Maker Profile – Frying Pan JIU
It’s not often you see products that bring handcrafted techniques into the field of industrial design. For this reason, I have been fascinated by the work of Osaka-based Fujita Metal and Tokyo design studio TENT. By fusing TENT’s passion for modern design and Fujita Metal’s high-qu
New in the Shop – Cutlery by Rieko Fujimoto
Japanese metalworker Rieko Fujimoto has been hard at work over the last six months producing some stunning new cutlery for the shop. We are so pleased! I am especially fond of the ‘Both Ends’ spoon that’s been handcrafted from brass and features a scoop on one end and a small spoon
New in the Shop – Trays & Dishes by Yusuke Tazawa
There’s something so special about Japanese woodworker Yusuke Tazawa’s finishes. With a background in furniture making, Yusuke uses nature as his inspiration, using textures and tones found in the forest and incorporating them into his work. Yusuke now crafts out of his studio named Thin
New at OEN Shop – Ceramics by Makoto Asebi
Japanese potter Makoto Asebi’s work consists of two tones; black and white. This simple approach has helped him craft a cohesive series of objects that focus heavily on the perfection of form and the qualities that make up a specific glaze. The flat matte white has a wonderful luster behind th
Potential of Light – SOZOU Lighting Design
Founded by Melbourne-based designer Kohtaroh Colwell-Matsuura, SOZOU studio specializes in the production of minimal-looking metal lighting pieces that create a Zen-like ambiance. Next to being connected to eastern and western philosophies, the studio’s geometric lamps bring to mind the legacy
Big Woods – Sculptural Furniture by Aaron Poritz
Nature and trees in-particular are the inspiration behind the furniture designs of Aaron Poritz, a Brooklyn-based architect and artist. While in the past Poritz has designed minimalist wooden furniture pieces that have similar aesthetic qualities to that found in Danish design, the artist’s new co
Maker Profile – Metalworker Ruka Kikuchi
Ruka Kikuchi, also known by his nickname Lue, makes utensils and accessories out of brass in the Japanese city of Setouchi. Born in 1983 in Soja, a city located in Okayama Prefecture, Ruka trained to be a metalworker under his father Masaaki Kikuchi in early 2000. After a six-year apprenticeship, he
Free Guide – Our Top 10 Locations in Japan
Japan was where my journey began when I started OEN in around 2007. By supporting Japanese artists and highlighting their unique work online I have been lucky enough to travel to the country a few times each year since, which in turn has enabled me to visit many inspiring locations. This free guide
New at OEN Shop – Perfect Instance Mobile by Tempo
One of my favourite pieces from Japanese workshop Tempo is the Perfect Instance mobile that comes in a blue and orange colour. This mobile is composed of two anodised aluminium plates. One has been placed horizontally and the other vertically so that the plates intersect. A metal bar separates the t
New at OEN Shop – Textured Dishes by Mushimegane Books
I have always admired the work of Japanese artist Misa Kumabuchi of Mushimegane Books. The concept for Misa’s project revolves around people and sounds, with the pots being made as a reflection of the earth’s surface and nature in general. This work has simplicity but at the same time a
New in the Shop – Woodwork by Akiko Ken Made
Anyone following our Instagram account would have seen our newest selection of work from Akiko Ken Made. I have always admired founders Akiko and Ken’s eye for timeless, minimalistic design. Their new piece titled ‘Paper Hotel’ is crafted from cherry wood and has a linoleum interio
Expressive Colour – Abstract Painting by Naomi Clark
Naomi Clark’s abstract oil paintings are constructed with bold and vibrant colors, organic forms, and gestural brushstrokes that convey powerful emotions. Importantly, Clark’s approach to abstract painting surpasses the boundaries of the canvas as she has also painted all sorts of textiles and f
