Radiance of Nature with Urushi
Lighting for Yu Watanabe
Derived from sustainably harvested natural sap in Japan, Urushi lacquer is applied to bamboo creating an immersive space amongst tree-like forms. Unlike Western culture, where people remove shadows from space, this project intentionally creates shadows as a part of aesthetic beauty. The columns of Urushi can reflect a candle-like light in a dark room, giving off a luminous glow that gives a sense of the depth of darkness. The unique properties of shape and light create an enchanting interplay of light reflections and shadows evoking a microcosmic space reminiscent of nature.
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Radiance of Nature with Urushi Lighting Press Releases
Press resources for Radiance of Nature with Urushi are offered in several languages: English.
Radiance of Nature with Urushi Lighting Media Articles
For immediate use: Radiance of Nature with Urushi articles, available in languages such as English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Dutch, Portuguese, Indonesian, Arabic (Standard), Turkish, Korean, Russian, Hindi, Chinese (Mandarin) and Japanese, to enrich your content.
Unique Properties
Urushi lacquer is produced from natural sap sustainably harvested in Japan. Unfortunately, the traditional craft of Urushi is in decline due to the emergence of alternative materials. This project aims to revitalise this craft and create a space that connects people with nature. Urushi also has qualities that reflect even the smallest light. Through the arrangement of tree-like shapes, the play of light and shadows can immerse people in a microcosmic space reminiscent of nature.
Tags
Lighting, Sustainable, Traditional, Revitalising, Cultural, Meditative, Darkness, Space, Installation, Product,
Production Technology
Urushi is extracted from trees in small amounts, applied to natural materials such as bamboo. Although highly durable, Urushi products can be returned to nature when disposed of breaking down naturally under UV light. Crafted by hand by skilled artisans, each product is created in respect of the slow, yet continuous production of natural material. This circular design has the potential to restore the relationship between nature and people contrasting the modern reliance on single-use plastics.
Design Challenge
Why can’t everyday objects also be an opportunity for people to connect with nature? Urushi, a fully repairable, biodegradable, and naturally produced lacquer, allows people to create products embodying the cycle of nature. This ancient Japanese craft founded in principles of sustainability is revitalized through a modern design in this project
Project Duration
The project started in August 2022 in London and Japan, and finished in June 2023 in London, and was exhibited in Saint Central Martins in London.
Operation Flow
Through the arrangement of tree-like shapes, the project seeks to evoke a sense of being in a forest. The play of light and shadows allows viewers to immerse themselves in a microcosmic space reminiscent of nature. This project not only explores the fascination of materials but also encourages the viewer to look at the materials through the lense of their backgrounds, narratives and connections with nature.
Research
Design research was conducted through hands-on experiments, thesis research, and collaboration with experts such as craftsmen, harvesters, and product designers. Hands-on experiments involved experimenting with more than 20 natural materials in combination with lacquer, while on the theoretical side, we investigated the relationship between how traditional Japanese lighting and space are perceived, and the relationship between Japanese gardens, modernism, and minimalism.
Inspiration
Unlike the West, where people often remove shadows from space, the Japanese embrace shadows as a part of aesthetic beauty. In Junichiro Tanizaki's In Praise of Shadows, he mentions the true value of lacquerware is that it reflects a candle-like light in a dark room, giving off a luminous glow that gives a sense of the depth of darkness and invites one into a meditative space. Through this project, Urushi is used to reflect a small flickering light while embracing shadows.
Image Credits
ALL Images: Yu Watanabe, 2023 Sound in Video: Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Ambiment, Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Project Overview
Radiance of Nature with Urushi Lighting has been a Silver winner in the Lighting Products and Fixtures Design award category in the year 2023 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Silver A' Design Award celebrates top-tier designs that embody excellence and innovation. This award acknowledges creations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, reflecting the designer's deep understanding and skill. Silver A' Design Award recipients are recognized for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. Their work often incorporates original innovations and elicits a strong emotional response, making a notable impact on the improvement of everyday life.
Silver Recognition
Yu Watanabe was recognized with the coveted Silver A' Design Award in 2024, a testament to excellence of their work Radiance of Nature with Urushi Lighting.
Yu Watanabe Press Releases
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Radiance of Nature with Urushi Illuminates Aesthetic Beauty
Yu Watanabe's Lighting Project Embraces Shadows and Nature
Yu Watanabe Newsroom
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