Sayart.net - SANAA and Formafantasma Transform Tokyo Art Center into Immersive Kaleidoscopic Experience for Bulgari Exhibition

  • October 10, 2025 (Fri)

SANAA and Formafantasma Transform Tokyo Art Center into Immersive Kaleidoscopic Experience for Bulgari Exhibition

Sayart / Published October 10, 2025 12:29 AM
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Renowned Japanese architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa of SANAA have partnered with Italian design studio Formafantasma to create a spectacular exhibition environment at The National Art Center in Tokyo. The collaboration transforms the museum space into a flowing landscape of color, light, and reflection for the exhibition "Bvlgari Kaleidos: Colors, Cultures, and Crafts," which will remain on view until December 15th, 2025.

SANAA's architectural approach abandons traditional chronological exhibition layouts in favor of creating a continuous, luminous environment characterized by soft curves, translucent walls, and carefully filtered light. The design philosophy guides visitors through the space in a way that recalls the ancient mosaics of the Baths of Caracalla, a historical reference that deeply inspired Bulgari's Roman identity. The gentle organic shapes and layered transparencies produce a dynamic sense of movement, creating the sensation of stepping into a turning kaleidoscope that leads visitors seamlessly from one display of color to the next without abrupt transitions.

Within this fluid architectural framework, Formafantasma has designed freestanding display cases that function as sculptural elements in their own right. Each vitrine carefully isolates Bulgari's heritage jewelry pieces, including necklaces, bangles, and the iconic Serpenti collection, while their specialized materials and finishes precisely control light and reflection. The jewelry appears to float within these cases, with their colors amplified by the sophisticated interplay of glass, metal, and resin, effectively transforming each display case into a miniature installation of color and form.

The exhibition showcases a meaningful dialogue between Italian craftsmanship and Japanese design sensibilities, with SANAA utilizing light and transparency to highlight the brilliance of the jewelry while echoing the calm precision characteristic of Japanese aesthetics. This cultural conversation becomes immediately apparent in the opening pieces, which feature a striking gold and lapis lazuli paperweight shaped like a Roman temple displayed alongside a circular brooch crafted from mother-of-pearl and polychrome enamel.

In "Bvlgari Kaleidos: Colors, Cultures, and Crafts," the architecture itself becomes an integral part of the exhibition experience rather than merely serving as a backdrop. SANAA and Formafantasma successfully extend Bulgari's vibrant world of color into an immersive experience where visitors become active participants in a kaleidoscopic journey that celebrates the intersection of Italian luxury craftsmanship and Japanese design philosophy.

Renowned Japanese architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa of SANAA have partnered with Italian design studio Formafantasma to create a spectacular exhibition environment at The National Art Center in Tokyo. The collaboration transforms the museum space into a flowing landscape of color, light, and reflection for the exhibition "Bvlgari Kaleidos: Colors, Cultures, and Crafts," which will remain on view until December 15th, 2025.

SANAA's architectural approach abandons traditional chronological exhibition layouts in favor of creating a continuous, luminous environment characterized by soft curves, translucent walls, and carefully filtered light. The design philosophy guides visitors through the space in a way that recalls the ancient mosaics of the Baths of Caracalla, a historical reference that deeply inspired Bulgari's Roman identity. The gentle organic shapes and layered transparencies produce a dynamic sense of movement, creating the sensation of stepping into a turning kaleidoscope that leads visitors seamlessly from one display of color to the next without abrupt transitions.

Within this fluid architectural framework, Formafantasma has designed freestanding display cases that function as sculptural elements in their own right. Each vitrine carefully isolates Bulgari's heritage jewelry pieces, including necklaces, bangles, and the iconic Serpenti collection, while their specialized materials and finishes precisely control light and reflection. The jewelry appears to float within these cases, with their colors amplified by the sophisticated interplay of glass, metal, and resin, effectively transforming each display case into a miniature installation of color and form.

The exhibition showcases a meaningful dialogue between Italian craftsmanship and Japanese design sensibilities, with SANAA utilizing light and transparency to highlight the brilliance of the jewelry while echoing the calm precision characteristic of Japanese aesthetics. This cultural conversation becomes immediately apparent in the opening pieces, which feature a striking gold and lapis lazuli paperweight shaped like a Roman temple displayed alongside a circular brooch crafted from mother-of-pearl and polychrome enamel.

In "Bvlgari Kaleidos: Colors, Cultures, and Crafts," the architecture itself becomes an integral part of the exhibition experience rather than merely serving as a backdrop. SANAA and Formafantasma successfully extend Bulgari's vibrant world of color into an immersive experience where visitors become active participants in a kaleidoscopic journey that celebrates the intersection of Italian luxury craftsmanship and Japanese design philosophy.

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