Unidentified Lighting Objects 2009 is here!

After a few months of planning and coordination, the Unidentified Lighting Object 2009 is finally here! We are very fortunate to have the gracious support of IKEA Singapore as our main event sponsor, and the support of the Singapore Archifest 2009 committee to have this event as one of the fringe event for the Archifest 2009. We are sure all designers had fun conceptualizing their ideas and are very happy to have a varied range of invited designers for the event, from fashion designer, to artists, product designers, illustrator and architects. The exhibition of all designs would start from 23rd of October and the private sale of all the designs would be held on the 31st of October. So, please keep a look out for this space, as we would be unravelling all designer's creation in this space, and please guess which IKEA product they were originally constructed from.

1001 ways to light a cube... continued

imagine your cube could be transformed into a stage...and how lights could bring out the patterns within a space.

imagine if your cube is a canvas where shadows of the surrounding is projected and highlighted...

imagine if your cube is a lantern that glows from within...

imagine if your cube is a room where lighting effects is projected into the space...

1001 ways to light a cube

whenlightswork collective had been invited by the Ministry of Education to host the lighting workshop as part of the planned programs for the Art and Music Education Conference (AMEC) 2009. The main focus of the workshop is thus, for the participants to appreciate light in space. Hence, we had planned for a series of tasks for the participants to discuss, as a group, for them to relate to lighting design through visuals. Then, we would proceed to conceptualization and execution of the proposed lighting concept. 

The workshop had been divided into two different sections, due to the time limit posed by the conference organizers. Firstly, we shall start with the grouping of images in accordance to certain identified themes and the participants would need to document and present their ideas at the end of the discussion.

With these ideas in mind, the participants were encouraged to explore and experiment on 1001 ways to light a cube, based on the ideas they had extracted from the visuals from part 1 of the workshop. The participants were encouraged to explore different variations and possiblities of lighting a cube and similarly, the results were documented and presented to the entire studio after the workshop.

The results of the workshop had been rather "surprising" as the participants explored and experiment with forms, shadows and colours. And the participants had, within a three hour workshop, understand the basics to lighting appreciation in space and the relation of light to form and geometry, as well as the ability to conceptualize from drawings to miniature mockups.

WHAT TRIGGERED US?

Guerilla lighting is established by a group of lighting enthusiast who are keen to put a stop to bad lighting design. As stated in their website, "Guerrilla lighting is a war on bad lighting, guerrilla lighting is a protest against wasteful use of light but most of all, guerrilla lighting is about having fun and raising the awareness of the power of light. Professionally designed architectural lighting enhances the nightscape of our cities and towns but requires the use of energy. In order to ensure that a correct balance is achieved between the benefits of good lighting and irresponsible use of energy more control is required. We believe that this control should include the control of architectural lighting of buildings." Guerilla lighting had organized workshops to address to issues that were pertinent to individual sites, whilst highlighting the manner good lighting could change the character of the space. For the workshop that is being targeted for 2009 Archifest, we are hoping to woo this group to advise us on the programs we had established, to facilitate cross-borders exchanges and also to share our equal passion in lighting design. If you are keen to know more about the message behind Guerilla Lighting, do explore their website.

WHAT INSPIRED US?

What inspired us? you may ask... what made us step out from our comfort zones and organize this first lighting workshop in Singapore? what made us do it? 

When I was in Light+Building 2008 and Luminale 2008, in Frankfurt, I was awed by the scale of the event as well as the extent of the planned activities to promote for lighting design excellence. It was a successful event, where all major industry players, educators and associations come together to promote a common message, "good lighting". Indeed, the energy of the city at night is indescribable, where lighting installations enriched the existing city fabric. This is not a sole event that is only occurring in Frankfurt, but Lyon has its unique Fete des Lumieres. Then, I questioned, why can't we have a lighting event in Singapore, to increase the local awareness of what lighting design is all about?

Lighting design is a very complex discipline, where there is a gradual departure from the existing mere emphasis on the quantifiable component, but more had been emphasized on the quality of the lit environment. Since it is hard to quantify lighting, as it is seemingly ephemeral and ever-changing, good lighting has to have a direct visual-mood-sensory appeal. To condense, good lighting has the ability to change the mood or character of a space in an instant. Hence, the drama of the illuminated environment, the colours and the manner of which shadows are designed for the spaces, are finally being emphasized.

Therefore, for the first lighting workshop in Singapore, the main objectives are,

1. To create awareness amongst the local building professionals.
2. To promote basic understanding on what contribute towards good urban lighting?
3. Hands-on lighting workshop sessions to introduce lighting design to tertiary design students; learning through play.
4. To target the workshop towards the fulfillment of different learning needs.

RECRUITMENT FOR FELLOW LIGHTING DESIGN ENTHUSIASTS

Hi everyone!

Whenlightswork is a collective that is established for people who are passionate about lighting design and keen to promote the discipline locally. We are very glad to have the support of the A+UDE program, that is established by URA (Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore) , to start off the first lighting workshop in Singapore, which is tentatively scheduled as a fringe event for the Singapore ARCHIFEST 2009.

To work on something that is seemingly herculean in nature, we would definitely need enthusiastic, passionate people who are motivated and committed to help in ensuring success of this workshop. 

Do email us at swee(at)whenlightswork.com if you are keen to be part of the action!