Founded in 1688 in Kyoto’s Nishijin district, the historic textile house Hosoo presented the installation WEAVE WAVE at Milan Design Week 2026, in collaboration with German contemporary artist and sound composer Carsten Nicolai (Alva Noto). Alongside the installation, the brand also unveiled a new textile collection titled Raster Gradient. The exhibition took place at the HOSOO showroom in Milan from April 20 to 25.
Reframing the Relationship Between Sound and Textile
The installation WEAVE WAVE was conceived as an exploration into the relationship between sound and textile—two seemingly distinct mediums. Rooted in shared concepts such as “waves,” “repetition,” and “structure,” the project moves fluidly between the visible and invisible, as well as the material and immaterial.
Another key work, SONO OBI, translates sonograms, visual representations of sound frequencies derived from electronic music, into woven textiles using Nishijin techniques. This approach repositions textile not merely as material, but as a medium capable of recording and reproducing sound. Considering the historical role of the Jacquard loom in the 19th century, where punch cards controlled patterns and later informed the foundations of computing, the relationship between textile and digital media feels closer than one might expect.
Raster Gradient and a New Perceptual Experience
Unveiled alongside the installation, Raster Gradient translates Nicolai’s silkscreen works into textile form. Gradients created through variations in dot density act as a bridge between flat visual information and the three-dimensional materiality of fabric.
The collection is produced using advanced Nishijin weaving techniques. By arranging multiple colors within the warp threads, the textiles achieve highly nuanced tonal gradations. As digitally derived raster patterns intersect with traditional craftsmanship, the process reveals how visual language itself can be translated into physical material.
Limited LP Release Under the Alva Noto Name
In conjunction with the exhibition, a limited-edition LP titled Wave Weave – Sono Obi was released by NOTON (N-073) under the Alva Noto name. The picture disc includes a gatefold sleeve with a spot UV gloss booklet, featuring the original soundtrack, alternative versions, sonograms, visualizations of the soundtrack, and still images from the installation.
At the Intersection of Tradition and Innovation
For over 300 years since its founding in 1688, Hosoo has continuously expanded the possibilities of textiles. In parallel, Carsten Nicolai has explored the boundaries between sound and visual expression. Their collaboration reinterprets textile as “structure,” offering a renewed perspective on textile culture through the lens of contemporary art and digital technology.
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