Unseen Objects
Casting, at its core, is an act of transformation, which includes a considerable layer of pragmatism combined with storytelling – blending chemistry, materiality, and craft in the direction of creating something new to be revealed. Casting is some sort of roller-coaster where you try to control a material and a practice, following a precise method, with the awareness that results could be still unpredictable.In an era fixated on perfection, Unseen Objects offers a compelling counterpoint. Each piece reveals that beauty doesn't have to be polished or pristine – it can reside in cracks, residues, and the marks of making. —— Design Curator and Author, Maria Cristina Didero
Outline
Unseen Objects is a collaborative project between we+ and Heiwa Gokin, a foundry based in Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture. The project reinterprets the tools, fixtures, material textures, and incidental forms found within the casting process—elements that have often been overlooked. By elevating the essence of advanced casting techniques into art, it seeks to highlight the inherent beauty of casting culture while simultaneously rediscover and redefine the value of this craftsmanship, offering a fresh perspective on this time-honored tradition.
For this project, we+ made multiple visits to Heiwa Gokin’s factory, conducting an in-depth study of the casting process. By focusing on the overlooked beauty that emerges in daily operations, the studio presented a collection of vases at MATTER and SHAPE 2025 (Paris), Milan Design Week (Milan), and DESIGNART (Tokyo).
At alter., the project enters a new chapter: transforming scraps and tools freshly gathered from the foundry into objects, further exploring the potential of the collaboration.
Members
we+ is a contemporary design studio that gives form to new perspectives and values through research-based and experimental approaches. Founded in 2013 by Toshiya Hayashi and Hokuto Ando, the studio explores alternative design that embraces diverse values often overlooked in today's society, where convenience and rationality are prioritized. They present self-initiated projects in Japan and abroad, applying insights to collaborations with companies and organizations. Recent research includes "Nature Study," "Urban Origin," and "Hidden Layers." Their works are held in permanent collections at institutions such as the Vitra Design Museum in Germany.