Hypnopompic

Hypnopompic (literally ‘leading out of sleep’) is the state between sleeping and waking that can give rise to dreamlike hallucinations. Saksi is interested in neurological and optical phenomena. Through the ages, these ‘mind tricks’ have contributed to the development of ornaments.

Saksi himself experiences patterns and structures during migraine attacks. These ideas and impressions are interwoven in the psychedelic tapestries from the ‘Hypnopompic’ series. A wide range of natural and synthetic materials, from viscose, lurex and metallic yarns to alpaca wool and mohair, add extra depth. Jacquard weaving is taken to a new level with Hypnopomic, a series of vivid large-scale tapestries made by Finnish graphic designer and artist Kustaa Saksi.

The brightly coloured pieces combine recognisable creatures and organis designs with surreal visualisations. Having no background in textiles, Saksi made the most of the expertise available at the TextielLab, optimising the specific qualities of the materials to give his designs depth, warmth and structure.