bamboo and linen shape light sculptures informed by forest and underwater light

light passes through form, shaping spatial perception.

A+A Cooren edited by claire brodka May 5, 2026 3 min

Komorebi Explores Filtered Light Through Luminous Sculptures

Komorebi by Aki+Arnaud Cooren (A+A Cooren) is a series of luminous sculptures that examines the interaction between light, material, and atmosphere. The project takes its name from the Japanese term describing sunlight filtered through leaves, using this concept as a basis for spatial and visual composition.

Presented at Carpenters Workshop Gallery, the exhibition extends the designers’ ongoing Ishigaki collection. The works are informed by observations from freediving near Ishigaki Island, where light appears as a concentrated, shifting source when viewed from underwater.

bamboo and linen shape light sculptures informed by forest and underwater light - 1 — all images courtesy of Carpenters Workshop Gallery, ©Benjamin Baccarani

A+A Cooren’s series Directs Light to Define Shadow and Depth

Each piece is structured around an upward-facing light source set within a carbon-metallic base. This configuration directs illumination toward the ceiling, producing diffused shadows that reference the circular perception of sunlight beneath the water’s surface. The resulting effect emphasizes the relationship between projection, reflection, and spatial depth.

The creative duo known as A+A Cooren uses bamboo stems, linen shades, and controlled pigment applications to modulate light and surface texture. These elements draw on visual associations with coral formations and suspended particles in water, translating environmental references into constructed form.

bamboo and linen shape light sculptures informed by forest and underwater light - 2 — luminous sculptures structured through filtered light and material interaction

Komorebi Hand-Crafted Lamps Explore Light as a Spatial System

The lamps are hand-crafted in the studio’s Paris workshop, combining natural materials with a restrained formal language. The exhibition includes seven floor lamps developed in a range of tones derived from coral environments, establishing continuity between color, structure, and reference.

Komorebi is presented as a study of illumination as a spatial condition, where light, shadow, and material operate together within a defined system. The exhibition is on view in London until May 30th, 2026.

bamboo and linen shape light sculptures informed by forest and underwater light - 3 — a series exploring the relationship between illumination and atmosphere

bamboo and linen shape light sculptures informed by forest and underwater light - 4 — light passes through form, shaping spatial perception

bamboo and linen shape light sculptures informed by forest and underwater light - 5 — the concept of filtered sunlight informs the visual composition

komorebi-aki-arnaud-aplusa-cooren-luminous-sculptures-designboom-1800-2 — presented at Carpenters Workshop Gallery, the works extend an ongoing collection

bamboo and linen shape light sculptures informed by forest and underwater light - 6 — underwater perception translates into controlled illumination effects

bamboo and linen shape light sculptures informed by forest and underwater light - 7 — each lamp directs light upward from a carbon-metallic base

bamboo and linen shape light sculptures informed by forest and underwater light - 8 — diffused shadows expand across the ceiling surface

bamboo and linen shape light sculptures informed by forest and underwater light - 9 — bamboo stems introduce vertical structure and texture

komorebi-aki-arnaud-aplusa-cooren-luminous-sculptures-designboom-1800-3 — linen shades soften and filter the emitted light

bamboo and linen shape light sculptures informed by forest and underwater light - 10 — environmental observations are translated into constructed objects

bamboo and linen shape light sculptures informed by forest and underwater light - 11 — material choices reference coral formations and suspended particles

bamboo and linen shape light sculptures informed by forest and underwater light - 12 — coral-derived tones connect color with spatial reference

project info:

name: Komorebi

designer: A+A Cooren – Aki+Arnaud Cooren | @aplusacooren

venue: Carpenters Workshop Gallery | @carpentersworkshopgallery, London, UK

dates: May 30th, 2026

photographer: Benjamin Baccarani | @bacca_stop

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