Traditionally used for practical purposes such as emergency guidance, phosphorescence is reinterpreted in this project as a poetic material that quietly holds traces of memory and time. The exhibition explores its expression through two contrasting materials:

Phosphorescent washi — by blending the pigment directly into the pulp, the paper retains its softness and translucency while emitting a subtle glow in the dark, like the afterimage of moonlight.

Phosphorescent ceramics — developed through extensive experimentation from clay preparation to firing, overcoming the material’s vulnerability to heat and enabling light to persist even after firing.

Alongside these, phosphorescent resin and braided cords created in collaboration with artisans and factories in Japan are also shown.

Through the varied behavior of light across materials, the project proposes new aesthetic possibilities of phosphorescence beyond function.

DESIGNTIDE TOKYO Main Exhibition
The main exhibition program of DESIGNTIDE TOKYO.
This exhibition presents a curated selection of works from an open call juried by the event’s directors, invited creators recommended by each director, and selected participants from the student exhibition Class 2025.