2020

It was 2008 when Mr. Takashi Kanome suddenly shouted, “You guys, do an exhibition!“ Since then, We have worked together year after year, through trial and error, to create this exhibition with Koufukuron Members.

　This year, 2020, the new Corona arrived with a momentum that would not allow the Olympics to be held. We, the members of Package Happiness Theory, were about to fall apart due to the “declaration of a state of emergency” and “avoidance of the three secret places”. Just then, a joint exhibition of the late Dr. Kanome and his wife, Kayoko, was to be held at Gallery 5610. We, the members of Package Happiness Theory, gathered at the exhibition hall as if we were being beckoned by Dr. Kaname.

　At the right moment, the late Dr. Hisashi Kanome shouted again, “What are you doing? This is the time for Package Koufukuron!?

　The Package Koufukuron is not just an exhibition of works. What does “design” mean to us, to human beings, and to life? What does it have to do with the happiness of mankind? I would like to look at our profession of “design” from this perspective. In order to do so, let's create an exhibition after looking at what is happening around us and what is going on in our society.

　This year, we are physically divided and unable to come together and hold hands. But is it true that our connection has been torn apart? The power of digital networks keeps us connected. The speed at which designs are shared in data is accelerating, and it is even possible to engage in controversial discussions through modeling, something that was not possible when we were gathered in a real conference room.
　In other words, I think it would be better to think of “design” now as having a chance to “move on to tomorrow” rather than to “go back to the past. I think so.

　We will not stop “design.“ It may be a simple product design requested by the sales team. But we are stubbornly trying to make the design as good as possible. Even when we are told, “Don't worry about the artistry, just make a design that will sell,” we stubbornly try to embody “as good a design as possible. Even when they are told, “This is not the time for design! He never stops “designing,” even when he is told, “This is not the time for designing! I believe that this stubbornness should be maintained even now at Corona.

　To be persistent in “design” at a time like this. This is courage. But we know in our hearts, not in our heads, that “design” will surely make everyone happy and make us happy, so we continue to “design” stubbornly. We are persistent because we truly believe that “design” is something that will brightly illuminate the future.

　In other words, “design” is the light of our courage.

　In Package Koufukuron 2020, we have gathered the works exhibited by the members of Package Koufukuron over the past 11 years in the hope that we can once again confirm the power of “art” and the courage that “design” can give us. In this exhibition, we hope that you will find some hints to help you envision a “design” that will survive and thrive in the new era of “new communication technology” that has passed the Corona era.　

［Designers]　
　Naoko Akai
　Kiyoshi Ishida
　Hiroyuki Ishiura
　Taiki Inoue
　Kazushige Oue
　Taishi Ono
　Takashi Kagotani
　Masahiko Kimura
　Kaori Kondo
　Yuki Sugiyama
　Kenichi Tanaka
　Mayumi Tomita
　Takashi Matsui
　Sumiko Matsuda
　Yuka Nagasaki
　Kenichi Hirose
　Shigeru Yamazaki
　Itsuro Yumoto