TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA (Saga, Japan, 1967) for DRIADE

TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA (Saga, Japan, 1967) for DRIADE.
“Tokyo-Pop” chaise longue, designed in 2002.
Rotationally molded polyethylene in off-white.
Shows signs of use and surface scuffs.
Measurements: 79 x 160 x 73 cm.

The “Tokyo-Pop” chaise longue, designed by Tokujin Yoshioka for Driade in 2002, belongs to one of the most iconic collections from the early stages of his international career. Conceived as a single volume of rotomolded polyethylene, it transforms an industrial material into a piece with a striking sculptural presence, defined by a continuous succession of curves and counter-curves. Driade itself notes that the Tokyo-Pop collection marked the designer’s international debut in 2002 and particularly highlights the chaise longue for its ability to transform rotomolded plastic into sculpture.

Its low, elongated profile integrates the seat, backrest, and side support into a single organic form, virtually eliminating any distinction between structure and surface. This formal continuity, combined with the monochromatic finish, reinforces the piece’s almost abstract character and encapsulates Yoshioka’s interest in creating objects that transcend their function to take on a sensory and spatial dimension.

Tokujin Yoshioka is one of the most renowned figures in contemporary Japanese design. After working alongside Shiro Kuramata and Issey Miyake, he founded his own studio in 2000 and developed a career that straddles design, architecture, and contemporary art, marked by experimentation with light, transparency, and the expressive properties of materials. His works are part of major international collections, including those of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Musée National d’Art Moderne, cementing a body of work in which technical research and visual poetry are closely intertwined.