Water as a conductor between yesterday and today. Suimei Pavilion by Kazuyo Sejima
01/08/2021.
for Tokyo Pavilion 2021 [Tokyo] Japan
metalocus, JOSÉ JUAN BARBA
metalocus, JOSÉ JUAN BARBA
A curved line of water that reflects the sky that flows through a historical park, is one of the proposals projected by Japanese architect, Kazuyo Sejima that can be found among the nine concepts dreamt up by six Japanese architects and three artists, which recently appeared in the urban landscape of the Japanese capital, almost all close to the surroundings of the National Stadium just before the opening of the Tokyo Olympics.
The temporary installations were brought to life through Pavilion Tokyo 2021, a project by Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Tokyo Arts Council and the Watari-um, a contemporary art museum.
The sinuous mirrored proposal, made with polished stainless steel, designed by Sejima for Pavilion Tokyo 2021, is located in the Hama-rikyu gardens. The intervention can be visited until September 5th.
The temporary installations were brought to life through Pavilion Tokyo 2021, a project by Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Tokyo Arts Council and the Watari-um, a contemporary art museum.
The sinuous mirrored proposal, made with polished stainless steel, designed by Sejima for Pavilion Tokyo 2021, is located in the Hama-rikyu gardens. The intervention can be visited until September 5th.
Suimei Pavilion by Kazuyo Sejima. Photograph by Kazuyo Sejima and Associates
Suimei Pavilion by Kazuyo Sejima. Photograph by Kazuyo Sejima and Associates
Suimei Pavilion by Kazuyo Sejima. Photograph by Kazuyo Sejima and Associates
Suimei Pavilion by Kazuyo Sejima. Photograph by Kazuyo Sejima and Associates
Suimei Pavilion by Kazuyo Sejima. Photograph by Kazuyo Sejima and Associates
Suimei Pavilion by Kazuyo Sejima. Photograph by Kazuyo Sejima and Associates
Suimei Pavilion by Kazuyo Sejima. Photograph by Kazuyo Sejima and Associates
Suimei Pavilion by Kazuyo Sejima. Photograph by Kazuyo Sejima and Associates
Suimei Pavilion by Kazuyo Sejima. Photograph by Kazuyo Sejima and Associates
Suimei Pavilion by Kazuyo Sejima. Photograph by Kazuyo Sejima and Associates
Suimei Pavilion by Kazuyo Sejima. Photograph by Kazuyo Sejima and Associates
Suimei Pavilion by Kazuyo Sejima. Photograph by Kazuyo Sejima and Associates
Suimei Pavilion by Kazuyo Sejima. Photograph by Kazuyo Sejima and Associates
Suimei Pavilion by Kazuyo Sejima. Photograph by Kazuyo Sejima and Associates
Suimei Pavilion by Kazuyo Sejima. Photograph by Kazuyo Sejima and Associates
Suimei Pavilion by Kazuyo Sejima. Photograph by Kazuyo Sejima and Associates
Suimei Pavilion by Kazuyo Sejima. Photograph by Kazuyo Sejima and Associates
Suimei Pavilion by Kazuyo Sejima. Photograph by Kazuyo Sejima and Associates
Suimei Pavilion by Kazuyo Sejima. Photograph by Kazuyo Sejima and Associates
Suimei Pavilion by Kazuyo Sejima. Photograph by Kazuyo Sejima and Associates
Suimei Pavilion by Kazuyo Sejima. Photograph by Kazuyo Sejima and Associates
Suimei Pavilion by Kazuyo Sejima. Photograph by Kazuyo Sejima and Associates
Suimei Pavilion by Kazuyo Sejima. Photograph by Kazuyo Sejima and Associates
“Suimei'' is a japanese word that describes how clear water shines beautifully under the light of the sun and moon. The pavilion has been named with this word in the hope of imagining a bright future from the ever-changing surface of the water, while at the same time reflecting the history of Tokyo.
“It can be said that Hama-rikyu is a garden that coexists with water. I thought about adding water into that scenery, to depict modern society. The winding stream looks as if it is still when viewed from a distance. But when you look at it closely, you realize that it is flowing quietly. This slowly flowing water represents the connection between the past, present and future.”
Kazuyo Sejima
Kazuyo Sejima was very particular in choosing the place for the creation of this pavilion, looking for a place where both history and modernity could be felt at the same time. The Hama-rikyu Gardens are an example of the Daimyo Teien (feudal lord’s gardens) of the Edo Period, with a tidal pond (a type of pond formed with seawater that changes its shape depending on the rise and fall of the tide) and with two sites for hunting ducks.
Sejima was convinced that this traditionally styled garden which stands in stark contrast to the skyscrapers of the neighboring Shiodome district is “a place where you can access both historical and modern aspects of Tokyo”.
More information
Architects
Producer and curator
Watari-um, the Watari Museum of Contemporary Art.
Client
Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Arts Council Tokyo (Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture), and Executive Committee of Pavilion Tokyo 2021.
Location
The pavilion "Suimei" designed by Kazuyo Sejima was built at the site of Enryokan in the Hamarikyu Gardens in Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Dates
From, July 1st, until September 5th, 2021.
Sepecial notes
Do not touch the pavilion.
Do not enter the lawn surrounded by roping.
Please try not to stay too long to obstruct the passage of other visitors.
Hama-rikyu Gardens are stated as a National Special Place of Scenic Beauty as well as a Special Historic Site. Please follow the rules set by the garden.
Pets are not allowed in the garden (except for service dogs).
Hama-rikyu Gardens are no-smoking site. There are no smoking areas.
Do not enter the lawn surrounded by roping.
Please try not to stay too long to obstruct the passage of other visitors.
Hama-rikyu Gardens are stated as a National Special Place of Scenic Beauty as well as a Special Historic Site. Please follow the rules set by the garden.
Pets are not allowed in the garden (except for service dogs).
Hama-rikyu Gardens are no-smoking site. There are no smoking areas.
Photography
KAZUYO SEJIMA
Kazuyo Sejima. Architect. Born 1956 in Ibaraki prefecture, Japan. Master’s in Architecture, Japan Women’s University, 1981. Worked in office of Toyo Ito before founding Kazuyo Sejima and Associates in 1987. Founded SANAA with Ryue Nishizawa in 1995. Awards won by SANAA include the Arnold Brunner Memorial Medal of the American Academy of Arts and Letters (2002), the Golden Lion at the 9th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale (2004), a design prize from the Architectural Institute of Japan (2006), the Kunstpreis Berlin from the Berlin Academy of Arts (2007), and the Pritzker Architecture Prize (2010). Works by SANAA include the Glass Pavilion at the Toledo Museum of Art; the De Kunstlinie Theater and Cultural Center in Almere...
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