Experience “Beauty in Imperfection” at the WOW “Deform —Refraction #001–014” exhibit at Ginza Tsutaya Books
WOW magazine 211 - Apr. 18th, 2023
WOW will be holding the WOW “Deform —Refraction #001–014” exhibit at Ginza Tsutaya Books from May 2 (Tuesday) to May 9 (Tuesday). This event, at the Tsutaya Books Ginza Atrium, presents visual works from “Refraction,” unveiled at “Unlearning the Visuals (2022),” an exhibition commemorating WOW’s 25th anniversary as a visual design studio engaged in a wide range of visual expression activities. “Refraction” is a group of visual works created to confront the unlimited imagination of human beings. WOW plans to exhibit a total of 11 works, including the six works unveiled at “Unlearning the Visuals” along with five new works: two large works and three small works. Spatial designer Kin-ichi Ogata of OGATA Inc. has framed each size of work with different designs. WOW will also make the works available for sale, allowing them to be owned and displayed as art pieces in offices, galleries, or homes.
Work introduction
“Refraction” is a group of visual works that represent “distortion.” An overlay of curved acrylic grids on a display playing video distorts and blurs the image, rendering it in a mosaic-like manner. The viewer looking at the work supplements and reconstructs the incomplete image by imagining “something beyond.”
We encounter vast amounts of visual information in our daily lives through the spread of increasingly high-resolution video equipment and social media. These works let the viewer harness the unlimited imagination or infinite resolution possessed by human beings, as the opposite of high resolution and finish to provide an experience of the beauty that exists in imperfection.
▶ WOW25 "Refraction" from Unlearning the Visuals
Work introduction
“Refraction” is a group of visual works that represent “distortion.” An overlay of curved acrylic grids on a display playing video distorts and blurs the image, rendering it in a mosaic-like manner. The viewer looking at the work supplements and reconstructs the incomplete image by imagining “something beyond.”
We encounter vast amounts of visual information in our daily lives through the spread of increasingly high-resolution video equipment and social media. These works let the viewer harness the unlimited imagination or infinite resolution possessed by human beings, as the opposite of high resolution and finish to provide an experience of the beauty that exists in imperfection.
▶ WOW25 "Refraction" from Unlearning the Visuals
Exhibited Works
Large Size *New work. Prototype on display.
“Day light” H1869mm × W1094mm ×W123mm Copper frame
“Mortality” H1869mm × W1094mm ×W123mm Stainless steel frame
Medium Size
“Eye” H1020mm × W611mm × D123mm Curved acrylic, wood frame
“Portrait_01” H1020mm × W611mm × D123mm Curved acrylic, wood frame
“Portrait_02” H1020mm × W611mm × D123mm Curved acrylic, wood frame
“Portrait_03” H1020mm × W611mm × D123mm Curved acrylic, wood frame
“Fish” H611mm × W1020mm ×D123mm Curved acrylic, wood frame
“Night light” H611mm × W1020mm ×D123mm Curved acrylic, wood frame
Small Size *New work. Prototype on display.
“Night light” H297mm × W236mm × D19.5mm Curved acrylic, Acrylic frame
“Portrait_02” H297mm × W236mm × D19.5mm Curved acrylic, Brass frame
“Portrait_03” H297mm × W236mm × D19.5mm Curved acrylic, Steel frame
Large Size *New work. Prototype on display.
“Day light” H1869mm × W1094mm ×W123mm Copper frame
“Mortality” H1869mm × W1094mm ×W123mm Stainless steel frame
Medium Size
“Eye” H1020mm × W611mm × D123mm Curved acrylic, wood frame
“Portrait_01” H1020mm × W611mm × D123mm Curved acrylic, wood frame
“Portrait_02” H1020mm × W611mm × D123mm Curved acrylic, wood frame
“Portrait_03” H1020mm × W611mm × D123mm Curved acrylic, wood frame
“Fish” H611mm × W1020mm ×D123mm Curved acrylic, wood frame
“Night light” H611mm × W1020mm ×D123mm Curved acrylic, wood frame
Small Size *New work. Prototype on display.
