Through the Wire
The Designer Lighting Company celebrates the influential sculptress Ruth Asawa, a Japanese-American pioneer of contemporary art, passionate art educator and activist. We put a spotlight on lights that emulate her artistic style.
A Google Doodle got us thinking and we started to see similarities in her work to some of our featured lighting designers.
Asawa’s visionary imagination is echoed in her sculptures and we are excited to show you our selection of table lamps and pendant lights to exhibit in your homes and venues from top quality designers.
What inspired Ruth Asawa?
Asawa spent time in a US government internment camp and discovered her desire for art. After travelling to Mexico and observing how they made galvanised wire baskets with a loop technique Asawa transferred this concept to her creating an extensive, ingenious and inspirational collection of sculptures.
Extremely dedicated to art and craft it is said Asawa spent any spare moments she had to create (source: Wikipedia).
Asawa’s interest in art of all forms, and particularly dance can be seen in the movement, fluidity and flow-form of her sculptures. Continuous lines transcend space with elegance and grace.
Biomorphic Design
Moved and inspired by shapes of nature like spider’s webs, plants and shells, like many great artists and designers her work is biomorphic, representing an individual, beautiful and strong interpretation of natural form. Asawa’s iconic sculptural forms are epitomised by free-flowing, continuous lines and negative space interacting with the observer.
Floating Flow Form
Although made from tough metal her sculptures appear weightless and invite you to immerse yourself in them, where shapes contain other shapes, like a seed.
“I was interested in the economy of a line, making something in space, enclosing it without blocking it out. It’s still transparent. I realised that if I was going to make these forms, which interlock and weave, it can only be done with a line because it can go anywhere”, Ruth Asawa.
Pictured above: Ruth Asawa’s exhibition of sculptures displayed in David Zwirner Gallery, NYC (wiki source)
The Designer Lighting Company’s collection of lights includes these beautifully elegant black wire table lamps by Forestier Paris, who design lights similarly with the artistic use of wire. A curved form is maintained, although open in nature and inclusive of negative space. Forestier Paris’ artistic intention is to; “project poetry and nature in a perfect balance between design and crafts”.
Imperatrice Table Lamp, Forestier Paris Light Available to buy today at Designer Lighting Company
Asawa intended her works to be viewed as a collection, similarly, Forestier Paris’ ceiling pendants shown below work wonderfully when suspended in groups. An illusion of weightlessness is cleverly conveyed which mesmerises and enchants the observer.
An experiential, airy light that is open, imaginative and becomes a work of art during daylight when it may be turned off and during the evening a play of light and shadow. Striking, sleek black, hourglass curves of the Opium and Emperatrice pendants offer illumination and decoration.
Imperatrice, Ceiling Pendant, Forestier Paris
A graceful and alluring feature light will add an interesting sculptural dimension to your interior design scheme.
Forestier Paris’ aim to “project poetry and nature in a perfect balance between design and crafts”. A French designer brand where lighting design is informed and inspired by the values of passion, freedom, discovery and a spirit of openness.
Shown below is the Papillon by Forestier Paris, aptly named as a butterfly this pendant echoes the effortless flight and delicate quality of a butterfly’s wings, creating a juxtaposition as the pendant is made from strong metal wire.
The Designer Lighting Company adores this pendant with tiers of relaxing, harmonious colour palette of white, grey and green, it will maximise light and space in your home or hospitality venue and is an impressive scale and size. It is possible to group these pendants at varying heights to achieve this curated look below, as the cable can be shorted at the point of installation. This pendant is also available in black.
The Papillon by Forestier Paris
Design for the people’s Aver pendant offer’s a more minimal design with a similar concept and inclusion of negative space.
Beautiful black wire with smooth curves un-obtrudes the inner bulb, offering the opportunity for decorative filaments. Complete with coordinating black suspension cable which, as you can see can below is very effective when adjusted at varying heights and arranged in groups of three or more, perfect for over table lighting in kitchens and dining rooms.
