Motomi Kawakami
1940 Born in Hyogo prefecture
1964 Graduated from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music (Majored in Industrial Design)
1966 Graduated from Master course of the same university
1966-69 Professional practice at Angello Mangiarotti Architect Office, Milan
1971- Established Kawakami Design Office

Visiting Professor at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, Tama Art University

Design work specializing in product, interior, space and environmental design.
Collaboration in local industry promotion projects and professional education.



Exhibitions, Lectures, etc.


1969 White Chapel Art Gallery "Modern Chairs 1918-1970" Exhibition (London)
1970 Good Design Exhibition "Global Eye" (Ginza Matsuya, Tokyo)
1971 Good Design Exhibition "My Seat" (Ginza Matsuya, Tokyo)
1978 The National Museum of Art, Osaka "The Form of a Chair - From Design to Art"
1982 Joint Exhibition in Five Galleries (Furniture)
Gallery LUFT (Tokyo), BUSHI showroom (AXIS, Tokyo), SKIPPER showroom (Milan), ARFLEX showroom (Milan), DESIGN 19 (Ginza Matsuya, Tokyo)
1984 "Design in Japan - Tradition and the Present" exhibition organization and installation (Moscow)
1987 One-man furniture exhibition "Hybrid - Light and Shade" (Gallery MA, Tokyo)
"Contemporary Scandinavian Crafts" exhibition coordination and installation (Yurakucho Seibu Art Forum, Tokyo / The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto)
1988 One-man exhibition "Fragments of Form - Furniture and Lighting" (Creators Gallery, Yurakucho Seibu, Tokyo)
Symposium "DESIGNERS WEEK-END" panel speaker (Brussels)
1991 One-man furniture exhibition "Industrial Symphony" (Quest Hall, Tokyo)
1995 Philadelphia Museum of Art "Japanese Design -- A Survey Since 1950"
1996 Wood of Finland "Innovative Industrial Wooden Products" competition
juror and lecturer (Finland)
1997 Ministry of Trade and Industry "Good Design Award" Head of General Jury
1999 "New Perspectives on Industrial Design" exhibition coordination (The Museum of Modern Art, Toyama)
2000 "Masterpiece Chairs of the 20th Century - 200 Chairs by 200 Designers" (Kobe Fashion Museum)
One-man exhibition "Material Message" (OZONE Gallery, Tokyo)
2005 "Pioneers in the globalization of design" (Musashino Art University Museum & Library)


Books and articles

'The Beauty of Bridges II: Road Bridges Landscape Handbook' 1981, Japan
Road Association)
'GACHI - The Furniture of Motomi Kawakami' 1988, Rikuyousha
Article in 'Dictionary of Furniture' 1986, Asakura Shoten
Article in 'Dictionary of Design' 2000, Heibonsha


Honors


  • 14th Milan Triennale, Gold Prize
  • Japan Interior Designers’ Association Award
  • 1st Prize, The Open International Chair Design Competition (The American Institute of Architects)
  • Japan Package Design Award for Super Excellence (85), Excellence (86)
  • Mainichi Design Prize
  • Kitaro Kunii Industrial Design Award
  • Tanaka Prize, Japan Society of Civil Engineers (for “Tsurumi Tsubasa Bridge”)
  • Yokohama Civic Design Award
  • Prize for Excellence, Wood Chairs in Living Exhibition
  • IF Prize (Germany)
  • Gold Prize, Good Design Award
  • CHICAGO GOOD DESGIN AWARD
    etc.


Related web site

Creators Channel - Motomi Kawakami
http://www.c-channel.com/c00204/