Arrow

In Japan, aluminum is extensively used as a building material, such as in window frames, more so than in other countries. As a result, it has become synonymous with affordable materials. However, by focusing on the history and characteristics of this material, we can rediscover its overlooked charm and value. In particular, aluminum extrusion products exhibit a continuous smooth surface and sharp edges that create a sense of tension, offering an aesthetic beauty that feels more like a minimal sculpture than just a mass-produced item.

In response, I have attempted to develop a product that combines these two contrasting aesthetic values by adding handcrafted elements to the inherent beauty of the precise machining of aluminum extrusions.

The Arrow is a stand lamp featuring a shade formed by hammering the ends of a mass-produced L-shaped aluminum profile. The LED light installed inside the shade diffuses and reflects within the shade, transforming into a soft light that illuminates the wall and makes the product’s silhouette emerge within the light.

By viewing consistently machine-made products not just as materials but as sculptures that can only be produced through machining, and by incorporating a primitive handcraft technique, such as hammering passed down for thousands of years, I aimed to harmonize and blend machine craftsmanship with handcraft techniques.