“Small MUJI” Exhibition

MUJI is proud to present the work of renowned miniature photographer and mitate artist Tatsuya Tanaka in the ‘small MUJI’ exhibition, making its debut in the United States at NYCxDESIGN. The exhibition will be on display at MUJI’s flagship location at 575 Fifth Avenue beginning Friday, May 16. This marks the fourth country to host the ‘small MUJI’ exhibition since it debuted in 2019.

‘small MUJI’ invites both local visitors and travelers to experience the world from a fresh perspective. The installation will feature 16 original art pieces, created using MUJI products, that have traveled with the exhibition, as well as three custom dioramas based on iconic New York City landmarks: Central Park, Times Square, and the Statue of Liberty. These works, commissioned specifically for NYCxDESIGN, will remain at MUJI’s Fifth Avenue flagship location after the exhibition concludes.

Tatsuya Tanaka’s work is deeply rooted in the Japanese concept of mitate, a creative interpretation technique where an object or idea is viewed through an unrelated lens, thereby taking on new meaning. This approach encourages audiences to engage with the world in a novel way, fostering imagination and surprising associations. For ‘small MUJI’, Tanaka has crafted a pizza shop scene from a MUJI ABS Stapler, a beach scene using MUJI denim wide-fit pants and wide-angle socks, and a hotel room constructed from MUJI sandwich biscuits, among other imaginative works. These art pieces inspire audiences to reimagine everyday objects, infusing them with whimsy, creativity, and humor.

To celebrate the launch of ‘small MUJI’ in the United States, coinciding with the NYCxDESIGN festival, Tatsuya Tanaka will be visiting New York for a presentation of the exhibition opening and a signing of his book Miniature Trip Around the World. Newly published in English, this one-of-a-kind photography book takes readers on an immersive journey to some of the most iconic global landmarks — from Mount Fuji and the Sydney Opera House to the Pyramids of Egypt and beyond, all reimagined through Tanaka’s signature mitate art style.

The exhibition will be open to the public beginning on Friday, May 16 and will remain open throughout the festival at MUJI.