John Pawson:
The Mass

Curated By Carrie Scott

A New Perspective on John Pawson’s Work

While John Pawson remains best known as an architect, his photographic work has been gaining increasing international recognition. This shift began with the publication of A Visual Inventory (Phaidon Press) just over a decade ago, followed by Spectrum (Phaidon Press), which curator Carrie Scott transformed into an immersive installation at 180 Strand in London. More recently, his exhibitions John Pawson – A Point of View at the Casa Dei Tre Oci during the 2021 Venice Art Biennale and John Pawson, Looking for Light at the Bastian Gallery in Berlin in 2022 have solidified his reputation in the art world.

Now, with his first solo exhibition in Japan at The Mass, Tokyo, visitors have the rare opportunity to experience his distinct visual language. This exhibition is an intimate study of Pawson’s way of seeing—a perspective that moves fluidly between the smallest details of color, texture, and form to vast, atmospheric expressions of light and emotion.

A Return to Japan

For Pawson, this exhibition is more than a showcase of his work—it is a return to a place that shaped his creative vision. In his mid-twenties, he spent several years living in Japan, first teaching English in Nagoya before moving to Tokyo, where he became a regular visitor to the studio of the celebrated designer Shiro Kuramata. These formative years left a lasting impression, influencing the minimalist clarity that defines his approach to architecture, photography, and design.

Artist Talk: John Pawson in Conversation with Hiroshi Sugimoto

To mark the opening of the exhibition, The Mass will host a conversation between John Pawson and the renowned Japanese artist Hiroshi Sugimoto. Moderated by exhibition curator Carrie Scott, this discussion will explore the intersections between their respective practices, touching on architecture, photography, and their shared sensitivity to light and space. The event will take place on the evening of Friday, 14 April, and will be free and open to the public, with limited seating available by reservation. Further details on the talk, including how to secure a place, will be announced on The Mass’ website and social media channels.

About John Pawson

Born in Halifax, Yorkshire, in 1949, John Pawson initially worked in the family textile business before moving to Japan, where he lived for four years. Upon his return to London, he studied at the Architectural Association School of Architecture before establishing his own practice in 1981. His work is defined by a rigorous pursuit of simplicity, where precise details and an absence of ornamentation create a profound sense of clarity and calm.

Pawson’s architectural projects range from private homes and flagship stores to museums, monasteries, and ballet sets. His notable works include the Design Museum in London, the Bastian Gallery in Berlin, the Abbey of Our Lady of Nový Dvůr in the Czech Republic, the Calvin Klein Collection Store in New York, and the Jil Sander flagship store on Omotesando in Tokyo.

The Mass, Tokyo

John Pawson’s exhibition at The Mass offered a rare opportunity to engage with his distinctive visual sensibility. Whether through his chromatic sequences, personal photographic studies, or immersive installation, this exhibition was a meditation on the ways in which space, light, and materiality shape our experience of the world. 

Seeing John Pawon

Watch Carrie’s recent interview with John for the Seen Seeing series, that gets to the heart of what makes an artist tick. We speak to the good and the great of the artworld, like John Pawson, ultimately creating an accurate portrait of how creatives survive, flourish and function today.