Focus on Lighting Design
by Issey Scott
During lockdown it is really important to have things to look forward to on the other side, and for us we are really excited to present Patrick Nash during London Craft Week in September. Working in neon, Nash’s work is a great way of thinking about how light can be viewed as a highly functional design piece, as well as an artwork or a transformative feature of an interior. Given that light fixtures and one-off pieces are not only investments but also have the potential to be a standout point in the home, trends in lighting design are arguably less fickle and fleeting than other forms of art and design. During the last Milan Design Week in 2019, geometric and basic shapes were a key forecasting trend, and we are seriously crushing on what Cluster designers and makers have to offer, paving the way in merging art and functional light design.
Patrick Nash for Cluster Crafts x London Craft Week | Visit artist profile here
Patrick Nash for Cluster Crafts x London Craft Week | Visit artist profile here
Haberdashery | Visit profile here
Light is a natural part of the landscape and of life itself, and there is often a humble, muted side to light in the design world. Studio Haberdashery transcends all expectations for lighting and showcases the potential of the right feature to not only illuminate but evoke entirely new sensations and emotions in the home or, indeed, create an environment entirely of the owner’s choosing. Thinking of “basic shapes”, as per the Milan Design Week trend, such a description can be rather misleading as the shape of a light fixture is a mere point of departure for how immersive and elegant they can be. In the wider cultural world, one need only look to the likes of Tracy Emin, Glenn Ligon and Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson to see that a simple, understated piece can be interpreted powerfully. Haberdashery’s pieces can bring either a bold, dramatic ambience to the home or something more calm and smooth. With sophisticated hues and often understated shapes, Haberdashery have the power to transform a simple living room into an inspiring space that is not dissimilar to a blue chip gallery in London or New York.
Dawn To Dusk Haberdashery | Visit Haberdashery Profile
Looking elsewhere, British maker Mona Sharma graduated with her masters in design in 2017 from Sheffield Hallam University, and since then has exhibited around the world. Interestingly, her work is a great celebration of how versatile light can be, as her work has been showcased within various sectors. Her ‘Buddy’ project, which you will be able to see during London Design Festival later in the year, a 3D-printed desk lamp which boasts familiarity and innovation in tandem, was made in collaboration with Gantri, a San Francisco-based digital manufacturer for designer lighting. The product has been designed for the modern worker: multi-skilled and multi- tasking. ‘Buddy’ is a highly functional light which helps its user tune into specific tasks. A pivoting head and comforting curvature makes for a reliable addition to the ‘working from home’ setup. Again, simple in practice but a game-changer for the new age of the home office.
Buddy Carbon by Mona Sharma | Visit artist profile here
Eagle-eyed followers of Cluster may remember Joshua Kerley, who graduated from the Royal College of Art’s MA Ceramics and Glass, as he exhibited with us in our most recent Cluster exhibition in November 2019. Kerley describes his work as having different gravitational pulls between art, design and craft, which sets the precedent for what you can expect from the visual element of his practice. Look out especially for the Sinter Pendant light, which has a beautifully painterly aesthetic, again bridging the gap between fine art and interior design. Kerley is a maker who is evidently a thorough investigator of his own medium, and we look forward to where his practice, which is rooted in glass-making, will take him next.
Sinter Pendant Light | 2019 | Joshua Kerley
Sinter Pendant Light | 2019 | Joshua Kerley
Through the Window Pane | 2019 | Joshua Kerley
Thank you for reading,
Issey Scott
Through the Window Pane | 2019 | Joshua Kerley