paper clouds:
materiality in empty space
Japan pavilion, london design biennale 2025
Somerset House
Sound installation, composition and sound design by Midori Komachi
Installation Design by SEKISUI HOUSE - KUMA LAB and curated by Clare Farrow Studio
Photo credit: Toshiki Hirano
Composition, sound design & production by Midori Komachi
Performed by Laonikos Psimikakis Chalkokondylis (Shakuhachi), Valerie Welbanks (Cello) and Midori Komachi (Violin)
"Taking over the glorious Nelson Stairs in Somerset House is the best pavilion at this year’s London Design Biennale. Paper Clouds: Materiality in Empty Space presents an ethereal delight, featuring suspended clouds and a dress made of Japanese washi paper with stone speakers constructed from 350 million year old fossils that play new music by violinist-composer Midori Komachi. " - Forbes
‘Paper Clouds: Materiality in Empty Space’ is a Japanese poem to The Nelson Stair, and to the surface textures, translucency, lightness and inner strength of Washi paper.
Designed by SEKISUI HOUSE - KUMA LAB (The University of Tokyo) in collaboration with Midori Komachi and curated by Clare Farrow, the project is an experiment in design materiality, music and fashion.
Midori produced the sound installation at the Nelson Stair, a multichannel, surround sound composition that plays through new speakers by Mineral Sound.
An experimentation in sound as a reflection of material, the composition plays with the unique texture of the Paper Clouds, as well as incorporating the concept of 'Sawari' (the distinctive noise at the start of the note produced through physical gestures on Japanese instruments).
Photo credit: Mayumi Hirata
Musical Concept
Written for shakuhachi, cello, and violin, with the sound textures of the Paper Clouds, this piece draws inspiration from the unique verticality and asymmetry of the Nelson Stair - elements that deeply influenced both its composition and sound design for the Paper Clouds installation.
Rooted in Japanese musical aesthetics, it embraces the beauty of 'things misaligned' and 'ma' —the meaningful space between sounds. Layers of shakuhachi, violin, and cello interweave with the delicate yet resilient sounds of the Paper Clouds.
The piece has been recorded by Laonikos Psimikakis Chalkokondylis (Shakuhachi), Valerie Welbanks (Cello) and Midori Komachi (Violin).
Live Performance
In live performance, the Paper Clouds take on a role reminiscent of percussion in Gagaku, marking transitions and providing subtle yet essential cues for interacting with the installation.
Midori worked with the Senior Scholars of the London Music Fund, in creating series of solo performances at the Nelson Stair. Through a workshop exploring Japanese sonic concepts, these talented young musicians created their own solo motifs to be performed in response to the installation music.
Exhibition Credit:
Japan Pavilion:
Paper Clouds: Materiality in Empty Space
Curator
Clare Farrow, Clare Farrow Studio
Designer
SEKISUI HOUSE - KUMA LAB
Project Leader for the KUMA LAB
Toshiki Hirano
Violinist and Composer, dressed by the KUMA LAB with jewellery by Mikimoto
Midori Komachi
Music Partner
London Music Fund (Senior Scholars)
Recording Musicians
Laonikos Psimikakis Chalkokondylis (Shakuhachi), Valerie Welbanks (Cello)
Structural Designer, The University of Tokyo
Yoshihiro Fukushima
Project Team Member, The University of Tokyo
Satoru Kazamatsuri
Costume Design and Production Assistants
Hiroka Matsumoto, The University of Tokyo
Anon Okazaki, Amane Kido and Kanaho Kidahashi, Japan Women’s University
Lighting Designers
Ed Elbourne and Sam Porter-Frakes on behalf of Arup
Sound Engineers
Adam Barkley (Installation), Joy Stacey (Recording)
Project Manager
Clare Farrow Studio
Installation Assistants
Vaishali Odedra, Senia Savia Gomes, Bouchaib Hilali
Sponsors
Mikimoto
Mineral Sound (Sound Sponsor and new Stone Speakers)
Supporters
Supported using public funding by Arts Council England
Arup (Lighting), Awagami Factory (Technical Support), JSPS Kakenhi Grant, POLA Art Foundation, The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation, The Hinrichsen Foundation
