The twelfth edition of Prada Mode kicked off in Osaka

On June 4, Osaka welcomed the twelfth edition of Prada Mode, featuring Kazuyo Sejima as the main guest. The artist presented a project dedicated to the island of Inujima, where architecture, memory, and the future converge—tying Prada's timeless aesthetic with the architectural vision of one of the most influential minds on the Japanese scene. The inauguration marked not only the second collaboration between Prada and Sejima, co-founder of the studio SANAA, but also a conceptual extension of the work the artist began in 2008 on Inujima, where she initiated a radical urban and social transformation on a human scale. «In Inujima, a very small island rich in nature, visitors can immerse themselves in the Symbiosis project: a landscape that unites history, architecture, art, and daily life,» said Sejima. «In Osaka, a city historically connected to Inujima, this experience was shared and expanded to reach a wider audience. In this edition of Prada Mode, Symbiosis took shape through conversations and discoveries, creating a new landscape that continues to grow thanks to everyone’s participation.»

On the island of Inujima, layers of industrial heritage, scattered communities, and civic resilience intertwine. While mining and copper smelting were once the main activities, the refinery’s abandonment led to a gradual depopulation. When Sejima launched her artistic project in 2008, the island had fewer than fifty residents. The intervention of the Fukutake Foundation gave new life to Inujima, through a slow and respectful renovation process that resulted in exhibition spaces, workshops, community gardens, and new accommodations. The first house of the project, the F-Art House, opened in 2010, marking the beginning of a new cultural ecosystem. This summer in Osaka, Prada is hosting an immersive exhibition on the island’s restoration projects, along with a series of events spotlighting craftsmanship, technology, and music. The opening night on June 7 featured two talks: Cities Are Made by People, with Tadao Ando on Osaka’s urban transformations, and The City of Chengdu, The City of Tokyo, with architects Liu Jiakun and Ryue Nishizawa.

A workshop curated by Tomoko Kimata highlighted a traditional Japanese fabric-folding technique, where guests created floral pins and ornaments using Prada materials. Following this, performances by Nik Bärtsch, Reggie Watts, and C.A.R. lit up the evening with a soundtrack curated by Craig Richards, concluding with the hybrid vision of art and cinema presented by the duo Bêka & Lemoine. Audiovisual experiences continued with Keiichiro Shibuya, who brought a sound installation titled "Abstract Music" to Prada Mode, along with the presentation of an artificial creature developed in collaboration with the ATAK collective. Finally, a DJ set by Yuta Suzuki and Aoki Takamasa closed the day, blending minimalism and electronic beats.

Prada Mode Osaka is open to the public from June 8 to 15