KURA SCULPTURAL PAVILION.
Spatial art direction and sculptural signage for a contemporary gallery and tea pavilion.
Project
Overview.
Art direction and spatial curation for a contemporary gallery situated at the base of Mount Hiei. We designed the exhibition furniture, monolithic stone pedestals, etched bronze signage, and bilingual catalog celebrating contemporary wabi-sabi aesthetics.
SUBTRACTIVE METHODOLOGY
Signage was etched directly into unlacquered forged bronze slabs that will patina naturally over decades. Natural lighting replaces spot fixtures, transforming the perception of artworks from dawn to dusk.
Technical Matrix & Deliverables.
Fair-Faced Concrete, Charred Sugi, Raw Bronze
Acid-Etched 6mm Bronze Plates with Infilled Pigment
380 m² Gallery & Tea Garden Colonnade
100% Indirect Natural Diurnal Solar Illumination
Visual Documentation.
“Elena approaches space with the stillness of Japanese architectural masters. Her scenography created an emotional resonance that our visitors still write to us about years later.”
Akari Takahashi Director of Scenography — Kyoto Contemporary Art Pavilion
