'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.


'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


'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


'queens chandelier' by puff buff, 2008
made of inflatable PVC pockets that each contain an LED


'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


'lucid dream' made with LED's by eric klarenbeek, 2006
it plays on the ability of glass to transmit light by internal reflection


'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


'light bulb' by pieke bergmans


'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.