Lotus Illuminated Ceiling System

926, East Center Street, Milwaukee, WI, United States

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Lotus Illuminated Ceiling System

926, East Center Street, Milwaukee, WI, United States

Type

Cultural › Sculpture

YEAR

2011

SIZE

0 sqft - 1000 sqft

BUDGET

$0 - 10K

As shown at Plexus Exhibition of Experimental Architecture in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

In many cultures around the world,
the lotus blossom represents many
distinct ideas. Ancient Chinese artists
have long painted the lotus as a way
to balance and center the mind. Hindu
culture sees the unfolding of the petals
as a metaphor for the opening of one’s
mind and soul. Most applicable is the
open lotus blossom revealing a jewel:
the symbol of enlightenment and
illumination. Nature bringing light to the
darkness of the mind, the soul, and the
body.
The Lotus Ceiling System takes its cue
from these ideas. Construction materials
that carry long-held connotations
are manipulated in a unique way to
challenge the typical properties these
materials possess. Sheet aluminum
becomes soft and curvaceous. Wood
becomes plastic-like. Glass is formed
like liquid frozen in time. These elements
come together to create a single floral
sculpture which glows from within. As a
single flower can be an integral part of a
bouquet, so too is each single element
an integral part of the gridded field. The
wood supplies structure, form and order
in the square grid which is contrasted
by the soft curves of the metal. With
each additional component, the soft
illumination becomes greater, while the
glow stays consistently filtered across
the system. The light below casts soft
ambiance across all surfaces while the
light above illuminates the subtleties of
the decorative pattern while creating
light and shadow patterns all its own.
The lotus of nature illuminates the mind.
The lotus of architecture illuminates
everything else.