“Night light” H297mm × W236mm × D19.5mm Curved acrylic, Acrylic frame
“Portrait_02” H297mm × W236mm × D19.5mm Curved acrylic, Brass frame
“Portrait_03” H297mm × W236mm × D19.5mm Curved acrylic, Steel frame
About Artwork Sales
Sales will begin at the Ginza Tsutaya Bookstore counter from 11:00 a.m. on May 2 (Tue). Some works will also be available on the online art marketplace "OIL by Bijutsu Techo" starting at 11:00 a.m. on May 2 (Tue).
▶ OIL by Bijutsu Techo
WOW “Deform —Refraction #001–014” Exhibition Information
Dates: May 2 (Tue) to May 9 (Tue), 2023
Time: 11:00 - 20:00 *11:00 - 17:00 on the last day.
Location: Ginza Tsutaya Bookstore GINZA ATRIUM
Address: 6-10-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, GINZA SIX 6F
Admission: Free
Organizer: WOW
Planning Cooperation: CCC Art Lab
Design & Construction Cooperation: OGATA Inc.
Equipment Cooperation: Prism Co., Ltd.
Acrylic Production: Inac Co., Ltd.
Sales will begin at the Ginza Tsutaya Bookstore counter from 11:00 a.m. on May 2 (Tue). Some works will also be available on the online art marketplace "OIL by Bijutsu Techo" starting at 11:00 a.m. on May 2 (Tue).
▶ OIL by Bijutsu Techo
WOW “Deform —Refraction #001–014” Exhibition Information
Dates: May 2 (Tue) to May 9 (Tue), 2023
Time: 11:00 - 20:00 *11:00 - 17:00 on the last day.
Location: Ginza Tsutaya Bookstore GINZA ATRIUM
Address: 6-10-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, GINZA SIX 6F
Admission: Free
Organizer: WOW
Planning Cooperation: CCC Art Lab
Design & Construction Cooperation: OGATA Inc.
Equipment Cooperation: Prism Co., Ltd.
Acrylic Production: Inac Co., Ltd.
OGATA Inc.
OGATA Inc. was established in 1998, centered around furniture/interior designer Kinichi Ogata. The studio is located in a forest at the foot of Izumigatake mountain, on the outskirts of Sendai city. They are engaged in a wide range of activities, including original furniture design and production, store design, interior and exterior design for hospitals and buildings, design supervision for large stores, and residential design and construction. Their original furniture, mainly made of wood, iron, and leather, is all produced in-house. Each piece has a story and is designed to awaken people's consciousness or challenge preconceived notions when touched. Their pursuit of unique, practical, and innovative designs, as well as their uncompromising attention to detail, has earned them high acclaim both in Japan and abroad for the high quality and intricate craftsmanship of their work.
▶ OGATA Inc.
CCC Art Lab
CCC Art Lab is a planning group within the Culture Convenience Club Co., Ltd. that proposes a lifestyle with art. Through suggesting a life with art, we aim to make art more accessible, bring happiness to people's lives, and contribute to creating a better society. Based on our extensive business experience in store planning, art media, product development, and event production, we propose unique approaches that only we can offer.
▶ CCC Art Lab
OGATA Inc. was established in 1998, centered around furniture/interior designer Kinichi Ogata. The studio is located in a forest at the foot of Izumigatake mountain, on the outskirts of Sendai city. They are engaged in a wide range of activities, including original furniture design and production, store design, interior and exterior design for hospitals and buildings, design supervision for large stores, and residential design and construction. Their original furniture, mainly made of wood, iron, and leather, is all produced in-house. Each piece has a story and is designed to awaken people's consciousness or challenge preconceived notions when touched. Their pursuit of unique, practical, and innovative designs, as well as their uncompromising attention to detail, has earned them high acclaim both in Japan and abroad for the high quality and intricate craftsmanship of their work.
▶ OGATA Inc.
CCC Art Lab
CCC Art Lab is a planning group within the Culture Convenience Club Co., Ltd. that proposes a lifestyle with art. Through suggesting a life with art, we aim to make art more accessible, bring happiness to people's lives, and contribute to creating a better society. Based on our extensive business experience in store planning, art media, product development, and event production, we propose unique approaches that only we can offer.
▶ CCC Art Lab
