Capriccio
Memento
Today, marble and other natural stone materials are widely used for a variety of applications in architecture, interior and products, but the manufacturing process invariably results in a small surplus of these materials. These scraps are either left unused or disposed of as industrial waste.
The Memento Vase is created with the aim of giving new value to the leftover natural stone scraps used as interior materials by transforming them into a new product.
The terrazzo base is made from abandoned stone that has never been used. The flower stem shaped pipe is made of brass, a recyclable material that can be reused by melting.
A single flower is an ephemeral entity that withers in a short time, but natural materials created by the earth over a long period of time, such as stone, will also disappear one day if we continue to consume them.
This vase reminds us of the preciousness of finite natural materials through the transience of a single flower. The piece is made from a flower vase handcrafted by a Japanese brass craftsman and a base made from crushed natural stone, a disused interior material, which has been processed into terrazzo with the help of an Indonesian architect.
Gensuke Kishi is a product and interior designer based in Rennes, France. He offers work that emphasises global design thinking and a multifaceted approach, based on a broad design experience, from product design to space design. His activities are not limited to Japan and Europe: he also participates in design projects and exhibitions in the US and Asian countries. He designs new and novel works by fusing the unique cultures, materials and crafts he has experienced directly around the world with the traditional craftsmanship of local Japanese industries.
His works, produced with a modern interpretation of traditional materials and craftsmanship, are highly appreciated all over the world. They are sold in major international museums and department stores, such as the MoMA Design Store in New York and the M+ Museum in Hong Kong, and have been featured in international media such as The Guardian and Dezeen.