Bright Ideas

Texte par Atrium Magazin für Wohnkultur, Design und Architektur
Schlieren, Suisse
22.07.14

If you think of ambient lighting, you think of him: Ingo Maurer has been regarded as a pioneer of revolutionary light sculptures since 1966. His fascinating work comprises numerous designs, from sober to playful, from oversized to filigree, from poetic to provocative. Even his very first light sculp

Technical: Knot (2013) is produced by means of new 3D printing technology

If you think of ambient lighting, you think of him: Ingo Maurer has been regarded as a pioneer of revolutionary light sculptures since 1966. His fascinating work comprises numerous designs, from sober to playful, from oversized to filigree, from poetic to provocative. Even his very first light sculpture, the Bulb table lamp from 1966, made design history – as did its red, heart-shaped counterpart One From The Heart (1989), the pendant lamp Zettel'z (1997), which is hung with messages and encourages the owner to join in the creative process, Seven Rats (2007), which consists of plastic rodents in an illuminated metal cage, the Birds Birds Birds chandelier (1992) with its flocks of flying light bulbs, as well as his spectacular lighting installations for public projects and exhibitions. And what's more, Ingo Maurer has taught us a new way of seeing.

Light artist Ingo Maurer at his workshop in Schwabing

Romantic: the limited edition lamp J.B. Dragonfly (2012) is surrounded by a swarm of whirring hand-made insects

With his unique symbiosis of fine craftsmanship and high-tech, the light artist has set new design standards and experimented with innovative light sources such as low-voltage halogen systems, LED and OLED to create emotional interior atmospheres. Many of Ingo Maurer's lamps are award-winning classics, 120 of which are currently being produced and distributed. And because spare parts have been meticulously kept for almost every model, the hand-made creations can still be sent to the workshop even years down the line. But these cheerful lamps have one quality that's guaranteed to last forever: their radiant optimism.

Exotic: this light sculpture pays homage to the Japanese art of paper folding: Poul Poul from the MaMo Nouchies series (1998)