21st Century”.
(from Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 20, 2016
My favourites were the solid smoke shapes, and the bottles-as-bodies.
March 19, 2023
The reader should be aware that this isn't the definitive conceptual exploration of the "ex-formation" concept (though that's an oxymoronic goal if there ever was one), but is instead a collection of student projects to explore various subjects with "ex-formation" like strategies. I think Kenya Hara is very kind to put the spotlight on the students in this way, and indeed the work is very delightful and thought provoking, like a good contemporary art museum visit.
I think that Designing Design (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) as a masterful survey of Kenya Hara's work, including the ex-formation concept, and not only has sufficient coverage of those ideas, but places it in the context of Hara's broader work, and I would actually start there to understand what ex-formation is all about. If you're looking for a lighter introduction to Kenya Hara, I would start with White (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) as a well-contained masterpiece.
Once you read these, and want to see how the ex-formation concept is extended from year-to-year, this book is a great follow-up.
I think that Designing Design (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) as a masterful survey of Kenya Hara's work, including the ex-formation concept, and not only has sufficient coverage of those ideas, but places it in the context of Hara's broader work, and I would actually start there to understand what ex-formation is all about. If you're looking for a lighter introduction to Kenya Hara, I would start with White (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) as a well-contained masterpiece.
Once you read these, and want to see how the ex-formation concept is extended from year-to-year, this book is a great follow-up.
April 28, 2017
Every designer should read Kenya Hara's book. His books always give me a new perspective to look at our ordinary daily products or places.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews