Last week was the opening to our newest exhibition for Japanese design Oji Masanori debuting several new collections including a teapot, teacups and mugs by Susumuya and also cypress trays, containers and boxes by time honoured lacquer-ware company Kirimoto.

Our main contribution to the exhibition was revealing our newest production collaboration with Oji Masanori, two beautiful pendant lights both made here in Toronto, along with a wooden serving board inspired by the earth and the moon.

The Hemisphere pendant went on the win the 2016 TODO Juror’s Choice Award.

Here is what Oji Masanori had to say about the collaboration:

MJOLK PENDANT LAMPS

I was first introduced to Mjölk five years ago and had the chance to get to know John and Juli. Mjölk, part shop, part gallery, has since become one of my favourite destinations.

John had contacted me about Mjölk Made; a collaboration between designers, the shop, and local Toronto manufacturing. I flew into Toronto so that I could immerse myself in the culture of the city. I was curious about lifestyle, interior layouts, room sizes, and the ways in which people lived.

This trip resulted in a lighting project that was to utilize the craftsmanship of a historic brass company located in the city. I was able to visit their shop, meet the makers and better understand their processes and limitations.
I have designed two pendant lamps; simple shapes that share subtle details of quality, form and materials. I devised them so that balance and harmony can be felt and seen.

The Hemisphere Pendant resembles a large mobile, playing with various materials, scales and sizes. The smaller brass hemisphere is pointing light down towards a table, while the big copper hemisphere lights up, towards a ceiling, shedding light indirectly over an entire room.

The Diamond Pendant has a brass balancer and an LED light bulb. The whole light can be carefully touched and moved in order to adjust height and position.

I designed these two lights for Toronto, they were created out of an image of a Torontonian, a Canadian, who lives peacefully and considers the people around them, respecting differences while living in a complex and diverse city. From my visits to this city, I think, people in Toronto are very skilled at combining, mixing and blending culture with simplicity.

Mjölk is the perfect mix and blend of international design and Japanese craft. I hope for these collaborations to continue to connect people and carefully crafted objects, to bring peaceful products all over the world.

– MASANORI OJI

A nice Ikebana flower arrangement using the porcelain Comport dish by Oji Masanori for Jicon.

The walnut meat board, another Mjolk collaboration with Oji Masanori. The cutting board is used for resting a roast, steak or cooked vegetables. The deep grooves around the tray allow for the juices to collect. You can carve the roast or slice the steak directly on the board, and the little dish on the end can be used as a salt cellar for seasoning the meat or vegetables right on the table. The two circles represent the earth and the moon.

Beautiful Susumu tableware making their debut.

Jicon sake server and cups.

Since Oji Masanori also designs all of the packaging for his works, we thought it would be nice to exhibit them as well.

Every component of the Diamond pendant is custom made.

We received a Designlines Loves tag for the diamond pendant!

Wednesday, January 20th we hosted a reception for Oji-san. We are thankful to all who came out, the response was outstanding!

Takuya Matsuo and Masanori Oji

Catering by Imanishi Japanese Kitchen.

It was Elodie’s first exhibition – I really wanted her to wear her Fort Kids dress but she opted for Frozen upon Frozen. Can’t win them all! Howell checked the show out too. He was pretty annoyed that he had to go to bed.

Elodie kept busy drawing pictures and practicing her letters (what?), and then gave them out to unsuspecting guests.

Thank you to everyone who attended!