Azulejo Installation "A JANELA" Donated for Permanent Display at INAX MUSEUMS!

＊Outdoor Exhibition View of the Portugal Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan ©️EXPANDINGROOTS


【Public Opening】  From November 28, 2025
【Exhibition Venue】 Main Approach (Parking 2), INAX MUSEUMS
【URL】 https://livingculture.lixil.com/ilm/see/spot/#spot-section01

INAX MUSEUMS (in Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture), a set of cultural facilities operated by LIXIL Corporation ("LIXIL") that conveys the fascinating stories of clay and ceramic, will permanently exhibit the installation artwork "A JANELA" (by ADD FUEL, Diogo Machado), which utilizes Portugal's traditional decorative tiles, "Azulejos," in its Main Approach (Parking 2) starting November 28, 2025.
This artwork was commissioned by VisitPortugal to be exhibited outside of the Portugal Pavilion at the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. In pursuit of the Expo's goal of sustainable operation, which includes the effective use of resources, VisitPortugal sought a recipient for the legacy piece. They offered to donate the work to our museum, which houses the Tile Museum, leading to the decision for its permanent exhibition here.
The artist of the donated installation "A JANELA" is Diogo Machado (ADD FUEL), a contemporary Portuguese artist. In creating the work, he researched Japanese culture and focused on traditional Japanese patterns such as Seigaiha (waves), clouds, Genjiguruma (court carriage wheel), Hanabishi (diamond-shaped flower), dragons, Torii (shrine gates), and Tomoe (comma pattern). He creatively reinterpreted these patterns while paying homage to them, integrating them into Portugal's proud decorative tile culture. The open section is said to have been conceived as a door to the dialogue between Portuguese and Japanese cultures, and a symbolic "window" connecting the two nations. This artwork will be his first permanent exhibition in Japan. 
We invite you to experience the blend of traditional materials, innovation, and intercultural dialogue in this work.

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■ Permanent Display of the Azulejo Installation "A JANELA"
【Public Opening】  From November 28, 2025
【Exhibition Venue】 Main Approach (Parking 2), INAX MUSEUMS
【URL】 https://livingculture.lixil.com/ilm/see/spot/#spot-section01

■ About Azulejo
The word for tile in Portuguese is Azulejo. The production of colored decoration tiles began in earnest in the capital city of Lisbon in the 15th and 16th centuries. From the late 17th century, influenced by Chinese blue-and-white ware, white-glazed tiles with blue design became prevalent. Large-scale tile paintings using these tiles are used on the exterior walls of buildings, bringing color to the city.

■ Artwork Information
Title：A JANELA （The word 'window' in Portuguese.）
Artist：Diogo Machado（ADD FUEL)
Production Year：2025
Size：W182×D63×H244 cm
Materials：Tiles (552 pieces), Aluminum Frame, Stainless Steel
Tile Manufacturer：Viúva Lamego
First Exhibition： The Portugal Pavilion, Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan
Donor：VisitPortugal

■ Artist Information      
Diogo Machado（ADD FUEL) . ADD FUEL is the artist's name.
A contemporary Portuguese artist. Since 2008, he has been captivated by the repetitive patterns, geometric quality, and cultural richness of Azulejo, leading him to begin exploring and reinterpreting the traditional craft. He has gained international acclaim for his tile art. His public artworks, created using various media, are installed in various locations across Europe, as well as in the United States, Canada, and Tunisia. This work marks his first permanent exhibition in Japan.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
■ Message from the Artist 
The piece was created as more than a decorative object, it is conceived as a symbolic “window” bridging Portugal and Japan, intertwining tradition and invention, memory and possibility.
For me, permanence allows the work to extend its life beyond the temporal bounds of the World Expo, to continuously invite new generations of visitors into a space of reflection, encounter, and cultural dialogue.
Given the museum’s mission and its spatial capacities, I feel that it is a highly appropriate and meaningful home for "A JANELA". This art piece, when placed within the premises of a museum that appreciates the craft of ceramics and architectural ceramics, is now enhanced, with a familiar feeling of being ‘at home’. The museum gives it a context where the material, technique, and symbolic dimensions can be deeply felt.
In choosing INAX MUSEUMS as the permanent site, I believe the installation would gain resonance: it would be situated not just as an artwork, but within a discourse of material tradition, innovation, and cross-cultural conversation. Visitors would be able to see "A JANELA" not in isolation, but in dialogue with other works, collections, and architectural gestures. This synergy is what makes your museum an ideal candidate.

■ Message from VisitPortugal 
We are quite pleased to have found an ideal home for the artwork "A JANELA" at INAX  MUSEUMS. This partnership between Portugal and Japan goes beyond art — it represents a bridge between two nations that share a profound appreciation for tradition, craftsmanship, and innovation. Through this initiative, VisitPortugal reaffirms its commitment to fostering cultural exchange and showcasing Portuguese creativity on the global stage. We believe that the installation of "A JANELA" will offer visitors an enduring symbol of connection and dialogue between our cultures, and we look forward to seeing it come to life in its new setting in Tokoname.
                                                                                                     Carlos Abade, President of  Turismo de Portugal

■ About INAX MUSEUMS
Address: 1-130 Ouei-cho, Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture 479-8586 Japan　
TEL: +81-(0)569-34-8282      FAX:+81-(0)569+81-569--34-8283
Closed: Wednesdays (Open if the Wednesday is a public holiday), New Year Holidays: December 26, 2025 – January 4, 2026
Special Opening: Wednesday, December 24
Common Admission Fee (Tax Included): Adults: ¥1,000 Students : ¥800 Junior and Senior High School Students: ¥500 Elementary School Students: ¥250
Website：https://livingculture.lixil.com/ilm/
Facebook：https://www.facebook.com/LIXIL.culture 
Instagram：https://www.instagram.com/lixil_inaxmuseums/

INAX MUSEUMS is a cultural facility established by LIXIL in Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture, a center of technology for ceramic products. It is a hands-on, experiential museum consisting of seven facilities: Kiln Plaza, Tile Museum*, Toilet Museum, Architectural Terracotta Museum, Clay Works, Tiling Workshop, and the LIXIL Ceramics Lab. The museum is dedicated to conveying the history, culture, beauty, and joy of everything from the raw material, clay, to finished ceramic products. It also hosts hands-on classes, special exhibitions, and workshops where visitors can experience the fascination of clay and ceramic.
* Tile Museum houses over 7,000 decorative tiles from around the world, ranging from ancient times to the modern era. It researches the history and culture of tiles and conveys their appeal through its exhibitions.