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Between Light and Time by WonderGlass

Innovative lighting for WonderGlass by Marcel Wanders, Nao Tamura and Hideki Yoshimoto are inspired by Japanese tradition and nature.

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Text by Nadine Botha

With the biennial Euroluce at Salone Del Mobile this year, there was a particular emphasis on lighting in Milan. The newest releases from British-Italian lighting company WonderGlass draw inspiration from Japan. Marcel Wanders’ chandelier is inspired by Japanese calligraphy, while Japanese designers Nao Tamura and Hideki Yoshimoto’s work displays an idiosyncratic fascination with natural processes.

“We designed this lighting system to be poetic,” explains Wanders about Calliope, his modular chandelier made from handblown Murano glass components. “From overhead, it captures attention as it inspires the imagination,” says the Dutch designer who worked with WonderGlass creative director, Gabriele Chiave, to realise this idea of illuminated pendants that can be clustered and arranged according to the space.

Tamura’s Fluid lamp is the New York-based designer’s fourth collaboration with WonderGlass, and may be mistaken for a science experiment. Using mirrors, light and water, Tamura attempted to recreate that instant when sunlight hits the surface of a lake. The lens effect of this natural event creates a spark that is the source of light in Fluid.

Previewed at Maison&Objet earlier this year, the London-based Yoshimoto’s Rise and Drift light use the different ways that light is transmitted by different materials to create a magical effect emulating air bubbles rising through water.

Lights by Dan Yefet and Zaha Hadid were also on display.

Calliope by Marcel Wanders
Calliope by Marcel Wanders
Calliope by Marcel Wanders
Calliope by Marcel Wanders
Calliope by Marcel Wanders
Calliope by Marcel Wanders
Installation during Milan Design Week
Installation during Milan Design Week
Detail of Fluid lamp by Nao Tamura at installation during Milan Design Week
Detail of Fluid lamp by Nao Tamura at installation during Milan Design Week
Fluid lamp by Nao Tamura
Fluid lamp by Nao Tamura
Fluid Collection by Nao Tamura
Fluid Collection by Nao Tamura
Detail of Fluid Collection by Nao Tamura at installation during Milan Design Week
Detail of Fluid Collection by Nao Tamura at installation during Milan Design Week
Rise & Drift by Hideki Yoshimoto in installation during Milan Design Week
Rise & Drift by Hideki Yoshimoto in installation during Milan Design Week
Rise & Drift by Hideki Yoshimoto
Rise & Drift by Hideki Yoshimoto
Rise & Drift by Hideki Yoshimoto
Rise & Drift by Hideki Yoshimoto
Rise & Drift by Hideki Yoshimoto
Rise & Drift by Hideki Yoshimoto
Hollow by Dan Yeffet
Hollow by Dan Yeffet
Hollow by Dan Yeffet in installation during Milan Design Week
Hollow by Dan Yeffet in installation during Milan Design Week
Luma by Zaha Hadid
Luma by Zaha Hadid
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