Design

Stephanie Goto Designs a Meditation Room Around a Lee Ufan Artwork

Goto blends the worlds of art, cuisine, and design into her own brand of soothing, thought-provoking luxury

January 12, 2021

Various artistic and decorative objects including furniture, lamps, wall art, sculptures, and a wine bottle with a glass.

From her designs for Hauser & Wirth and Pace to her recent reimagining of New York’s Daniel restaurant, Stephanie Goto knows how to blend the worlds of art, cuisine, and design into her own brand of soothing, thought-provoking luxury. Here, a Lee Ufan work inspires a room, a signature element in many of the private spaces she conceives.

“I had the pleasure to spend a weekend with Mr. Lee last September in Washington, D.C., during his residency at the Hirshhorn,” says Goto. “The poetic voice of his work, its balance between honesty and strength, has inspired my work and my thoughts. All of the elements I have selected are pieces that have personal meaning to me in creating an experience of the sublime.”

Person sitting at a desk holding a smartphone, wearing a black blazer and a watch, with a thoughtful expression. — Stephanie Goto. Photo: MICHAEL WARING

Abstract artwork with a large white canvas featuring a central gradient rectangle transitioning from orange to red against a plain wall. — Lee Ufan’s Photo: RICH LEE, COURTESY OF PACE GALLERY

“Resonance and encounter are factors that make looking at work of art interesting. Therefore, one would hope that the work of art will have a meditating effect that empties out is surroundings,” Lee Ufan, The Art of Encounter.

Unique, abstract pink chair with irregular shapes and angles, featuring blocky base and distinctive armrests. — Photo: COURTESY OF MAX LAMB AND SALON 94 DESIGN

Thermal Spray armchair by Max Lamb. “The organic raw edges of the piece help amplify the negative space of the room,” says Goto.

Vintage wooden wall shelf with sliding slatted doors and a flat top, showcasing a minimalist and rustic design. — Photo: COURTESY OF RAGO/WRIGHT

White paper lantern lamp on metal stand with a cord, resembling a traditional Japanese design, set against a plain background. — Photo: COURTESY OF THE NOGUCHI MUSEUM

On the left is a hanging wall case by George Nakashima, while on the right is an Akari 20N light sculpture by Isamu Noguchi. “The natural understated beauty of Nakashima’s floating cabinet add lightness is an integral part of my own meditation room,” says Goto. “This classic form from Noguchi is a sculptural being that becomes a luminous surface with a human quality.”

Bright red vanadinite mineral specimen with hexagonal crystals displayed on a clear stand against a neutral background. — Photo: COURTESY OF ROSELL MINERALS

Vanadinite crystals. “This crystal’s short, hexagonal prisms have an architectural cadence,” says Goto. “Vanadinite helps in times of meditation and opens an internal channel within the body to receive universal energy.”

Red perfume bottle with black cap labeled "Rouge Comme des Garçons" against a white background. — Photo: COURTESY OF COMME DES GARÇONS

Rouge eau de parfum by Comme des Garçons. “I think of this latest release from the iconic fashion house is the perfect incense, bringing an unexpected sense of the earth using Egyptian geranium leaves,” says Goto.

Modern, minimalist ceramic bowl with a rustic, textured surface and unique asymmetrical design. — Photo: COURTESY OF NALATA NALATA

Ikebana bowl by Masanobu Ando. “Every Tea House needs a vessel for flowers,” says Goto. “I am drawn to the Ando craft, which express philosophy of life that marries the functional with the sculptural.”

Bottle of 2016 L'Apparita red wine with label featuring a horse rider, produced by Castello di Ama in Tuscany. — Photo: COURTESY OF CASTELLO DI AMA

Empty wine glass with a tall stem on a reflective surface against a plain white background — Photo: COURTESY OF THE MANUFACTORY

On the left is a 2016 Castello di Ama L’Apparita Merlot paired with a Bordeaux wineglass by Zalto. “Those who know Mr. Lee appreciate his love and passion for great wine,” explains Goto. “The Zalto glass’s lightness captures a timeless quality. His installation at Castello di Ama is a wonderful example of a meditative space that connects art to the senses.”