With the guiding theme “Plain, Simple, Useful”, Sir Terence Conran (1931 – 2020) revolutionized the world of design, his comprehensive gaze capturing all aspects of life from the individual, to the urban, and even to society at large. This exhibit seeks to depict Conran as he was through his design philosophy, which played a major role in revolutionizing English lifestyles, and set off a design boom worldwide. 

This exhibit graced Tokyo’s Station Gallery last year, and migrated to Fukuoka this year on April 19th. 

In the immediate postwar period Conran began his career as a textile and tableware pattern designer, and in 1964 opened his groundbreaking home styling store “Habitat” which became a massive hit and chain in England, earning him significant fame as an entrepreneur. 

The opening of the “The Conran Shop” in the 1970s and the concept of the select store that it helped inaugurate radically changed the design market in Japan and the rest of the world. Furniture product development, the restoration of London’s abandoned warehouses, and book publishing are just some of the various projects that Conran was working on at this time. On top of all of this, Conran had also been involved in the restaurant business as early as the 1950s, with the cuisine on offer running the gamut from casual fare to high end dining. With over 50 restaurants to his name, he played a leading role in defining the modern British culinary identity. In another major achievement, in 1989 Conran was able to realize his long held dream of opening the world’s very first museum of design. 

At this exhibit, over 300 pieces featuring early tableware and textiles designs and patterns, furniture design maquettes, shop and restaurant items, beloved objects that were the inspiration behind many of his most famous designs, literature, photos, and video footage are on display. Additionally, interviews of people influenced by Conran (including Tom Dixon/designer, Thomas Heatherwick/architect, Tim Marlow/director of the Design Museum, Felix Conran/grandson of Conran, Sakiko Hirano/food essayist, etc.) will be screened throughout the exhibit, showcasing different facets of the man and his work. The exhibition itself is organized by SKWAT, who reconstructed the exhibition to fit the dynamic space of the Fukuoka City Art Museum. The use of single tubes in the exhibition space is also a definite must-see.  

Talks and related events will be held for the duration of the event, so keep your eyes peeled!

>>For more information please check the event Homepage and Instagram. 

Fee

General admission: 1,800 yen 
University/High school students: 1,000 yen 
Elementary schoolers: 600 yen

*Reservations: Not required
Ticket purchases are required prior to entering