Light My Fire

A bouquet of radiant leather tulips in shades of yellow, orange, and beige hangs from the air and brightens everything within reach. Belgian ceramist Ann Van Hoey’s chandelier, aptly titled Tulips is one of 24 designs part of Loewe Lamps. The new exhibition by the Spanish house debuted this week for Milan’s annual week of design. The collection features artists who have previously worked with lighting as well as ones new to the medium and also includes previous finalists and winners of the Loewe Craft Prize, such as Genta Ishizuka and Dahye Jeong. Guided by their shared desire to handcraft functional pieces that engage with light in inventive ways, participating artists used a variety of materials such as paper, glass, leather, and ceramic.

‍

The fashion house has been known to present unexpected interpretations of everyday objects each year of Milan Desk Week. Last year, the Jonathan Anderson-led brand unveiled 30 whimsical stick chairs with handwoven textures and avant-garde embellishments at Palazzo Isimbardi. Their voluminous shapes and proportions looked all the more playful surrounded by imposing architecture. In this year’s exhibition at the 18th-century Palazzo Citterio, futuristic structures paired with more nuanced patterns are balanced out by minimalist inventions in earthy tones. Each lamp reflects Loewe’s multifaceted identity.  

‍Alvaro Barrington’s standing storefront-shaped light’s shiny and elegant pull cord takes cues from Loewe’s signature gold donut chain. Zizipho Poswa’s standing lamp of ceramic, glass, and bronze materials echoes Poswa’s memories of witnessing the daily rituals as a young girl growing up in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The vessel, dipped in orange, brown, and light gray paint, props up a bowl of lit orbs with two in Loewe shades of bold red and blue. For Salone, Loewe’s Montenapoleone store will also offer limited-edition homeware items, including paperweights, doorstops, and ikebana vases, created in collaboration with the artists exhibited at Palazzo Citterio. 

‍

As the universe of Loewe expands, the power of experimentation shines bright. Labeled as ordinary objects more often than not, lamps tend to be underestimated. Some can create a particular kind of soothing intimacy. Others entrance with their magnetic exterior. Above all else, every lamp ought to be in sync with its owner’s mind. In this way, it becomes an unmatched confidant.

‍

‍LOEWE Lamps is on view at Palazzo Citterio in Milan, Italy from 15–21 April.