jaime hayon reinterprets afghan and japanese folklore for nodus rugs

jaime hayon reinterprets afghan and japanese folklore for nodus rugs
all images courtesy of nodus

jaime hayon collaborates with italian luxury carpet manufacturer nodus on a duo of tapestry-carpets that offer a contemporary interpretation of traditional folklore. ‘afghan folklore’ and ‘japanese folklore’ draw their motifs from stories, characters and specific allegorical elements, using tribal and sociological references and patterns to convey heritage and belief systems.

‘japanese folklore’ full view 

hayon’s playful approach and overall whimsical aesthetic that carries throughout his work — combined with nodus’ textiles expertise — forms enchanting compositions that communicate cultural customs from a contemporary perspective. 

detail of colorful imagery woven into the carpet 

hayon on ‘afghan folklore’ for nodus: with my new design for nodus in collaboration with artisans of afghanistan, I explore the folklore of the culture through the medium of tapestry. inspired by the vibrant life of afghan culture, I incorporated into the design certain elements ‐ such as beautiful dresses with traditional patterns and a symphony of instruments ‐ and paired them together with my own whimsical style. the afghan artisans use a very special technique of tapestry which brings the design to life with sharp detail down to the last thread.’

detail of ‘japanese folklore’ 

‘in my previous collaboration with nodus, I sought to bring japanese folklore together with the heritage of nodus, which has long stood for quality and the bridging of east and west. with this new collaboration, I hope to bring happiness to living spaces with the joyful imagery of afghan folklore and the craftsmanship of the country’s artisans.’

the compositions draw their motifs from stories, characters and specific allegorical elements

‘afghan folklore’ explores the mythology of the culture through the medium of tapestry

‘afghan folklore’ full view

detail of mythological motifs 

dresses with traditional patterns and figures from folklore feature in the composition 

detail of ‘afghan folklore’