David Lynch looms large in Kyoto heritage weaver Hosoo’s new tapestry

David Lynch's Spiral artwork
A new Tokyo show sees the heritage textile brand Hosoo create a mesmerising 70m tapestry inspired by David Lynch's Spiral artwork
(Image credit: David Lynch)

Since Masataka Hosoo took over the more than 300-year-old Nishijin textile business around a decade ago, he has continued to push the creative limits of the family-owned Kyoto company's 9,000-thread looms. An intimate and reflective exhibition currently on display at the Eye of Gyre gallery in Omotesandō, Tokyo offers a compact and stunning opportunity to experience his vision close up.

Inspired by the David Lynch artwork Spiral, Hosoo has 'translated the stratified and multi-tiered world of the spiral into a space, allowing for viewers to experience the depths of the human mind'. A stunning, 70m tapestry of Hosoo's finest silk fabric, designed and made over the last six months, is suspended from the ceiling, spiralling within the small exhibition space. Viewers are invited to follow the flow of the fabric from the outside in, exploring the many layers of the weave in a vivid and mesmerising display of colours.

The clever exhibition and lighting concept by local architect Yukiharu Takematsu highlights the design and allows the fabric to be viewed from both sides in several places. Lynch's Spiral is prominently displayed at the centre of the space, with the cardboard and black paint used for the piece repeated in the cardboard floor and wall coverings of the gallery.

Spiral, by David Lynch

Spiral, by David Lynch

(Image credit: David Lynch)

David Lynch looms large in Kyoto heritage weaver Hosoo’s new tapestry

For the show, the brand's Masataka Hosoo has 'translated the stratified and multi-tiered world of the spiral into a space, allowing for viewers to experience the depths of the human mind'

(Image credit: David Lynch)

The tapesty – designed and made over a six-month period

The tapesty – designed and made over a six-month period – is suspended from the ceiling within the small exhibition space

(Image credit: David Lynch)

Layers of the weave in a vivid and mesmerising display of colours

Viewers can follow the flow of the fabric from the outside in, exploring the many layers of the weave in a vivid and mesmerising display of colours

(Image credit: David Lynch)

The exhibition and lighting design by local architect Yukiharu Takematsu

The exhibition and lighting design by local architect Yukiharu Takematsu highlights the weave and allows the fabric to be viewed from both sides in several places

(Image credit: David Lynch)

INFORMATION
’David Lynch meets Hosoo’ is on view until 13 November. For more information, visit the Hosoo website

ADDRESS

Eye of Gyre
Gyre 3F
5-10-1 Jungu-mae
Shibua-ku
Tokyo

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Originally from Denmark, Jens H. Jensen has been calling Japan his home for almost two decades. Since 2014 he has worked with Wallpaper* as the Japan Editor. His main interests are architecture, crafts and design. Besides writing and editing, he consults numerous business in Japan and beyond and designs and build retail, residential and moving (read: vans) interiors.