Light-Material Dialogues: A Series of Sustainable & Experimental Luminaires

This installation consists of a collection of light fixtures—also known as luminaires—ranging from table lamps to hanging pendants to wall sconces. As both functional objects and artistic artifacts, our luminaires aim to give form to the dialogues that occur when light and material interact, surfacing and celebrating the unique aesthetics and materialities that emerge. In this exhibit, we specifically showcase luminaires that we have designed around emerging sustainable and experimental biomaterials such as algae-based bioplastics, scoby biofilm, reed, and handmade paper. Through light, we activate the unique textures, colors, and opacities of these biomaterials, developing sculptural structures to situate light-material dialogues in everyday spaces. Developed through a collaboration between highly interdisciplinary practitioners, our luminaires further demonstrate a convergence of industrial and furniture design, material development and fabrication, electrical and control system design, interaction design, craft, art, and sustainability.