Nikhil Paul opens Connective Tension in Milan with the Hydra collection
Light as material, movement as language. With Connective Tension, Nikhil Paul, Product Design Domus Academy alumni and founder of Paul Matter, brings a new chapter of his research between design, sculpture and sensory experience to Milan. The exhibition, which opened on 18 February 2026 at The Great Design Disaster, centres on the Hydra collection: a project dedicated to the relationship between light, form and space.
Who is Nikhil Paul
Born in Zambia, raised in New Delhi and trained in Milan, Nikhil Paul founded Paul Matter in 2017 with the ambition of exploring light as a language capable of crossing sculpture, design and sensory experience. His debut collection, Tango, is now considered an icon of contemporary design and is included in 100 Objects of Desire. His work has been presented in international contexts including the Unité d’Habitation in Marseille, Tokyo Design Week, Salone del Mobile in Milan, and PAD Art + Design in London and Paris.
Light as material, movement as language. With Connective Tension, Nikhil Paul, Product Design Domus Academy alumni and founder of Paul Matter, brings a new chapter of his research between design, sculpture and sensory experience to Milan. The exhibition, which opened on 18 February 2026 at The Great Design Disaster, centres on the Hydra collection: a project dedicated to the relationship between light, form and space.
Who is Nikhil Paul
Born in Zambia, raised in New Delhi and trained in Milan, Nikhil Paul founded Paul Matter in 2017 with the ambition of exploring light as a language capable of crossing sculpture, design and sensory experience. His debut collection, Tango, is now considered an icon of contemporary design and is included in 100 Objects of Desire. His work has been presented in international contexts including the Unité d’Habitation in Marseille, Tokyo Design Week, Salone del Mobile in Milan, and PAD Art + Design in London and Paris.
The Hydra Collection
At the heart of the exhibition is Hydra, a series of five pieces — ceiling lamps, wall lamps, hybrid forms and a floor lamp — that goes beyond traditional lighting categories. Inspired by a mechanical and expressive aesthetic, the collection is built around visible joints and articulated arms that transform each element into a reactive system: small movements generate ever-new configurations, making light a dynamic and performative presence in space.
The Exhibition
Connective Tension — Hydra series by Nikhil Paul for Paul Matter, curated by Joy Herro, is on view at The Great Design Disaster, Via della Moscova 15, Milan, until March 2026.
FAQ – Frequent questions
1. How does Nikhil Paul’s background at Domus Academy inform the Hydra collection?
As a Domus Academy alumnus, Nikhil Paul brings a cross-disciplinary approach that blends design, sculpture and sensory experience, which is central to the concept of Hydra.
2. What is the core idea behind the Hydra collection presented in Connective Tension?
The collection explores the relationship between light, form and space, transforming lighting into a dynamic and performative presence within the exhibition.
3. What makes Hydra different from traditional lighting collections?
Hydra goes beyond conventional lighting typologies through articulated structures and visible joints that create reactive systems and ever-changing configurations.
4. Why is Connective Tension significant for Domus Academy’s alumni narrative?
The exhibition highlights the international trajectory of a Domus Academy alumnus and showcases how experimental research developed through education can evolve into a mature design practice.
