Seiko's "The Gift of Time" Brings Kengo Kuma Tea House to Pace Gallery in New York
On October 6, a temporary landscape featuring a wooded path and tea house, designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, was showcased on the sixth-floor terrace of Pace Gallery in West Chelsea, NYC. This installation was part of Seiko Group Corporation's "The Gift of Time" initiative, which examined the relationship between time, tea ceremonies, and watchmaking, reflecting the Japanese concept of ma. A short film by Paula Chowles debuted at the venue, alongside historical artifacts from The Seiko Museum Ginza and curated selections from Wako, as well as Grand Seiko and Credor models. Kuma's partnership with Seiko originated from his involvement with the Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi and the Grand Seiko boutique in Paris. The event offered sensory experiences through Chowles's film and tea ceremonies conducted by Souyuu Yamazaki.
Key facts
- "The Gift of Time" is a global Seiko Group Corporation initiative to exhibit Japanese luxury
- The New York presentation took place on October 6 on the sixth-floor terrace of Pace Gallery in West Chelsea
- Kengo Kuma designed a tea house and wooded trail landscape for the installation
- A short film directed by Paula Chowles premiered on site
- The exhibition paired objects from The Seiko Museum Ginza with items curated by Tokyo store Wako and signature Grand Seiko and Credor models
- Kuma previously designed the Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi and the interior of the Grand Seiko boutique on Place Vendôme in Paris
- The Japanese concept of ma informed both Kuma's architecture and Chowles's film
- Tea master Souyuu Yamazaki of the Urasenke school led traditional Japanese tea ceremony experiences
- The initiative followed earlier presentations in Tokyo and Paris
- Kuma's studio has projects underway in 50 countries
Entities
Artists
- Kengo Kuma
- Paula Chowles
- Souyuu Yamazaki
- Mr. Hattori
- Smiljan Radić
- Ria Xenou
- Shawn Henderson
- Dries Van Noten
- Lola Mora
- Junya Ishigami
Institutions
- Seiko Group Corporation
- Pace Gallery
- Kengo Kuma & Associates
- The Seiko Museum Ginza
- Wako
- Grand Seiko
- Credor
- Urasenke school
- Surface
- Jacobsen Studio
- Norm Architects
- F05
- Barragán Prize
- Architecture & Design Film Festival
Locations
- New York City
- United States
- West Chelsea
- Manhattan
- Tokyo
- Japan
- Paris
- France
- Place Vendôme
- Shizukuishi
- Chile
- Venice
- Italy
- Colombia
- Penn Station