Japan’s First MajorEttore SottsassRetrospective

Ettore Sottsass is renowned as one of the foremost figures in 20th-century Italian design, and in recent years numerous retrospectives of his work have been held across Europe and the United States. This exhibition, the first large-scale Sottsass retrospective in Japan, introduces his creative trajectory by presenting over a hundred works by Sottsass, from his early to late periods, together with works by close associates such as Kuramata Shirō and Michele De Lucchi.

Exploring What“Design”Meant to Sottsass

Throughout his career, Sottsass constantly questioned the very meaning of “design,” refusing to be bound by conventional thinking. His creative stance—liberated from the rationality and functionality that had long defined modern design—is encapsulated in his remark, referenced in the subtitle of this exhibition: “Design begins when magic begins.” This exhibition explores what design truly meant to Sottsass.

Over One HundredSottsass Worksfrom the IshibashiFoundation Collection

Over One HundredSottsass Works from theIshibashi Foundation Collection

In recent years, the Ishibashi Foundation has placed special emphasis on collecting the works of Ettore Sottsass. This collection spans a wide range of media—including furniture, ceramics, office equipment, glassware, photography, and drawings—and now numbers over one hundred works. This exhibition marks the first occasion on which the museum will present its entire Sottsass collection and related materials to the public—and is also its first-ever design-themed exhibition.