This year’s Japan Pavilion at London Design Biennale titled‘Paper Clouds: Materiality in Empty Space’ is a Japanese poem to The Nelson Stair, and to the surface textures, translucency, lightness and inner strength of Washi paper. Designed by SEKISUI HOUSE – KUMA LAB (The University of Tokyo) and curated by Clare Farrow, founder of Clare Farrow Studio, the project is an experiment in design materiality, music and fashion with violinist and composer Midori Komachi, and a meeting of Tokyo and London.

Inspired by Suyari-Gasumi, a Japanese art technique where empty space holds its own materiality like mist, the project explores our connection to nature. The suspended cloud-structure has been made from plant-fibre and wood pulps, sprayed and moulded using digi­tal technology, handcraft and delicate threads. It embodies the theme of Surface Reflections, encouraging reflection on the way surfaces communicate.

KUMA LAB’s first costume design features a Washi paper dress for Komachi, testing the material’s flexibility and durability. The dress, inspired by traditional Japanese armour, is paired with Mikimoto pearls.

The project also offers educational opportunities for musicians and designers, incorporating ancient construction methods and unique materials like golden kimono thread. Komachi’s composition, recorded at Goldsmiths, features the sounds of Washi paper interacting with the body, inspired by the Japanese concept of Sawari—the distinctive sound created by friction on surfaces. A workshop with London Music Fund’s Senior Scholars, using graphic scores and improvisation, will lead to solo performances in The Nelson Stair.

Performances on 27th June will be held between 18:00 - 20:45.
Performance times are: 18:00*, 18:30**, 19:00**, 19:30**, 20:00**, 20:30* 
*Performance by Midori Komachi 
** Performance by London Music Fund Senior Scholars
There are no seats for the performances. For safety reasons, viewing of the performances may not be possible if the number of attendees exceeds capacity.