Jill Entwistle takes a look at what was new at this year’s Euroluce, where light fittings have in many cases become like works of art
THE IDEA OF the luminaire as light installation or sculpture is hardly new. Ingo Maurer’s Porca Miseria! – exploding on to the scene in 1994 – springs immediately to mind, and other contemporary examples come crowding after it. And it is not just a modern phenomenon – after all, what else is a traditional chandelier?
But as Euroluce showed this year, not only have light fittings themselves become in many cases like works of art, but the potential for individuality and customisation has grown enormously. The miniaturisation and modularity facilitated by new technologies has unleashed many more possibilities for more expressive forms of lighting. One way or another, specifiers and designers have a lot more tools in their lighting box.