Dec. 2-Jan. 18: The Supreme Craftmanship of Hans J. Wegner: Works from the Oda Collection

 

Hans J. Wegner (1914–2007) is regarded not only as a central figure in Danish mid-century design, but also as one of the foremost names in 20th-century furniture design overall. His landmark works The Chair (1949) and Y-Chair (1950) are widely recognized and admired. Combining extraordinary skill as a cabinetmaker with profound insight into materials, Wegner produced more than 500 chairs over the course of his career.

This exhibition was organized in cooperation with Higashikawa-cho, Hokkaido, home to the collection of Oda Noritsugu, an internationally esteemed chair researcher and collector of modern furniture with a focus on Scandinavia. It brings together approximately 160 chairs along with other furniture in the largest Wegner retrospective ever held in Japan. What defines the lasting appeal of Wegner, a master of design whose work continues to be cherished today? With exhibition design by internationally renowned architect Tane Tsuyoshi (Atelier Tsuyoshi Tane Architects), the exhibition explores Wegner’s achievements and design philosophy through an extensive selection of works and related materials.

 

Hans Jørgensen Wegner was born in 1914 in Tønder, a town on the border between Denmark and Germany. He earned his certification as a cabinetmaker at the age of eighteen and began working as a designer around 1938. In 1940, he joined the architectural project for Aarhus City Hall, led by Arne Jacobsen and Erik Møller, designing the furniture for the building. Wegner went on to collaborate with a number of furniture manufacturers, including Johannes Hansen, producing many iconic chairs during the mid-century years. His highly original designs, grounded in a deep understanding of materials and craftsmanship, continue to be celebrated internationally today.

 

Hans Wegner Exhibition: Four Highlights
Highlight 1: Wegner’s largest retrospective ever held in Japan
Highlight 2: Reproduction of the rarely seen First Chair on view
Highlight 3: Behind the scenes of his Wegner’s iconic chairs, exploring his 
philosophy through the production process
Highlight 4: An area where visitors can sit in chairs, experiencing designs that 
unite beauty with uncompromising functionality

 

Oda Noritsugu’s Wegner collection represents the core of Mr. Oda’s more than half a century of research and collecting, and is distinguished by its world-class scope and quality. Among its most notable works are early models such as the original version of The Chair, featuring rattan wrapped around the crest rail, which has become a symbol of the Oda Collection. This exhibition presents The Chair, including such rare versions, along with approximately 160 systematically collected chairs and other furnishings. Dividing Wegner’s career into three periods, the exhibition retraces his 92-year life while shedding light on the distinctive character of his various collaborations with furniture manufacturers. It offers a rare opportunity to see an extraordinary range of his timeless works all together in the spacious setting of Hikarie Hall.

 

Wegner’s First Chair (1931), made when he was seventeen years old and known today only through photographs, has been newly reconstructed for this exhibition and will be shown to the public for the first time. Produced while he was still an apprentice cabinetmaker, the work clearly reflects the influence of the Art Deco style that flourished between the wars, and its lucid structure already hints at his emerging talent. Also on view is Second Chair, a reproduction of an early example from 1938 of which only three were originally made. This exhibition offers an unprecedented opportunity to see these two ambitious works from Wegner’s youth up close.

 

Wegner’s chairs are marked by simple yet refined design and enduring functionality. What, then, makes them so timeless? This exhibition explores the background and key design elements of each chair through related materials, including more than 20 full-scale drawings and working models.* It also features rare interview footage of Wegner himself, along with a special interview with Oda Noritsugu, who met him eight times, shedding light on Wegner’s philosophy and the appeal of his chairs. In addition, visitors are sure to be charmed by remarkable 1/5-scale models of Wegner’s designs by furniture modeler Hamada Yoshikazu.
*Models in the process of production

 

During his lifetime, Wegner expressed his wish for people to experience his design principles and ideas by sitting in his chairs, which he considered the truest reflection of his vision. The exhibition features a special area where visitors can sit in current models produced by PP Møbler and Carl Hansen & Søn, both of which continue to manufacture his designs. Visitors are invited to experience these chairs firsthand with their eyes, hands, and entire bodies.

 

Born in Kochi Prefecture in 1946. Professor Emeritus at Tokai University and chair researcher. Mr. Oda began collecting chairs while working in the Advertising Department of the department store Takashimaya. For more than half a century, he has studied and collected modern furniture, particularly Scandinavian design of the 20th century, guided by the principle of using chairs in daily life. In 1994, he relocated to Hokkaido together with his collection. He received the Danish Furniture Prize in 1997. In 2015, in recognition of his sustained research on Wegner, international public outreach, and major contribution to the contemporary reassessment of Wegner, he was unanimously awarded the inaugural Hans J. Wegner Award.

 

The Oda Collection consists of outstanding 20th-century furniture and everyday objects collected internationally and studied by chair researcher Oda Noritsugu. Centered on Scandinavian design, it comprises more than 8,000 items, including chairs, tables, lighting, tableware, cutlery, and toys. Systematically assembled along with approximately 20,000 related materials such as books, photographs, and drawings, it is a priceless collection without parallel anywhere in the world. Today, the approximately 1,350 chairs forming its core have been made public property by Higashikawa-cho, Hokkaido, and registered as cultural assets. Through exhibitions and lectures, the collection offers insights into the joy of living beautifully and mindfully.

 

Exhibition Title｜The Supreme Craftmanship of Hans J. Wegner: Works from the Oda Collection

Period｜Tue. December 2, 2025 – Sun. January 18, 2026
Closed on December 9, January 1 

Opening Hours｜10:00‐19:00 (Last Admission: 18:30)
* 10:00-18:00 on 12/31 (Last Admission: 17:30) 

Venue｜Hikarie Hall (Shibuya Hikarie 9F) 
2-21-1, Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Organizer｜The Bunkamura Museum of Art
Special Cooperation｜Cultural Exchange Department, Higashikawa,Hokkaido, 
Oda Collection Organization, Asahikawa Furniture Industry Cooperative
Academic Support｜Noritsugu Oda (Professor Emeritus at Tokai University)
Exhibition Design｜Tsuyoshi Tane (ATTA)
Cooperation｜Hans J. Wegner design studio ApS, PP Møbler, Carl Hansen & Søn, Katolec Corporation Fine Arts Transportation
Support｜Royal Danish Embassy,Japan, J-WAVE

 

Admission information 
https://www.bunkamura.co.jp/english/museum/20251202.html

 

Inquiries
Hello Dial: (+81) 47-316-2772 (for international calls) , 050-5541-8600 (for domestic calls)

The Bunkamura Museum of Art   E-MAIL: museum@bunkamura.co.jp

 

Exhibition HP
https://www.bunkamura.co.jp/museum/exhibition/25_wegner/