Stefan Lindfors, widely considered to be a pioneer of Finnish contemporary design, has brought his internationally acclaimed Light Works series to Material ConneXion’s New York City headquarters at 60 Madison Avenue from June 21-July 8. Comprised of sculptures built around an integrated light source, Light Works utilizes light as a medium to give each sculpture a unique identity. Although he has incorporated light into his work since his first solo exhibition in 1988, Light Works is Lindfors’ first collection that features lighting so prominently. The inspiration for this exhibition occurred two years ago, when New York-based photographer Nan Goldin acquired Lindfors’ sculpture Nymph and wanted it fitted with LED lights. Through light, Lindfors aims to provide an added dimension to these sculptural pieces. While Light Works is a departure from Lindfors’ previous explorations, there remains a link to the past. “Some of the pieces are totally surprising ñ at least to me ñ while with others, I can see similarities to my earlier projects,” he observes. Composed of steel plates welded with thin wire and transparent fiberglass skin, the pieces in Light Works incorporate light sources that use current and future green technologies, including LED and Energy-saving light bulbs. Lindfors considers these three-dimensional objects to be the product of both sculpture and design, leaving it up to the viewer to decide whether they are seeing lit sculptures or unique lighting fixtures. By keeping the question open, he offers a powerful commentary on the debate over what distinguishes art from design. Material ConneXion is a global materials consultancy that helps companies innovate through smart materials thinking. Built on the belief that Every Idea has a Material Solution, Material ConneXion is a materials advisor to Fortune 500 corporations as well as smaller forward-thinking companies and government agencies seeking a creative, competitive, or sustainable edge through strategic material selections. With offices in New York, Milan, Cologne, Bangkok, Daegu (Korea) and soon Istanbul and China, Material ConneXion international network of material specialists provide a global, cross-industry perspective on materials and their potential uses.
Light Works Exhibit Rocks Manhattan's Art World
