THERE IS nothing more bald than a light fitting with a transparent diffuser and a clearly visible lamp. Even once-trendy and still persistent LED filament lamps look a bit stark, though they are not the glaring errors often created by clear glass and the old incandescent sources. But transparency, as much as gentler
translucency, can offer soft and subtle light effects if the light source is controlled and choreographed. Two of the latest luminaires from Davide Groppi – who seems to be on a mission to disappear the light fitting altogether such is his preoccupation with minimalism – play with the illusions that can be effected by using transparent materials for diffusion. Artemide also uses sleight of hand with a soon-to-be-available table lamp with the source in the base. Meanwhile, an award-winning experimental light installation uses hand-blown glass to explore the interplay of artificial and winter light.