Vitra Akari Light Sculptures

"The harshness of electricity is thus transformed through the magic of paper back to the light of our origin – the sun – so that its warmth may continue to fill our rooms at night." - Isamu Noguchi

The Akari Light Sculptures were designed by Isamu Noguchi in 1951. During a trip to Japan, Noguchi paid a visit to Gifu, a town known for its manufacture of paper lanterns. While there he sketched his very first Akari Light Sculptures, he chose the title 'Akari' for these pieces as the word means 'light' in Japanese. These designs can be characterised by their weightless luminosity. All of the Akari Light Sculptures are crafted by hand in the Ozeki workshop, a family run business in Gifu, and are made from bamboo rods and washi paper. All of the pieces in the Akari collection are marked with a sun and moon logo, guaranteeing authenticity to the owner and resembles their Japanese heritage. This family consists of table, floor and ceiling lights.

Noguchi was fond of the phrase “…all that you require to start a home are a room, a tatami, and Akari.” He sucessfully unites the simplicity of Japanese aesthetics with the principles of contemporary art and design. The Akari are sculptures of light.