Arakawa Giken Kogyo to Host Installation Exhibition by French Designer Gala Espel at Omotesando Showroom 'TIERS' Featuring Reimagined Japanese Materials and Techniques

Arakawa Giken Kogyo Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) will hold an installation exhibition by French designer Gala Espel (Gala Espel) at 'TIERS GALLERY,' adjacent to its Omotesando showroom, from Thursday, June 25th to Saturday, June 27th, 2026, coinciding with the renovation of the showroom's exhibition space.

Arakawa Giken Kogyo's product 'Wire Gripper' is not an entity that exists in isolation but is formed through the combination of numerous designers, materials, and craftsmanship. Harmonizing with diverse materials within a space and creating new value is one of the philosophies the company has consistently cherished since its inception.

This exhibition focuses on each component used in the showroom renovation, with Gala Espel reinterpreting the stories behind each material and their inherent beauty from her unique perspective.

By applying new perspectives and meanings to materials such as wood, metal, tiles, and plaster, which normally exist as elements constituting a space, the exhibition highlights the charm and potential of each material. By deciphering and rearranging materials and techniques from various regions of Japan, the showroom space itself is reconstructed as a single installation.

The TIERS GALLERY (3F) will feature Gala Espel's installation art, while the 2nd-floor showroom will display tables, shelves, and partitions where materials and techniques are applied in actual spatial contexts.

Gala Espel was selected for 'DESIGNART TOKYO 2023' Under 30 and also exhibited at TIERS GALLERY. Her keen observational skills regarding materials and her expressive methods that update existing values are highly acclaimed both domestically and internationally.

Companies from various regions across Japan, involved in the showroom's renovation, are also participating in this exhibition. Technologies and materials cultivated in different regions will be expressed as new values under Gala Espel's direction.

Exhibition Overview

Title: Open Vocabulary ― Creative Exploration of Arakawa Grip ―

Dates: Thursday, June 25, 2026 – Saturday, June 27, 2026

Time: 11:00 – 19:00

Reception: Thursday, June 25, 2026, 17:00 – 19:00

Venue: Arakawa Giken Kogyo Headquarters / Omotesando Showroom 'TIERS' Address: 5-7-12 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001

Admission: Free

Collaborators:

・Inoue Toku Mokko (Sabae City, Fukui Prefecture | Woodworking) ・Exy's (Tajimi City, Gifu Prefecture | Tiles) ・Nakai Sangyo (Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture | Architectural Fittings) ・Maruhiro Isho (Sabae City, Fukui Prefecture | Lacquerware) ・Y.S.M. (Yashio City, Saitama Prefecture | Lighting)

・Ko Tanaka (Metal Artist)

Organizer: Arakawa Giken Kogyo Co., Ltd.

Design & Direction: Gala Espel

Designer Gala Espel

An architect and designer based in Paris and Tokyo. Focusing on research and craftsmanship, she creates works that reinterpret the background and temporality of material culture, reconstructing them as spaces and objects. She is a graduate of ECAL (University of Art and Design Lausanne). Selected for DESIGNART TOKYO 2023 'UNDER 30'. In recent years, she has been exploring new relationships between crafts and industrial technologies through collaborations with workshops and manufacturers across Japan.

https://www.galaespel.com/ https://www.instagram.com/galaespel

Arakawa Giken Kogyo Co., Ltd.

Founded in 1973. The founder, Dr. Hideo Arakawa, established the company with the philosophy of 'Creating what does not exist.' In 1975, they developed the world's first wire fitting adjustment mechanism, 'ARAKAWA GRIP.' Subsequently, they developed and commercialized a series of application products based on this technology, establishing their own brand 'ARAKAWA GRIP' despite their small size. With their headquarters and showroom 'TIERS' in Omotesando, the Osaka office and showroom as their West Japan sales base, and the Tokorozawa office for manufacturing (parts manufacturing, design, production technology, materials, assembly) and shipping as their East Japan sales base, these three locations work in close coordination to cover the entire Japanese archipelago from Hokkaido to Okinawa. Overseas, 'ARAKAWA GRIP' is cherished as a 'Made in Japan' product, continuously promoting Japanese manufacturing to the world.

Official Website: https://www.arakawagrip.co.jp/

Instagram: @arakawa_co_ltd (Company) @arakawa_grip (Product)