Encounter of enamelware and contemporary art, looking 100 years into the future

Superior scratch and impact resistance with fade-resistant luster—this defines the high-grade enamel of Takara standard, which combines the strength of steel with the beauty of glass. In 2022, the company launched the Enamel Art Project. This initiative, which explores new possibilities for enamel and takes on the challenge of creating unknown forms of expression in collaboration with artists, has become one of the iconic programs symbolizing Osaka Art & Design.

For this year’s exhibition, now in its third year, contemporary artist Kenji Yanobe joins the program as a partner. Yanobe, who had long been interested in enamel as a creative material, created SHIP'S CAT (Mirror) in 2024 as his first joint product with the company. His passion intensified and, in 2025, culminated in a series of enamel signs created for an art event in Kitakagaya, Osaka, adorning the landscape of the former shipbuilding district. This time, these signs will leave the streets of Kitakagaya and descend upon the stage of Osaka Art & Design, serving as guides leading people into the world of art.

Yanobe's new approach to expression and Takara's unique, sophisticated technology

For the works to be displayed at this exhibition, Yanobe has tried a new approach by incorporating AI, which has been evolving remarkably in recent years. To ensure that his works blend in with the scenery of Kitakagaya, which retains the atmosphere of the Showa Era, he has transformed the original realistic touch of SHIP'S CAT into a nostalgic retro style using AI. This flexibility in thinking and ability to take action are precisely why Yanobe remains at the forefront of contemporary art.

Yanobe’s delicate use of colors is made possible by Takara standard's unique enamel decoration technology. Normally, the company places its top priority on preventing product deterioration, but in order to express the retro feel characteristic of the enamel signs, the company has deliberately incorporated traditional rust into some of the enamel signs as an element of the design. While featuring enamelware, which retains its beauty even after 100 years, the works demonstrate a unique texture as though they had aged for decades, and this paradox is one of the highlights of the works.

Art in everyday life—a symbol protecting daily life

In response to the two parties’ desire to incorporate art into everyday life and make it feel more familiar, this exhibition will feature a special sale of enamel signs. A2-sized signs will be released as limited editions of 15, while more accessible A6 miniature versions will also be available in a limited run of 20—a coveted collection for any fan.

As a companion to people, SHIP'S CAT brings good fortune as it travels. What is depicted here is a dreamlike true story that Yanobe has been developing in recent years. Bring a sense of excitement into everyday life through enamel "canvases" so that viewers can enjoy art in its beautiful state for a long time. This endeavor also stands as a testament to the dream of Takara standard, which has long believed in the potential of enamel and is committed to improving quality and technology.

Multi-layered installation invited by SHIP'S CAT

During Osaka Art & Design, Takashimaya Osaka Store, 6th floor, will showcase works that offer an even deeper immersion into the world of art. Based on the theme "Living with SHIP'S CAT," the space will create a unique harmony between a Takara standard-inspired showroom and Yanobe’s vision for everyday life.
The system bath, a symbol of the Takara standard brand, will be represented as a one-of-a-kind work, featuring a cast-iron enamel bathtub and bathroom wall panels adorned with exclusive SHIP'S CAT illustrations originally drawn by Yanobe for his own home. In addition, the entire series of SHIP'S CAT enamel signs will be lined up to welcome visitors. Moreover, several sculptures are scheduled to be specially exhibited to complement this setup. Visitors can experience a living world, a collection of SHIP'S CAT works, each with its own distinct character.

This is a fusion of functional beauty that enriches daily life and original art that stimulates the imagination. Witness with your own eyes this new era of creative scenes that will stimulate all your senses.

At the Hankyu Umeda Gallery on the 9th floor of the Hankyu Umeda Main Store, Enfants Terribles, Annex took place from May 6 (Wednesday, substitute holiday) to May 11 (Monday). Furthermore, during the Osaka Art & Design period, the Nakanoshima Museum of Art will be hosting Enfants Terribles, Premonitions of Oblivion — Yasumasa Morimura, Kenji Yanobe, Miwa Yanagi — until July 20 (Monday, public holiday). As you explore the streets of Osaka, you'll be overwhelmed by the further charm of Kenji Yanobe.

Top image: Takara standard & Kenji Yanobe 《SHIP'S CAT (HORO) — SHIP'S CAT SAUNA —》