Events NYC. Leave the Light On: The Brightest Bulbs in the Bunch at ICFF. The Curated Object

Lantern Lamp

Even though ICFF is about the cutting edge, the brand-new in the world of design, tradition was not lost at the Japan pavilion, where traditional shapes and materials, such as bamboo and parasols, were used in innovative ways. This Jörg Kotori pendant lamp comes from Japanese parasol company Hiyoshiya, founded in Kyoto in the 17th century, with design help from European Jörg Gessner. The owners of the company thought the brightness that comes from sunlight shining through the washi paper used to make the umbrellas could be replicated with artificial light is used in lamp shades. The Kotori line of pendant, floor, and table lamps is the ancient company’s first interior design product line.

Bai-Shibori Lamps

Again, innovation meets tradition in ICFF’s virtual Japan. The shibori method of tie-dye traditionally used making kimonos is employed here by Katayama Bunzaburo Shoten to create the crackled, folded texture on this trio of table lamps. The lamps produce on an other-worldly, sea urchin-like glow.

Ango Lamp

Ango’s mission is to “encapsulate a simple balance of nature with form and purpose an organic micro-utopia.” In the design community’s micro-utopia of ICFF, Ango was definitely representing the natural elements, with the cloud-like Formation pendant lamp above. But this cloud is made of silk cocoon and steel and won’t float away.

Viso Lamp

Canadian-based Viso hung pendants at varying heights from its Fort Knox series, creating the effect of oversized Christmas oranaments or sleek, futuristic disco balls.

 

Cadmo floor lamp

Artemide’s Cadmo floor lamp is a tower of black lacquer with light coming from two sources – top and bottom.

Kartell Toobe lamps

The Toobe lamp, designed by Ferruccio Laviani is the first Kartell product to have a faded color effect, created by a special coloring technology. It is also Kartell’s first floor lamp – but they didn’t stray completely from the table lamp preference of their past – a Toobe can be either a floor or table lamp, due to the sliding PMMA extruded tube used for it’s cylindrical shape.

Molo

A giant urchin softlight floats in Molo’s under-the-sea universe created by its innovative softwall + softblock modular system. The system of room dividers and seating is made of non-woven polyethylene material and is designed to cut sound and promote serenity. The urchin is made of the same unique material and is flexible, providing a claming glow from interior LED light sources. 

-Elizabeth "Cappi" Williamson

Comments

[Jane Librizzi]

Thank you. I wish I could see this in person. The Japanese designs are so inventive. You can almost guess that a parasol company created the pleated lamp. The Bai-Shibori lamps remind me of the dancing mushrooms in "Fantasia." Kenji Ekuan's book "The Aesthetics of the Japanese Lunchbox" might interest your readers. It starts with the bento box and circles outward to other new ways of applying aesthetics to material designs.