Studio Swine

Studio Swine
Name	Studio Swine
Founded	2012
Founders	Azusa Murakami; Alexander Groves
Location	London; Tokyo
Fields	Art; Design; Film; Sculpture

Studio Swine is a London- and Tokyo-based art and design practice founded by Azusa Murakami and Alexander Groves. The studio operates at the intersection of art and design, producing installations, films, sculptures, and public commissions that respond to material flows and ecological systems. Their work has been shown internationally at major institutions, biennales, and galleries, engaging with audiences across Venice Biennale, Tate Modern, and Victoria and Albert Museum contexts.

History

The practice was formed in 2012 by Azusa Murakami and Alexander Groves after they met while studying at the Royal College of Art and working in contexts connected to Tokyo, London, and New York City. Early projects gained attention through participation in events such as the Design Miami/ and the Milan Design Week, leading to commissions from institutions including Musée des Arts Décoratifs (Paris), V&A, and municipal programs in Oslo and Mexico City. Studio Swine expanded its profile via film festivals like Sundance Film Festival and collaborations with cultural organizations including Serpentine Galleries, Hayward Gallery, and Southbank Centre.

Design Philosophy and Aesthetic

Studio Swine’s approach synthesizes influences from Japanese aesthetics, British craft traditions, and contemporary contemporary art practices associated with figures showcased at institutions such as MoMA and Centre Pompidou. They emphasize elemental materials and site-specific processes aligned with debates visible in exhibitions at the Design Museum and theoretical frameworks promoted by scholars from Royal College of Art and Goldsmiths. Aesthetically, their work references organic forms found in Shinto-influenced design, the industrial vernacular of Düsseldorf and Berlin fabrication scenes, and cinematic framing reminiscent of works screened at the Venice Film Festival.

Notable Works and Projects

Signature projects span installations, films, and functional objects. The studio’s landmark installations have been exhibited alongside works by artists represented by Whitechapel Gallery, Saatchi Gallery, and Guggenheim Museum. Notable pieces were included in curated programs at the Serpentine Pavilion’s associated events and in citywide commissions with municipal partners from Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Greater London Authority. Their filmic projects entered programs at Cannes Film Festival, SXSW, and Tribeca Film Festival, and their design objects appeared at fairs like Frieze Art Fair, Art Basel, and Collect.

Techniques and Materials

Methodologically, Studio Swine combines practices derived from workshops at institutions such as RCA, Central Saint Martins, and fabrication labs influenced by the maker movement in Shenzhen and Berlin. They utilize found and recycled materials sourced through networks connected to Port of Tokyo, Port of London, and suppliers of reclaimed timber in Scotland and Norway. Techniques include casting processes associated with foundries used by artists exhibiting at Tate Modern, biodegradable material experiments in laboratories collaborating with researchers from Imperial College London and University College London, and large-scale engineering partnerships similar to those commissioned by ArcelorMittal and Royal Opera House.

Exhibitions and Collections

Their work features in public collections and exhibition histories alongside institutions such as Victoria and Albert Museum, Museum of Modern Art (New York), Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Centre Pompidou, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, and regional museums in Japan and Mexico. Solo and group exhibitions have placed their projects within programming at Design Miami/, Milan Triennale, Biennale of Architecture, and national pavilions at the Venice Biennale. Smaller works circulate through galleries linked to dealers active in London, Paris, New York City, and Tokyo.

Collaborations and Commissions

Studio Swine has collaborated with cultural institutions and commercial entities including BMW, IKEA, and arts organisations such as Serpentine Galleries, Tate Modern, and V&A. They have accepted public commissions from municipal bodies in Mexico City, Oslo, and Seoul, and partnered with academic research groups at Royal College of Art and Imperial College London for material innovation. Industry collaborations have paralleled commission models used by designers working with Nike, Adidas, and engineering firms active in Aerospace and Automotive sectors represented at trade shows like Salone del Mobile.

Awards and Recognition

The practice has received awards and nominations often noted alongside recipients from institutions such as the Royal Academy of Arts, Arts Council England, and major design prizes presented during London Design Festival and Salone del Mobile. Their films and installations have been shortlisted at film and art awards that include programs at Sundance Film Festival and design prizes judged by panels convened by the Design Museum and V&A.

Category:Design studios Category:Contemporary art collectives