Moving Bar at Zokei University - Naoki Kawamoto

Naoki Kawamoto has just graduated from Zokei Art University, Tokyo - I went to see his degree exhibition this afternoon. Naoki has helped us out at AIT from the very beginning, so it was great to visit him on his final actions as an undergraduate student. I felt a little like a parent even.

Naoki has been making the Moving Bar for some time. This is a mobile bar made from wood which can be set up in any location to provide a counter and simple bar facilities. For his final degree exhibition, a cosy but cold coffee lounge was set up in a semi outdoor space. I lent him the air walls which I designed and made in 2000, simple vinyl inflatable walls that define a space (see above and below). The Moving Bar was placed in the space and visitors were offered free hot coffee. Much of Naoki's work emerges out of his interest in furniture design, so he also made bench seating, projector stands and a light-box table. The Moving Bar has been actively used at many AIT events since 2003, and we plan to continue using it at our various mobile manifestations.