NOCT PROJECT
Traditionally used for practical purposes such as emergency guidance, phosphorescence is reinterpreted in this project as a poetic material that quietly holds traces of memory and time. The exhibition explores its expression through two contrasting materials:
Phosphorescent washi — by blending the pigment directly into the pulp, the paper retains its softness and translucency while emitting a subtle glow in the dark, like the afterimage of moonlight.
Phosphorescent ceramics — developed through extensive experimentation from clay preparation to firing, overcoming the material’s vulnerability to heat and enabling light to persist even after firing.
Alongside these, phosphorescent resin and braided cords created in collaboration with artisans and factories in Japan are also shown.
Through the varied behavior of light across materials, the project proposes new aesthetic possibilities of phosphorescence beyond function.
TAISEI MISHIMA DESIGN
Product designer. He graduated from the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) in the UK with a degree in Product Design, and in 2017 founded his own design studio, TAISEI MISHIMA DESIGN, in Tokyo. He collaborates with traditional crafts and local manufacturers across Japan to develop products that make use of regional materials and techniques. His approach is hands-on, engaging not only in the design but also in how products reach people through retail spaces, exhibitions, and crowdfunding.
- 2025 Excellence Award, 21st Century Ehime Traditional Crafts Award
- 2024 Selected, National Traditional Crafts Public Exhibition
- 2019 Second prize, Toyama Design Competition
- 2019 Good Design Award