‘life 01’, made with LED’s produced by flos, by paul cocksedge, 2009 when a flower is placed in the water the vase lights up from within

‘in praise of shadows’ showcases works by 21 european designers who imaginatively explore the potential of low energy lighting and alternative energy sources and the way we think about light and darkness. the catalyst is the EU directive to phase out low efficiency light bulbs starting september 2009.

the exhibition aims to add spark to the debate by exploring not only how we use energy for lighting but also how we illuminate our lives – challenging the modern obsession with ‘brighter is better’. the show features works that play on the poetics of light and fixtures that demonstrate the freedom that low energy light sources can bring to design. it includes alternative energy sources such as solar and wind power and raises questions around excessive energy use and light pollution.

the exhibition will be on view at the V&A from september 19 -27, during the london design festival 2009.

'in praise of shadows' european lighting design at V&A - 2 ‘shine’, made with electro luminescent polymer compund by vytautas puzeras, 2009 the glowing elements on the pad can be charged from natural sunlight during the day and then gleam until dawn

'in praise of shadows' european lighting design at V&A - 3 ‘shine’, made with electro luminescent polymer compund by vytautas puzeras, 2009 the glowing elements on the pad can be charged from natural sunlight during the day and then gleam until dawn

'in praise of shadows' european lighting design at V&A - 4 ‘queens chandelier’ by puff buff, 2008 made of inflatable PVC pockets that each contain an LED

'in praise of shadows' european lighting design at V&A - 5 ‘blow light’, compact fluorescent lamp by tom dixon, 2009 photo by henry bourne blow light is specifically designed to accommodate a low energy compact fluorescent lamp

'in praise of shadows' european lighting design at V&A - 6 ‘lucid dream’ made with LED’s by eric klarenbeek, 2006 it plays on the ability of glass to transmit light by internal reflection

'in praise of shadows' european lighting design at V&A - 7 ‘bulb’ by balint bolygo, 2009 it us an opto kinetic sculpture that plays on the iconic image of the incandescent light bulb, while using an LED as the light source

'in praise of shadows' european lighting design at V&A - 8 ‘light bulb’ by pieke bergmans

'in praise of shadows' european lighting design at V&A - 9 ‘sonumbra’, solar powered electro luminescent wire by rachel wingfield and mathias gmachl it is a proposal for low cost, low maintenance lighting for regions without access to the electricity grid.