Q&A with Michael Marriott
Sori Yanagi Appreciation Society
The event got us thinking about what inspired the creation of the SYAS, so we decided to ask its founder, furniture, product designer and all-round brilliant human Michael Marriott.
Who was Sori Yanagi? Sori Yanagi is a super significant Japanese product designer. He was the son of Soetsu Yanagi, who founded the Mingei movement, and his mum was a famous opera singer (I think). As a young man, he was introduced to Charlotte Perriand when she visited Japan and met his father, along with Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada. They became very good friends—he translated for her, assisted her during her time there, and she encouraged him to study industrial design.
Perriand with back to camera and Sori Yanagi (centre) from Charlotte Perriand: An Art of Living
Why did you start a Sori Yanagi Appreciation Society? Tokyobike, who sell a selection of his things in their Shoreditch store, wanted to do a London Design Week Sori Yanagi display or something. I proposed starting an appreciation society, as, despite his brilliance, he’s still slightly under the radar. I also thought initiating a society would give the event more substance and reach than a small exhibition, which could easily get overlooked amidst the busyness of LDF.
What’s the purpose of the society? To appreciate and spread love for Sori Yanagi, his thoughtful approach, and his beautiful objects. He can show us the way, the truth and the light.
What’s your personal connection with Yanagi? None really, except a long-held admiration for his work. I’ve had his kettle and tongs in my kitchen for many years and, like so many others, really enjoy what they bring to daily life. I own a few other pieces too—most recently, via Tokyobike, a can opener imported as deadstock from the 1980s. Since collaborating with Tokyobike on the show, it’s also inspired me to stock his tongs in my webshop.
Why do you think he’s not as well known as he should be? I think it may be because he creates humble, simple, beautiful things that don’t shout for attention but are a joy to use, work perfectly, and are affordable and long-lasting. (In the book, I compare him with Sottsass. They had similar life spans, but they’re polar opposites. Sottsass creates big, bold, colourful pieces that museums collect and that feature on magazine covers and in books. Meanwhile, Yanagi’s objects mostly live in kitchen drawers, quietly being beautiful, useful, and a joy to hold.)
Drawings from the Sori Yanagi Appreciation Society book. John Tree (left) Ronan Bouroullec (right)
You’ve recently published a book about Yanagi. Can you tell me more about it? It was an extension of starting the Society and shares the same title. I’m incredibly proud (and a bit astonished) to say it’s the world’s first Yanagi publication (outside of Japan)! There are loads of books on people like Sottsass and most of Yanagi’s contemporaries, so it felt like someone had to do one. I worked on it with Duncan Riches, who knows how to spell and do all those important things, and it was designed by Urs Lehni, who published it through Rollo Press. The book features an introduction by Jasper Morrison, a discussion between Duncan and me, and around one hundred contributions from designers, architects, curators, writers, thinkers, and others.
Who else do you think deserves an Appreciation Society? Lina Bo Bardi. Also, our friend Staf [Stafford Schmool] is doing a PhD on Eileen Gray—he should start one for her too.
Finally, how and where can people join the Sori Yanagi Appreciation Society? SYAS.uk — you can listen to the society launch talk there, featuring Duncan and me and there’s a link to buy the book!