Nendo bottles 20 "different kinds of rain" for Words installation
Maison&Objet 2014: Japanese studio Nendo created 20 clear acrylic bottles to represent different Japanese words for rain in an exhibition at the Maison&Objet trade fair in Paris.
![Rain installation by Nendo at Maison&Objet 2014](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/09/Rain-installation-by-Nendo-at-Maison-Objet_dezeen_468_1.jpg)
Nendo's designers made the collection of objects for an exhibition with the theme Words, so selected a unit of language in English that has several alternatives in their native tongue.
![Rain installation by Nendo at Maison&Objet 2014](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/09/Rain-installation-by-Nendo-at-Maison-Objet_dezeen_468_0.jpg)
"We chose the word 'rain', but considered its many nuances in Japanese – a language that has dozens of words for rain depending on the condition and time of day – as a way to reflect the fine nuances and sensibilities of Japanese as a language," said the studio.
![Rain installation by Nendo at Maison&Objet 2014](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/09/Rain-installation-by-Nendo-at-Maison-Objet_dezeen_468_9.jpg)
Each solid Rain Bottle has marks or items suspended in its centre to symbolise the various Japanese words.
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![Rain installation by Nendo at Maison&Objet 2014](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/09/Rain-installation-by-Nendo-at-Maison-Objet_dezeen_468_4.jpg)
Thick vertical strands symbolise a torrential downpour called "niwaka-ame", while three types of fine drizzle are shown by thinner lines.
![Rain installation by Nendo at Maison&Objet 2014](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/09/Rain-installation-by-Nendo-at-Maison-Objet_dezeen_468_6.jpg)
A droplet on the end of a branch depicts the "kisame" type of rain. "Kaiu" is manifested as enlarged dust and pollen particles among bubbles.
![Rain installation by Nendo at Maison&Objet 2014](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/09/Rain-installation-by-Nendo-at-Maison-Objet_dezeen_468_5.jpg)
Leaves, grass and subtle colours give the impression of the rains across the seasons and at specific times of the day.
![Rain installation by Nendo at Maison&Objet 2014](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/09/Rain-installation-by-Nendo-at-Maison-Objet_dezeen_468_13.jpg)
"By exhibiting 20 different kinds of 'rain', we hoped to express Japanese culture's unique relationship to nature and the depth of this relationship," Nendo said.
![Rain installation by Nendo at Maison&Objet 2014](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/09/Rain-installation-by-Nendo-at-Maison-Objet_dezeen_468_12.jpg)
The bottles were displayed in a row as part of the Trend Exhibition in Hall 7 at the biannual Maison&Objet trade fair, which concluded yesterday.
![Rain installation by Nendo at Maison&Objet 2014](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/09/Rain-installation-by-Nendo-at-Maison-Objet_dezeen_sq.jpg)
Photography is by Hiroshi Iwasaki.