Meaning “free-form clay” in Japanese, Nendo is an internationally acclaimed and prolific Japanese design studio founded in 2002 by designer Oki Sato, who was named one of the world’s 100 Most Respected Japanese People by Newsweek in 2006, and Designer of the Year by both Wallpaper and Elle Decor magazines in 2012. Operated with the goal of reconstituting the small moments of surprise hidden in everyday life into something that can be used in its designs, Nendo aims to be as versatile and fluid as the name suggests.

“Stone Garden” from Between Relationships category

For the first time, Nendo is staging a solo show, The Space in Between, showcasing a selection of the studio’s old and new pieces spanning its 14-year history. Taking up residence at the Design Museum Holon in Israel, the exhibition will be held from June 7 to October 29 with a theme of exploring the in-between spaces left for light and air.

Designed by Nendo and curated by Maria Cristina Didero, the exhibition will feature more than 74 works divided into six categories of “spaces” that aim to provide visitors a first-hand experience in sharing a journey with the minimalist designer. The show investigates the challenges Sato encountered while interacting with various types of objects and their unexplored areas – the only spaces in which he could not intervene.

By: Elky Siu

Lead image courtesy of Nendo; © Shay Ben Efraim