BUBBLE MOLD CAT is an innovative design that overturns the conventional concept of the maneki-neko (beckoning cat). Its organic, bubble-like form splits in two, revealing the shape of a maneki-neko carved out as negative space within. It functions as a "master mold," allowing you to infinitely replicate beckoning cats by injecting materials like clay, cookie dough, or soap.
The design inspiration comes from a fusion of sea foam and gachapon capsules. By using plastic material recycled from ocean waste, it challenges the traditional one-way cycle of production, consumption, and disposal. The core of this work lies in "designing the process of creation." It's not merely about making an object with recycled materials, but about designing the act of making itself to be sustainable, thereby realizing a true circular economy.
Through the experience of making their own maneki-neko, users simultaneously cultivate a connection to craftsmanship and an awareness of the environment. The bubble form carries the memory of the ocean, while the maneki-neko born from within symbolizes new fortune and hope for a sustainable future. The sight of countless beckoning cats emerging from a single mold expresses the potential for environmental protection, where small actions can bring about great change. It is a work that offers its users both the joy of creation and a sense of environmental responsibility.
