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: 'sparks' for swarovski crystal palace gwenael nicolas with his sparkling ‘chain light’ portrait © designboom

 

gwenael nicolas: 'sparks' for swarovski crystal palace detail of the crystal elements which make up the chain image © designboom

 

gwenael nicolas: 'sparks' for swarovski crystal palace light shooting across the chain of crystals image © designboom

 

gwenael nicolas: 'sparks' for swarovski crystal palace

 

gwenael nicolas: 'sparks' for swarovski crystal palace detail

 

gwenael nicolas: 'sparks' for swarovski crystal palace ‘chain light’ rendering

 

gwenael nicolas: 'sparks' for swarovski crystal palace ‘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.

 

gwenael nicolas: 'sparks' for swarovski crystal palace ‘balloon’, objects lit from within floating around

 

gwenael nicolas: 'sparks' for swarovski crystal palace ‘balloon’ installation

 

gwenael nicolas: 'sparks' for swarovski crystal palace ‘balloon’

 

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