Join us and discover the journey of MUJI as we reminisce its growth over the last 40 years.
Bringing to you “MUJI IS” book, which was curated in celebration of MUJI’s 40th anniversary in 2020. The book features about 460 items out of all the products MUJI has released to date and summarized the thoughts of each product into 15 verbs.
In the context of the book, an exhibition is curated – ‘A walk in the forest of verbs with “MUJI IS”’, presents visitors through a journey of MUJI’s design ethos and product archives in a forest-like experience, centering around the 15 verbs. The exhibition which was first held at ATELIER MUJI GINZA in Japan and later travelled across the country, will be exhibiting for the first time abroad in Singapore, at Japan Creative Centre (JCC) from 15 June to 27 July 2022.
A talk event will also be held online on the evening of 16 June with keynote speakers - Ms. Kazuko Koike, a member of MUJI’s Advisory Board and Ms. Junko Suzuki, curator for 'To the Forest of Verbs with “MUJI IS”' exhibition. This will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by Kelley Cheng, joined by Koike san and Junko san and local creatives Wendy Chua and Felicia Toh, who will share their thoughts on the influence of design on the world and how we live.
Exhibition Period: Wednesday, 15th June – Wednesday, 27th July 2022
Opening Hours: 10:00 – 18:00* | Closed on 12 July, Sundays and Mondays
*Due to opening ceremony, JCC will be open from 12pm - 6pm on 15 June 2022 (Wednesday)
Venue: Japan Creative Centre (JCC), Multi-Purpose Hall (Free Entry)
Organiser: Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd. / Co-organiser: Japan Creative Centre / Planning Collaboration: MUJI Laboratory for Living / Space Design: TORAFU ARCHITECTS Inc. / Graphic Design: Akiko Kurachi / Exhibition Production: TOKYO STUDIO CO., Ltd. / Curation: Junko Suzuki
Taking a walk with “MUJI IS”
In 1980, MUJI was established in Japan as an antithesis to consumer society, where capitalism and its logic were over-prioritised. Suggesting “good products” from a “no-brand” point of view, our action showing living aesthetics has grown on a global scale to achieve our concept of a “pleasant life”: now we cover everything from products and ideas to people and social systems. We feel as if we were a young seedling now grown into a tree, becoming a part of the forest, and eventually of the earth itself.
In this exhibition, we invite you to take a walk into the forest of MUJI verbs selected from the “MUJI IS” book, each related to our products and activities that was developed in the last 4 decades.
引く・省く Hiku・Habuku (Subtract) / いかす Ikasu (Utilize) / 飾らない Kazaranai (Simplify) / 学ぶ Manabu (Study) / 問う Tou (Question) / 受け継ぐ Uketsugu (Inherit) / まとめる Matomeru (Bundle) / 整える Totonoeru (Organize) / 寄り添う Yorisou (Support) / 気づく Kizuku (Notice) / ゆだねる Yudaneru (Entrust) / 繰り返す Kurikaesu (Repeat) / 合わせる Awaseru (Combine) / 見立てる Mitateru (Imagine) / 試みる Kokoromiru (Experiment)
MUJI will accompany people throughout their lives with these verbs. Our ideas and actions will evolve further, as they always have done, with people all over the world.
About ATELIER MUJI GINZA
“ATELIER MUJI” was named by Ikko Tanaka, an internationally recognised Japanese graphic designer. Ever since, we managed the space in the MUJI Yurakucho store under the slogan “A workshop that provides clues on how to move into our future by looking back to the origins of our lives”. Our activity looking to the future was reborn as “ATELIER MUJI GINZA”, the very first intersection of diverse design culture in Ryohin Keikaku, on 4 April, 2019. In order to have Monozukuri (craftmanship) and design become firmly rooted as a part of Japanese culture, we must find, learn, create, preserve, and in some cases, break something. In the flow of time from the past, present and the future, while observing and listening to the world with our eyes and ears, we see that cherished objects are polished, handed on, and loved. For MUJI to stay true to MUJI itself, from now and into the future.
