19
Arihiro Miyake
Q What does drawing light
means for you?
A.M. Lighting always presents
two different purposes: one of
course is to create light, which
is necessary, but at the same
time there is also the function of creating space,
atmosphere.
So, I would say that there are two ways of
designing that: either a light just disappearing
into the space or becoming a character and
defining the room. I personally believe that in
most of the cases independent designers should
design objects with a character, a strong one.
Q What is the most complicated aspect in
designing a lamp?
A.M. Lighting has dramatically changed
because of LED. Before you designed just
the shade, and today you can even design the
lighting source itself. We have more freedom
but, at the same time, I need to go beyond
the conventional idea of lighting objects.
Q Where does the inspiration for your Nemo
lamps come from?
A.M. I am inspired by everything. It is not
a linear process, one day after the other:
sometimes an idea stays in my mind for years
until it matches with another. I am constantly
interested in new technologies and when
I find something special, I try to understand
how it works. I am fascinated with bridges
as well, their construction and their
structures. I am putting these things together.
Q The ideal place where you would like to
see your work installed?
A.M. Places where peoples likes it! And can
appreciate it at its best. Other than that, in
my career I designed several restaurants.
So, when I design a lamp, I always consider
these kinds of locations. Nemo lights, for
dimensions and not only for that, are suitable
for community places like restaurants.
Q The future of lighting design from your
point of view?
A.M. I don’t know if my believes and reality
will match but I think that lighting in our lives
will be more sophisticated, more than now.
Just think about the electricity costs and
the impact of that consumption. It will be
more and more crucial, and the designers’
contribution will be interesting because we
don’t stuck with one technology or one
possibility. What I mean is that a table is
always a table, with four legs. Same for a chair.
The lighting could be dramatically
transformed, I don’t know how and I am
looking forward it. It has already happened
when we started using the LED instead of
light bulbs, and it may continue furthermore.
Kepler minor, pendant. Designed by Arihiro Miyake.
Conversation with Arihiro Miyake
