KUWAI HANA

WATCH CASE YUGEN 10-001

(10-Watch Case ) At first glance, it appears to be a box for storing watches. However, the moment light passes over its surface, something else emerges from within the box’s distinct contours.Countless ridges crisscross the silver surface. Flowing lines trace broad arcs. Deep shadows sink into the spaces between them. And from deep within the silver, hints of purple and amber emerge ever so faintly. These are not fixed patterns. As your viewing angle changes, the light changes; as the light changes, so does the form.

Although it is a stationary object, it does not appear to be stationary.

That is the philosophy behind UNDULATION. UNDULATION is not merely the creation of “waves.” Nothing exists in a state of complete stillness; light, time, and human perception are all in a state of constant fluctuation. It is an attempt to bring those invisible changes to the surface of matter. YUGEN was born from this philosophy.The Japanese term “yugen” does not mean revealing everything clearly. Rather, it means sensing the presence of something not yet visible beyond what is already visible.

A depth that cannot be fully explained.
Darkness lingering within the light.
A presence beyond form.

Michel & Carigo do not limit this sensibility to paintings and sculptures alone; they seek to translate it into objects we touch, use, and live with. This watch case is one such expression of that vision. While it serves the clear function of holding ten watches, the moment the lid is closed, it becomes a work of art in its own right. However, Michel & Carigo do not seek to sacrifice function for the sake of art.

It’s not about choosing between function and art, but about erasing the boundary between them.

Using and viewing. Owning and appreciating. Products and works of art.

Bringing together elements that have traditionally been considered separate domains into a single entity—that is the philosophy of Michel & Carigo. And watches have a special connection to this philosophy. A watch displays time. However, we cannot see time itself. What we see are the traces of time, made visible through the movement of the hands and the changing numbers.

On the other hand, the surface of YUGEN also does not attempt to depict the invisible directly. By receiving and reflecting light, creating shadows, and changing its appearance as the viewer moves, it conveys a sense of the “fluctuation” that lies behind it.

A clock that displays invisible time.
YUGEN, which reflects invisible fluctuations.

That is precisely why the two come together so naturally. Each of the ten watches holds a different moment in time: the day it was acquired, the place where it was worn, the time spent with someone. These ten moments are contained within a single box. And on the outside, the silver surface reflects the surrounding light, continuously creating a different image with every passing moment.

YUGEN's design process is also not based on the premise of repeating exactly the same thing. Therefore, this differs from the philosophy of industrial manufacturing, which focuses on "producing identical products."

Michel & Carigo aim to create products that exist as unique, one-of-a-kind pieces.

Used in daily life.
Touched.
Opened.
Closed.

At the same time, it continues to exist as a work of art in its own right. It’s not about bringing art into everyday life. It’s about creating a state where art exists within everyday life from the very beginning. That is Michel & Carigo’s vision for a new approach to furniture.

YUGEN WATCH CASE — 10

A box that holds ten clocks. A vessel that embraces ten times.

And within that outer shell, light and matter continue to sway gently.