Japan Creative Centre (JCC) is pleased to present a talk and workshop by renowned Lighting Designer Mr Kaoru Mende. Singapore President's Design Award Recipient and the founder and principal of Lighting Planners Associates (LPA), Mr Mende will touch upon revitalizing the Zen spirit that Japan has nurtured since ancient times.

"I want to restore graceful elegance to lighting design. Even as we exploit state-of-the-art light technology that is being developed at an ever increasing pace, we would do well to look back to the pre-modern Edo period spirit that animates all that is best about our aesthetic, for there we may discover new manifestations of shadow never before imagined."

"Tanizaki’s In Praise of Shadows is more than mere nostalgia for a bygone aesthetic. The near future I envision is one in which the many spaces and places of our day to day world are inhabited by new forms of invigorating and beautiful shadow.".（quoted from "Designing with shadow")

"I will introduce aesthetic of shadow existing in Japan using architectural lighting projects which were designed by LPA."

About the speaker:

Mr Kaoru Mende earned a masters degree from Tokyo University of Art in the field of industrial and environmental design. In 1990, he founded Lighting Planners Associates Inc. in Tokyo and now has an office in Singapore. The scope of his design and planning activities ranges widely from residential and architectural lighting design to urban and environmental lighting. Mende is also the acting chief of the “Lighting Detectives”, a citizens’ group that specializes in the study of the culture of lighting. Mr Mende has been involved in superb projects as Tokyo International Forum, JR Kyoto Station, Sendai Mediatheque, Roppongi Hills, Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims, Kyoto State Guest House, Chino Cultural Complex, National Museum of Singapore, Singapore City Center Lighting Master Plan, Alila Villas Uluwatu, Aman New Delhi, Osaka City Lighting Master Plan and Façade Lighting for JR Tokyo Station. Awards Mr Mende has received include the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) Award of Distinction, International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) Radiance Award, Japan Culture Design Award, Mainichi Design Award, and others. Currently Mr Mende is a professor at Musashino Art University and a part-time lecturer at Tokyo University, Tokyo University of Art, and other institutions.

EVENT DETAILS:
DATE: Friday, 4th November 2011

TIME & VENUE
7.00pm to 8.30pm Talk and Workshop (Including Q & A)
(Japan Creative Centre, 4 Nassim Road)
REGISTRATION BEGINS AT 6.30PM

The workshop will be a simple and fun session to learn how to craft a lantern using recycled materials such as plastic bottles and cups. Please bring an empty plastic bottle and a pair of scissors.

ADMISSION :FREE

Please write to jcc@sn.mofa.go.jp to register for a seat. We regret to inform that as there are limited seating, seats will be confirmed only upon receipt of confirmation email from JCC. Do register before the 31st of October to avoid disappointment!