Japan House London is currently hosting the “Windowology” exhibition by the Tokyo based Window Research Institute, which explores the impact windows have on everyday life, art, literature, film and architecture, and will continue until 24 April 2022. 

 

The exhibition begins with a glimpse into how some of Japan’s artisanal products are made, with the intricate processes that items, such as paper and salt, go through being revealed in step-by-step guides, highlighting the roles of windows in these procedures. Then, the viewer observes how windows in Japanese houses are deliberately built to interact with light, wind, and heat, reducing the need for electricity. 

 

Next, a series of books reveal the way windows shape stories, with important meetings and magical realms often being linked to them. Most of the stories are from Japan, but some Western classics, such as “Alice in Wonderland”, are also featured. Viewers are then able to watch a short film capturing the dramatic light differences that occur in a teahouse during a single day due to the interaction between the windows and nature, accompanied by models of teahouses, including a life size one which can be entered. Finally, the influence of windows on art, architecture and photography is depicted through comic strips, art installations, and images of buildings in Japan. 

 

Lucille Barrot said, “I went expecting to learn about Japanese windows in architecture, but the exhibition was so much more, going from craftsmanship to influencing our views on the environment. I loved it!” 

 

This fascinating, free exhibition, which can be booked online, demonstrates that even the seemingly mundane inspires all kinds of creativity!