Less than <Instrument>
size : 900×920, 500×500, 450,450
material : expand metal, LED, copper
1.6 mm x 0.8 mm LED chips are embedded in the back of expanded metal, which is usually used as a building material, and a circuit made of copper foil is laid on the back side. LEDs illuminate the walls and supply light to the space through the metal.
In commercial spaces and hotels, atmospheric lighting plans are often made with hidden light sources. On the other hand, many of the lighting fixtures are installed in an iconic form, which is close to being an objet d'art. Although it is installed as a lighting fixture, it has almost no properties as an object and feels like light itself, but I want to create a product that has a more attractive presence than the installed lighting.
INTENTION
What is light in the first place? We know that light does exist, but we can barely feel it due to the influence it has on our surroundings, and we cannot capture it.
Lighting fixtures that you usually see are made up of a clear relationship between the fixture and the light emitted from it, but by weakening the elements of such fixtures and stripping that relationship, the true appearance of light can be achieved. Can't we get closer even a little?
PROCESS
In the search for a way to realize the concept, I started by experimenting with transparent materials such as acrylic, but switched to using expanded metal, which is opaque but has a minimum concealment rate. I thought it would be more surprising when you couldn't see the light source.
If it is simply attached to the back of the expanded metal, the light source can be seen directly from the front due to the high brightness and the shape characteristics of the expanded metal. Therefore, I decided to dig a groove with a depth and width of about 1 mm in the metal and embed it.
There was also the problem of energization of metal. If it is left as it is, the whole metal will be energized and the LED will short-circuit, so I applied a rubber coating to the metal to insulate it. A circuit was made from copper foil on it and LEDs were installed. The circuit is protected by recoating after installation of the circuit and LED.
The diameter of the electric cord was close to the thickness of the expanded metal, so that the connection with the metal was treated as inconspicuous as possible.
