Spring 2023 Issue

Iwa Sake
and Kura

As part of the artist’s guest-edited special section for the Spring 2023 issue of the Quarterly, Marc Newson reflects with IWA Sake founder Richard Geoffroy and architect Kengo Kuma on their respective contributions to IWA Sake in Japan: bottle, brewing, and building. The sake brewery, or kura in Japanese, takes its name from its site of Shiraiwa, located in the town of Tateyama.

The brewing process at IWA Sake, Shiraiwa kura, Japan, 2021. Photo: Nao Tsuda, courtesy IWA Sake

The brewing process at IWA Sake, Shiraiwa kura, Japan, 2021. Photo: Nao Tsuda, courtesy IWA Sake

The brewing process at IWA Sake, Shiraiwa kura, Japan, 2021. Photo: Nao Tsuda, courtesy IWA Sake

Marc Newson

Richard Geoffroy and I bonded over our admiration of Japanese culture, particularly the high value placed on skill and craft, and the obsession with minute detail. The process behind IWA exemplifies Richard’s unique approach: from the bottle to the brewery, he places a similarly high value on design.

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IWA Sake bottle and glassware, designed by Marc Newson, 2020. Photos: Jonas Marguet

The parameters were fairly defined in terms of the functionality of the bottle: we wanted it to look like a bottle and have a recognizable silhouette, and be subtle and sophisticated. We were more playing with materials and finishes to achieve a subtle elegance.

IWA Sake’s Shiraiwa kura, Japan, designed by Kengo Kuma, 2021. Photo: Nao Tsuda, courtesy IWA Sake

IWA Sake’s Shiraiwa kura, Japan, designed by Kengo Kuma, 2021. Photo: Nao Tsuda, courtesy IWA Sake

Kengo Kuma

We considered history within the context of local culture. The roof directly references the traditional houses of the Gokayama region. Historically, the people and the koji yeast live together under one roof.

IWA Sake’s Shiraiwa kura, Japan, designed by Kengo Kuma, 2021. Photo: Nao Tsuda, courtesy IWA Sake

Richard Geoffroy

I always had a fascination for Kengo Kuma’s contribution to reviving the Japan-ness of Japan’s architecture: deeply and proudly rooted yet reaching out to the world. His philosophy has been a source of personal inspiration in creating IWA. In actual fact Kengo’s collaboration with IWA is beyond architecture; I am grateful he keeps guiding me through the arcanes of the cultures of Japan.

Marc Newson’s supplement also includes: “In Conversation: Ruth Rogers and Marc Newson”“Concepts in Motion” by Alison Castle, “Sketch Book” by Marc Newson, and “Il Sorpasso” by Carlos Valladares.

Black-and-white portrait of Marc Newson

Marc Newson, CBE, is an industrial designer whose work spans a wide range of disciplines. Born in Sydney, Newson staged his first solo exhibition at the age of twenty-three and two years later created the now iconic Lockheed Lounge. He is the only designer represented by Gagosian, and his designs are featured in the permanent collections of more than forty institutions worldwide.

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Concepts in Motion

Concepts in Motion

Alison Castle reports on concept cars created by visionaries—architects, artists, amateurs—from outside the field on automotive design.

Il Sorpasso

Il Sorpasso

Carlos Valladares writes on Dino Risi’s Il Sorpasso (1962), examining the narrative structure and underlying tensions that keep viewers returning to this classic film.

Ruth Rogers and Marc Newson

In Conversation
Ruth Rogers and Marc Newson

Marc Newson joins restaurateur Ruth Rogers to discuss the compendium of topics he selected for a special supplement he guest-edited for the Spring 2023 issue of the Quarterly.

Toyo Ito, Marc Newson, and Koji Yanai

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Toyo Ito, Marc Newson, and Koji Yanai

The Tokyo Toilet project has added twelve new public restrooms by renowned architects and designers to the city’s map since 2020, with five more scheduled to open in 2022. To learn more about the initiative, the Quarterly spoke with founder Koji Yanai and two of the participating designers, Toyo Ito and Marc Newson.

Marc Newson and Derek Blasberg

In Conversation
Marc Newson and Derek Blasberg

Marc Newson tells Derek Blasberg about his newest creations, explaining the backstory of these ornate works.

Marc Newson

Behind the Art
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In this video, Marc Newson provides an overview of his latest exhibition. He details the various technical processes behind his new designs, including works in cloisonné, surfboards, swords, and large-scale glass chairs.

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Now available
Gagosian Quarterly Spring 2019

The Spring 2019 issue of Gagosian Quarterly is now available, featuring Red Pot with Lute Player #2 by Jonas Wood on its cover.

Tradition and Innovation: The 2026 Loewe Foundation Craft Prize

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The Loewe Foundation Craft Prize celebrates its ninth edition with an exhibition at the National Gallery Singapore.

Stella McCartney and Jeff Koons

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François Laffanour: Galerie Downtown Paris

François Laffanour: Galerie Downtown Paris

Since 1982, François Laffanour has been operating the Paris-based Galerie Downtown, a Left Bank outpost specializing in modern furniture and design. The gallery has played a key role in the exhibition and promotion of work by such midcentury greats as Charlotte Perriand, Jean Prouvé, Jean Royère, and Ettore Sottsass. Ahead of this year’s TEFAF New York, Laffanour met with Gagosian archivist Timothée Viale in Paris to speak about the fair, the gallery’s evolution, and the importance of embracing the future.

Highlights: Salone del Mobile Milano 2025

Highlights: Salone del Mobile Milano 2025

This year’s Salone del Mobile Milano brought together a range of installations, debuts, and collaborations from across the worlds of design, fashion, and architecture. We present a selection of these projects.

David Cronenberg: The Shrouds

David Cronenberg: The Shrouds

David Cronenberg’s film The Shrouds made its debut at the 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in France. Film writer Miriam Bale reports on the motifs and questions that make up this latest addition to the auteur’s singular body of work.