Opening Ceremony
Join us online on JCC Facebook Live as JCC Director Toru Furugori and MUJI Singapore Managing Director Katsushi Onishi officially open the exhibition.
Date: Wednesday, 15 June 2022
Time: 11am - 12pm
Venue: Online (Premiere on JCC Facebook Live)
Admission: FREE
Getting to Japan Creative Centre
4 Nassim Road Singapore 258372
Tel: +65-6737-0434
By Public Bus: Bus services 7, 36, 77, 105, 106, 111, 123, 132, 174, 174E, 502, 502A, 502B (Alight in front of Delfi Orchard)
By the MRT: Nearest MRT station, Orchard (NS22)
Driving to JCC: Nearest parking is at Orchard Hotel, Delfi Orchard and Orchard Rendezvous Hotel.
Exhibition Photos (Japan Creative Centre)
Book
“MUJI IS” Book (English Version)
A 279-page book, issued by the MUJI Laboratory for Living* in celebration of MUJI’s 40th anniversary in 2020. This book features an archive of MUJI products across the decades organized into 15 verbs, with each verb representing the thought process behind the creation of the MUJI product.
Grab a copy at MUJI Plaza Singapura, ION Orchard and JEM (launch mid-June 2022)
$23.00/book
*MUJI Laboratory for Living is a research facility established within the company to reconsider the concept of “a simple, pleasant life” from a variety of perspectives and to advance together with customers.
When Objects Are Born, Verbs Come Alive.
MUJI. While our name was initially written with four Japanese characters reminiscent of a traditional 4-character phrase, today, the name MUJI is recognised in Europe, Asia and around the world. Why? Simply put, MUJI offers an array of objects that are useful for daily living, supporting a more simple, pleasant life.
MUJI began with 40 products. In 2020, in honour of MUJI’s 40th anniversary, we began researching the reason behind the more than 7,000 MUJI products that have been developed over the years, creating a MUJI archive. We considered several ways to classify the products for the archive, such as a linear timeline or by product category. In the end, we decided to focus on the motives behind each product’s development and have arranged this book accordingly.
Each item created by MUJI can be organised in terms of the verb that represents the thought process behind its creation. There is a reason behind every product that is created by MUJI, and that reason can be explained with a verb. We felt that by using verbs to express how the thoughts and ideas of the creators are transferred to the user, an overall image of MUJI would emerge.
This book is a collection of MUJI products, organized around fifteen verbs. We hope that you will be inspired to see how a single item can be tied to several verbs, or how these verbs are leading us to the beginnings of a better society.
Kazuko Koike
MUJI Laboratory for Living
MUJI Zoom Webinar
MUJI IS, DESIGN IS
TALK EVENT WITH KAZUKO KOIKE
Event curated by BLACK
International design has surrounded our everyday life, from the materials that we used in our clothing, to the way we contain and carry our beverages. It can even shape the world with systems that could help us adapt to a post-covid world.
In this talk event, Ms Kazuko Koike, who helped prepare the “MUJI IS” book archive, will deliver a presentation on topics stemming from the book, and the values and emotions that have formed the brand. Ms Junko Suzuki, curator for 'To the Forest of Verbs with “MUJI IS”' exhibition will also be explaining the concept behind the exhibition.
This will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by Kelley Cheng, joined by Koike san and Junko san and local creatives Wendy Chua, and Felicia Toh, who will share their thoughts on the influence of design on the world and how we live.
TALK EVENT INFORMATION:
Date: Thursday 16 June 2022
Time: 5.00pm – 6.00pm (You will receive a confirmation email with Zoom webinar invite link prior to the start of the event)
Venue: Zoom Webinar
Fee: Free (First come first served basis)
PANEL DISCUSSION
Kazuko Koike (Creative Director / Member of MUJI Advisory Board)
Junko Suzuki (Curator for 'To the Forest of Verbs with “MUJI IS”' exhibition)
Wendy Chua (Co-founder of Forest & Whale)
Felicia Toh (Founder of NOST)
Kelley Cheng (Creative Director of The Press Room)