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Edition 006 $210
ELSEWHERE X HAJIME IMURA X NORDEN
Exploring Japan 2 years ago hoping to meet with Shokunin ( master artisans ) along our road trip we stumbled across a man (and his wife) who made a lasting impression on us, Hajime Imura. A former sake salesman, Hajime turned to art to find freedom from his daily grind. Not so ironically, he started making sake vessels in his home studio as a way to enjoy his sake. We asked him to make 80 sake vessels in indigo blue, hoping that the completed candle would be appealing to the eyes with the calming blue color. While he was crafting the cups, not only did he inscribe his name mark in the bottom of each cup, but also the Japanese kanji symbol for “ friends”.
We asked our good pals at Norden who are masters at making scented soy candles in reusable vessels to help us bring the idea together. We wanted a scent that helped us find inner energy and strength. We visited their studio , played with smells, crashed on their guest bed, and shot heaps of photos. After 24 hours together, we had a new scent called “ Wander”.
We decided on making a case that is built to be a 50mm Camera Lens bag, but can obviously double as a carrying case for the candle. We shoot heaps of images so we figured having a nice lens case would be a treat. For the case, we used authentic Japanese Boro fabric with a suede base and pull. Boro, is respected by many as it gains value by way of years of patina and patchwork.
If you care to read a much deeper story, you can head to our journal and read design notes, journal posts from the various trips to NYC to build this project and more. Just use the filter and select Elsewhere006.
2" wide by 2" tall by 2" deep
soy wax, boro cloth, seude
Always burn a candle for a while upon first burning ( and all burning actually) to help keep the well of melted wax to spread to all edges of the vessel. Neglecting to do so, will cause the life of the candle to burn unevenly and a shorter life span. Hand wash the ceramic vessel when your candle is burned to reuse the sake cup vessel. Gently hand wash the Boro Cloth Camera Lens case to clean. Be sure to keep water from the inside of the case and the leather parts. Air dry out of direct sunlight.
This is a 2 ounce travel candle in slightly large ceramic sake cup. While traveling the globe building creations for Elsewhere, we found a need to lighten our days while being away on long journeys. We wanted an object that could be grounding to us, yet at the same time mood lifting. Stuffy hotel rooms and oddly fragrant AirBnB rentals often leave a person feeling confined rather than open. It was for this reason we chose to make a small candle you could travel with. Only 80 candles exist for this project.
Note:
There is a variance , as should be expected, in each vessel and the 50 mm lens case. Due to the nature of hand throwing sake cups on a wheel and adding variance in patterning each cup is unique. The lens cases are all made with vintage fabric which has been patched over time. This will result in each case being unique as well.
