Design Festa vol.47
The spring Design Festa (commonly called “Desafes”) vol.47 — this time we visited on the opening day (May 12, 2018).
Among the many booths, we’d like to introduce one that truly stood out: Mini Gakuya.
Mini Gakuya
Mini Gakuya is a shop specializing in frames smaller than a postcard. Its parent business is Sato Gazai, a well-established frame shop based in Morishita, Tokyo.
As you can see, the display is a gathering of nothing but tiny frames.
They take a playful approach — omitting the acrylic panel and pairing frames with three-dimensional objects, for example.
The very idea of framing extremely small items is refreshing in itself. Looking at our own surroundings through this lens, we begin to notice countless things we normally overlook.
Many of the frames are one-of-a-kind, so you can hunt for a frame that is uniquely yours.
There are also plenty of beautifully crafted mini frames! You could just as easily enjoy the frames themselves more than the artworks inside them.
You start to dream up ideas — cropping just a portion of a postcard as if trimming it, or framing tiny stickers or magazine cut-outs.
Frame prices generally fall between 1,000 and 3,000 yen.
We couldn’t help but look at this one and that one and this one too.
These little frames could easily become a spice that enriches our everyday lives.
Event Details
Name: Design Festa vol.47
Venue: Tokyo Big Sight, West Hall (entire hall)
Dates: May 12 (Sat.) & 13 (Sun.), 2018
Content: Original artwork exhibitions, sales, performances, etc.
Booths: 5,000 booths
Exhibitors: 15,000 (estimated)
Application period: Opens November 28, 2017 (planned)
