Akari 1N Table lamp paper beige /Isamu Noguchi, 1951 - L 26 x H 39 cm - Vitra

The work of Japanese-American artist and creation Isamu Noguchi (1904–1988) is exceptional given its great diversity. His sculptural style had a lasting influence on the formal language of organic design in the 1950s. Other than sculptures, the created theatre décor, furniture and lighting, and also designed interiors, as well as public parks and spaces. In 1951, Isamu Noguchi began designing the Akari illuminated sculptures, pieces that appear to defy the laws of gravity. He christened his lamps with the name "akari", which is the Japanese term used to express clarity or light, whilst also evoking the idea of being lightweight. Whilst travelling in Japan, Noguchi visited Gifu, a town famous for producing paper lanterns and parasols. That's when he create his two initial sketches for the Akari Light Sculptures, which would come to be developed across more than 100 other models over the coming years. Each lamp is meticulously made by hand in the Ozeki manufacturing site, which is a family-run business in the town of Gifu. Bamboo reeds are first stretched over the original wooden model created by Noguchi, forming the framework that goes on to determine the contours of the lamp. The traditional washi paper, made from the bark of the mulberry tree, is cut into strips measured to the size and shape of the lamp, and is then glued onto the bamboo structure. After drying, the inner framework is removed and the lampshade can be folded. For shipment or storage, the Akari Light Sculptures are flat-packed into cardboard boxes, specifically designed for the purpose. Isamu Noguchi: "The magic of paper re-transforms cold electricity into original light - the sun - so that its warmth can continue to fill our rooms at night. " Each of the Akari Light Sculptures lamps is marked with a symbol, guaranteeing the authenticity of each piece. This symbol represents the contours of a sun and a moon, reproduced in the style of Japanese ideograms.