Open This Week: Visual Representations of Japan's 50+ Words for Rain at Maison & Objet in Paris
The Japanese language has over 50 nouns for rain. There's rain showers, weak rain, light rain, fine rain, misty rain, heavy rain, intense rain, downpour, localized downpour, chilly rain, rain and snow, rain at night, spring rain, and 2 words for early summer rain, as well as autumn rain.
Japanese designers Nendo chose just 20 words for rain for the "Words" exhibit at Paris' Maison & Objet, artistically capturing each in a clear acrylic water bottle. The installation features designers from all around the world, each addressing the relationship between language and design for the 'word' themed exhibition.
Photo 1: (Left) Kisame (樹雨), meaning rain that falls off tree branches; (Right) Shigure (時雨), meaning autumn rain
Photo 2: Mizore (霙), meaning rain mixed with snow
Photo 5: Niwaka-ame (俄雨) meaning a sudden rainfall
