HOSOO Magazine
“More than Textile” issue 04

A publication that records the story and process behind HOSOO 's activities , which go beyond conventional weaving practices and create art textiles that defy people's imagination .

The theme of this issue is "Circle." It contains various meanings, such as the cycle between humans and nature and the circle of people.

This year, HOSOO released a new textile called "The MindLandscape" in collaboration with AMDL CIRCLE led by Michele De Lucchi, and "HOUSE of HOSOO Blossom," a series of works born from an encounter with a 180-year-old cherry tree, both of which have a tree theme.

Trees grow leaves, bloom flowers, bear fruit, turn red, and then eventually shed their leaves, but regrow again a year later. While carrying out these cyclical activities, trees are responsible for various circulations in nature, such as evaporating moisture from underground.

"The Mind Landscape" and "HOUSE of HOSOO Blossom" were created by learning from this cycle of trees, and taking inspiration from their complex shapes and beautiful colors. The four seasons of time progress in a circle, but they are not the same circle; they progress in a spiral, just like the rings of a tree that grow little by little every year. It is like music that plays a single motif in a loop. In this issue, we look back on SPIRAL, a collaborative work with David Lynch that was released in 2016, in order to reconsider the meaning of this spiral.

For example, Theaster Gates, who we spoke to in this issue, is fusing folk art with black culture, and circulating the repressed and forgotten past into the present as new art. Theaster's activities could be called "social sculpture" (Joseph Beuys). HOSOO 's mission is to implement crafts in society in a way that suits the cycle between humans and nature for our future. To do this, we must connect the traditions of artisans and collaborate with people in various fields around the world. We hope to create a better future by gradually expanding such small societies ( circles ) like a spiral.

We hope to reach out to all those who seek beautiful things and love creative ideas and creations.

Total 160 pages Size: 222mm x 284mm
Language: Japanese/English