A Hundred Black

Kawashima Selkon Textiles will be exhibiting at the world's largest design event, Milan Design Week, in Milan, Italy, from Tuesday, April 16 to Sunday, April 21, 2024.
For over a century, Kawashima Selkon Textiles has been committed to the preservation and advancement of traditional and modern techniques and to the pursuit of pushing the boundaries of possibilities in weaving. In this exhibition, "A Hundred Black," Kawashima Selkon Textiles visualizes this commitment through "one hundred variations of exclusively black textiles." Combining traditional techniques, preserved since its establishment, with new technology, acquired through the quest for innovation, Kawashima Selkon Textiles has crafted one hundred variations of black textiles, each showcasing a distinct expression.

One hundred variations of black fabrics, completed by making full use of the traditional techniques inherited from the time of the founding of the company and the new techniques obtained through the exploration of evolution, will be presented in an infinite space bathed in black.

CONCEPT

A Hundred Black

Nishijin weaving is a textile technique that intricately expresses vivid and luxurious patterns using a multitude of materials of various colors and thicknesses. "What happens when we limit 'color,' a crucial element in Nishijin weaving?" Kawashima Selkon Textiles faced this challenge by experimenting with different techniques and weaving structures, successfully creating "A Hundred Black" fabrics. Utilizing traditional skills and knowledge of textiles developed over 180 years since its founding, as well as mass-production technologies that address contemporary needs, these 100 types of black fabrics are characterized by a rich variety of expressions.

In 'A Hundred Black,' an exhibition of a hundred varieties of black fabrics is presented in an undecorated black space. Please enjoy the subtle differences among various black textiles that can only be appreciated in this infinite space of monochrome black.

MATERIAL

One Hundred Black Textiles

Techniques x Woven Patterns

A textile consists of three components: the material, the weaving technique, and the woven pattern. The quintessence of textile production lies in the art of combining and harmonizing these elements to craft a diverse range of textiles. Nishijin-ori textiles, in particular, are renowned for the intricate portrayal of vibrant and opulent patterns, meticulously crafted using numerous materials of varying colors and thicknesses. These designs often feature colorful threads incorporating gold, silver, or the use of shells to add a lucent touch. For Milan Design Week 2024, a crucial element contributing to the beauty of textiles, “color”, has been daringly limited to solely “black”, intensively drawing on techniques and woven patterns to craft a collection of one hundred unique black textiles.

The Color Black in Japan

Black has a special meaning in Japanese culture, as there is a rich tapestry of words to describe the color black, such as Kurosumi [black ink], Shikkoku [jet black lacquer], Nuregarasu [wet, black wings of a crow], Nibi [dull, dark gray], and Roiro [wet, black lacquer].

In "A Hundred Black," Kawashima Selkon Textiles has completed its collection of one hundred variations of unique black textiles, with belief in the possibilities of textiles, after close to a thousand prototypes.

ART DIRECTOR

Izumi Okayasu

MESSAGE

“Challenged by the theme of crafting one hundred variations of black textiles, using diverse combinations of technology and techniques, and all exclusively in black, the production team, including Kawashima Selkon Textiles designers, produced far more than the final one hundred large-scale textiles. In this exhibition, we invite our visitors to explore not only the meticulously crafted one hundred variations of black textiles, but also the versatility, adaptability, and precision of the techniques and technology shaped by Kawashima Selkon Textiles’ company ethos, nurtured over a 180-year history. We hope our visitors leave with a lasting impression of black, and a memory of the diverse technology and techniques embodied by Kawashima Selkon Textiles.”

PROFILE

Lighting Designer / Born in 1972 in Kanagawa, Japan
Izumi Okayasu Lighting Design President
Izumi Okayasu is a versatile designer who specializes in lighting design, with a portfolio that ranges from architectural and commercial lighting design to lighting equipment and installation design, both domestically and internationally. His past projects include lighting design for Jun Aoki’s “White Chapel,” Toyo Ito’s “Toyo Ito: Generative Order,” Kengo Kuma’s “Asakusa Cultural Tourism Center,” and Riken Yamamoto’s “Namics Techno Core.” Additionally, he has designed numerous installations for exhibitions, including Milan Design Week.
https://www.ismidesign.com/

OVERVIEW

Theme: A Hundred Black
Date: April 16 (Tue) - April 21 (Sun）11:00 - 21:00
April 21 (Sun) 11:00-18:00
Venue: Superstudio Più
https://www.superstudioevents.com/
Address: Via Tortona, 2720144 Milano MAP
Fabric Details: https://www.kawashimaselkon.co.jp/_mdw2024catalog/

Art Direction: Izumi Okayasu (Izumi Okayasu Lighting Design)
Graphic Design: Yusuke Sugimori (apart-apart inc.)
Collaboration: BROWN INC.