gwenael nicolas: 'sparks' for swarovski crystal palace

gwenael nicolas: ‘sparks’ for swarovski crystal palace‘chain light’ illuminated image © designboom

during this year’s milan design week, gwenael nicolas of japanese design studio curiosity, presented ‘sparks’, an installation for swarovski crystal palace in milan’s zona tortona. nicolas imagined a space where crystals are freed from the draw of gravity. this was executed through his piece ‘chain light’, a 10 meter long string of crystals that was programmed to set off ‘sparks’ which leapt across the room, the gemstones becoming as weightless as air.

gwenael nicolas with his sparkling ‘chain light’ portrait © designboom

detail of the crystal elements which make up the chain image © designboom

light shooting across the chain of crystals image © designboom

detail

‘chain light’ rendering

‘chain light’ rendering

nicolas’ ‘sparks’ also included ‘balloon’, a series of pieces which appeared as if they were ‘non-objects’. free floating, transparent spheres appeared as small floating crystal sculptures lit from within – particles of light and crystal, flying around space.

‘balloon’, objects lit from within floating around

‘balloon’ installation

‘balloon’

gwenael nicolas has been appointed show designer of the upcoming tokyo designers week 2010.