Database / I I I I
Design Resources: Digital Archive
Holdings Classification (Registered Name)
Miss Blanche
Miss Blanche
- Category
-
- #Product
- Year of Production (First Edition)
1988
- Release Year
1989
- Designer
Shiro Kuramata (Design) Ishimal Corporation (Production)
- Dimensions
-
W620 × D600 × H875 mm
- Materials and Techniques
Acrylic resin, artificial flowers, anodized aluminum pipe
- Design Registration Number
Unclear
- Portrait and Publicity Rights Holder
Unclear
- Copyright Registration Number
Unclear
- Inquiries
Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka
- Data Source
Shiro Kuramata’s Design: Microcosm in Memory” edited by Nobuko Inazuka et al. (2023, Asahi Shimbunsha), ‘Shiro Kuramata’ edited by Hara Museum of Contemporary Art et al. (2008, Kuramata Design Office)
This work was first shown at “KAGU Tokyo Designers Week ’88” in 1988, and was also exhibited in the solo exhibition “Shiro Kuramata” at Galerie Yves Gastou in Paris the following year, 1989. The name “Miss Blanche” is derived from Blanche Dubois, the main character in the movie “A Train Named Desire,” which Kuramata saw. The acrylic chair looks as if it has a red rose floating on it, which is said to have been worn by her or to have been a pattern on her clothes. The aluminum pipe legs can be removed.
Description
The film “A Train Named Desire” is an adaptation of the 1947 play “A Train Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams. The play is about the downfall of a woman from a prominent family and the shocking sexual behavior of the time, and the tragic story of Blanche DuBois’ search for happiness under false pretenses that leads to her mental collapse when the truth is revealed. Vivien Leigh played Blanche in the film. The film that Kuramata is said to have seen is in black and white, and the “red” rose does not actually appear in the film. A staff member at Kuramata’s design office at the time said that Kuramata’s story involves things that only Kuramata could see. Miss Branch” was produced through repeated prototyping at Ishimaru Corporation, which had supported the realization of Kuramata’s design.