pieke bergmans blows PVC plastic to form ghostly vapor lights

the dutch designer's lamps appear to move between a liquid and solid state--like clouds of smoke floating between reality and non-existence.

andrea chin November 6, 2013 2 min

pieke bergmans blows plastic to form ghostly vapor lights
photo by mirjam bleeker

pieke bergmans continues to explore the traditional technique of glass blowing in her creative practice, however in developing her ‘vapor II’ series, she has employed a slightly different material–plastic. the dutch designer’s lamps appear to move between a liquid and solid state–like clouds of smoke floating between reality and non-existence. bergmans has achieved this effect by using a method similar to that used for distending molten glass. she heats PVC plastic, inflating the medium with air to freely form the organic tubular structures that express a distorted, ripple effect on their surface; playing with one’s depth of perception of the pieces and understanding of their actual composition.

pieke bergmans blows PVC plastic to form ghostly vapor lights - 1
the ‘vapor II’ lamps appear to float between a solid and liquid state
photo by mirjam bleeker

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the rippled and twisted forms play with one’s depth of perception
photo by mirjam bleeker

pieke bergmans blows PVC plastic to form ghostly vapor lights - 3
the lamps appear like clouds of smoke suspended in the air
photo by mirjam bleeker

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up close of one of the ‘vapor II’ lamps
photo by mirjam bleeker

pieke bergmans blows PVC plastic to form ghostly vapor lights - 5
photo by mirjam bleeker

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a floor version of a ‘vapor II’ lamp
photo by mirjam bleeker

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detail of the subtle rippled texture on one of the lamp’s surfaces
photo by mirjam bleeker

pieke bergmans blows PVC plastic to form ghostly vapor lights - 8
internal view of one of the tubular forms
photo by mirjam bleeker

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alternative ‘vapor II’ lamps
photos by mirjam bleeker

pieke bergmans blows PVC plastic to form ghostly vapor lights - 10
photo by mirjam bleeker

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‘vapor I’ installation at dutch design week 2013
photos by mirjam bleeker

bergmans’ ‘vapor II’ collection was preceded by ‘vapor I’, a family of six meter high lighting objects. presented at dutch design week 2013, the ghostly designs hung from the ceiling of an old industrial pump house in eindhoven; their translucent and solid bodies seeming to fade away into their environment.