Information

Inscribed Time

Celebrating the unique character of every tree

↑Inscribed Time 

Created in collaboration with Karimoku Furniture, Inscribed Time is a new artwork by Shizuka Tatsuno for TOKYO MIDTOWN DESIGN LIVE 2026. Through two cubes with contrasting grain patterns, the work invites viewers to look beyond the surface and appreciate the individuality of wood.

From Traces of Life to Inscribed Time

Inscribed Time grew out of Traces of Life, a research exhibition developed in collaboration with Karimoku Furniture and presented at Karimoku Commons Tokyo in December 2025.

That exhibition explored the marks left on wood through its relationships with living organisms and the natural environment. Continuing this investigation, the new work was developed in response to the theme of TOKYO MIDTOWN DESIGN LIVE 2026: Mitsumeru (to look closely).

↑ Installation view of the 2025 exhibition “Traces of Life ” (Photo: Masaaki Inoue, Bouillon)

Looking Beyond the Grain: Each Tree’s Character and the Passage of Time

↑ Contrasting expressions of straight grain and cloud-figured grain

The grain patterns we see every day reflect the individuality and life of each tree. I created this work hoping to encourage people to look again at these distinct characteristics.

When I look at wood grain, I imagine where the tree once grew and how it spent its time. Straight, continuous lines and intricate, undulating patterns alike are formed over the course of a tree’s life. They are shapes created by nature, beyond what a human hand could draw.

There is beauty in regular, even grain, while wood that is often considered difficult to use can reveal unexpected expressions.

Inscribed Time focuses on the contrasting characteristics revealed through wood grain. Looking closely at wood led me to reflect on the diversity of individual characteristics and the unique value of each tree. I hope viewers can sense the tree as it once lived in the forest, beyond the material before them.

Shizuka Tatsuno

Form and composition

↑ The two cubes may be positioned together or slightly offset 

Designed at a scale suitable for sitting, the two cubes have a sculptural presence in space. Placed side by side or slightly offset, they reveal different aspects of their surfaces and grain patterns.

Artwork details

Title  Inscribed Time

Artist / Designer  Shizuka Tatsuno

Production Karimoku Furniture

Material Chestnut wood (quarter-sawn and cloud-figured grain)

Dimensions  W 420 × D 420 × H 420 mm (each piece)

Edition  One exclusive set consisting of the two exhibited pieces

Price  JPY 440,000 (tax included)

Availability

The two exhibited pieces are available for purchase together as one exclusive set through Karimoku Commons Shop.

🔗Karimoku Commons Shop [Japanese website]

Exhibition information

Exhibition  TOKYO MIDTOWN DESIGN LIVE 2026

Dates  October 16 (Fri) – November 4 (Wed), 2026

Location  Tokyo Midtown, Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan

RELATED READING

🔗AFTER TALK: THINKING OF TREES – A conversation exploring the individuality of trees, their connection to forests, and the perspectives of the people who work with wood.