Milan Design Week 2024 A Hundred Black
Unveiling one hundred variations of black textiles, each imbued with creativity and craftsmanship, in an endless realm of black
Kawashima Selkon Textiles (Headquarters: Sakyo-ku, Kyoto; President: Akira Mitsuoka) 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.”
Since its establishment in 1843, Kawashima Selkon Textiles has been dedicated to exploring new textile possibilities by venturing into interior fabrics, integrating a diverse range of looms, and embracing new materials. Since 2019, the company has been unveiling new creations at Milan Design Week, and then gathering firsthand feedback from visitors worldwide to inspire and drive future initiatives. This year marks Kawashima Selkon Textiles’ fourth appearance at the event. With lighting designer, Izumi Okayasu, returning as art director for the second year, the installation, “A Hundred Black”, showcases the limitless potential of textiles.
In this collection, one hundred variations of black textiles are introduced. While Nishijin-ori textiles are celebrated for their vibrant and opulent patterns, intricately portrayed using numerous materials of diverse colors, this exhibition daringly limits one of the crucial elements of Nishijin-ori, the “color,” to solely “black,” focusing on the creative use of weaving techniques and woven patterns. 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.
The one hundred variations of black textiles represent Kawashima Selkon Textiles’ ongoing exploration of the possibilities of fabric, rooted in the Kyoto Nishijin textile industry, by blending traditional Nishijin techniques with modern technology. Lighting expert, Izumi Okayasu, skillfully curates the space exclusively adorned with black fabrics. This collaboration between Kawashima Selkon Textiles and Izumi Okayasu is a spectacle to look forward to.
Installation: A Hundred Black / Izumi Okayasu
One hundred variations of black textiles will be exhibited in a black, unembellished space.
Delve into the miscellaneous, creative interpretations of black, crafted by Kawashima Selkon Textiles, each uniquely perceptible within the boundless realm of black.
New Creations: One Hundred Black Textiles
Techniques × 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
In Japan, 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 traditional, ceremonial Japanese attire, the color black is considered to be “more beautiful, the deeper and richer it is.” Black holds a special significance in Japanese culture, and Japanese people have long been in pursuit of beautiful black hues.
In “A Hundred Black,” Kawashima Selkon Textiles draws together the Japanese reverence for the color black, the boundless potential of the color, and the company’s belief in the possibilities of textiles. After close to a thousand prototypes, Kawashima Selkon Textiles has completed its collection of one hundred variations of unique black textiles.
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.”
Involved in all aspects of lighting design, including lighting planning for architectural and commercial spaces, lighting fixture design and installations, both domestically and internationally. Over the years, has worked on lighting plans for projects such as Jun Aoki’s “White Church”, Toyo Ito’s “Generative Order – Toyo Ito Exhibition”, Kengo Kuma’s “Asakusa Culture and Tourist Information Center”, Riken Yamamoto’s “Namics Techno Core” and has handled numerous installations at exhibitions such as Milan Salone.
Exhibition Overview
| Title | A Hundred Black |
| Opening Hours | April 16 (Tue) – April 21 (Sun), 2024 11:00 – 21:00 (open until 18:00 on April 21) Press Preview April 15 (Mon) 15:00 – 20:00 |
| Venue | Superstudio Più |
| Address | Via Tortona,2720144 Milano MAP |
| Exhibition Area | Approx. 140㎡ |
| Art Direction | Izumi Okayasu (Izumi Okayasu Lighting Design) |
| Event Website | https://www.kawashimaselkon.co.jp/event/milan2024/ |
Kawashima Selkon Textiles
Established in Kyoto in 1843, this textile manufacturer has its 181 year history. The company’s fabrics have been highly praised for their quality, having supplied textiles to the Meiji Palace in the past, and to the Kyoto State Guest House as well as numerous luxury hotels in recent years. Kawashima Selkon Textiles combines traditional handweaving techniques with modern technology such as machine-weaving, and is committed to the inheritance of cultural heritage and technological innovation that connects to the future. In 2019, the “Weaver’s Quest” was launched to challenge the “impossible” and kickstart the pursuit for new expressions and possibilities, aiming for the evolution and development of textiles. The company’s headquarters in Kyoto also houses a textile manufacturing plant that offers integrated production services, from planning and design to dyeing and weaving, the Kawashima Textile Museum, which preserves works of significant historical importance, and the Kawashima Textile School, where traditional weaving techniques are taught to the next generation. Kawashima Selkon Textiles strives to serve as a hub for the inheritance, development, and promotion of textile culture.