An unusual installation of 4000 hats by Japanese milliner Akio Hirata has been created by Japanese designers Nendo at the Spiral Garden in Tokyo. The hats appear to be balancing in mid-air, giving the impression of a flock of hovering birds filling the exhibition hall. Visitors are invited to walk in between and under the hand-made hats, most of which are white and suspended by invisible threads from the floor and ceiling. Hirata’s colourful and patterned creations stand out against the non-woven white hats, forming a strong contrast between handmade, one-off products and mass market headwear. The landscape of the hats creates an environment for the visitor to explore, casting shadowed patterns on the floor and creating pathways through the exhibition.
