LOOPS Lamp: When Lighting Becomes a Living Sculpture of Shadow and Matter

The Evolution of Lighting Design: From Functionality to Visual Expression

Lighting design has undergone a dramatic transformation since the days of simple desk lamps. Yet, despite this evolution, many people still expect lighting fixtures to maintain a uniform appearance—whether switched on or off.
This prevailing notion highlights a fundamental misunderstanding of lighting’s purpose and raises questions about the limitations of traditional design.

Lighting as Sculpture and Shadow

The LOOPS lamp, designed by Japanese artist Tag Nishi Moto, stands as a striking departure from these conventional expectations. While it may appear relatively simple in daylight, switching it on triggers a remarkable visual shift. It transforms the room into a space where shadows and geometric forms interlace in an organic and intricate manner.
Through this piece, Nishi Moto redefines the relationship between light and space. He presents lighting as both a sculptural and functional aesthetic element.

Raw Materials: Simplicity That Leads to Visual Complexity

At first glance, this lamp might not seem particularly striking. The components it’s made from are far from luxurious—comprising sisal rope, gypsum, concrete, and thin steel rods.
These materials are typically used in industrial or basic craft applications. may give the impression that the design is elementary or temporary.

Rethinking Material Use

However, what sets this project apart is not the quality of the materials. It is the designer’s approach to employing them.
Nishi Moto begins by cutting sisal ropes into lengths ranging from 35 to 60 centimetres. He then unravels them to form soft loops that twist and shape themselves in unpredictable ways.
This apparent randomness is not the result of negligence or chance. Instead, it is a core concept in Nishi Moto’s design philosophy: allowing materials to behave according to their nature, with intervention only to guide their relationship with the surrounding space.

Handcrafted Construction: From Repetition to Structured Randomness

Once the sisal loops are shaped, the designer temporarily fixes them using a stiffening agent commonly used in fabric treatment. This step gives the loops initial rigidity while preserving their natural flexibility.

An Unconventional Use of Gypsum

Each loop is then wrapped in layers of fast-setting gypsum, a material that differs from the traditional kind typically poured into molds.
This type of gypsum quickly transitions from liquid to solid, creating textured, uneven surfaces that retain the trace of human touch. This adds a tactile, sensory dimension to the piece.

Cumulative Composition: No Predefined Plan

Rather than following a predefined geometric blueprint, the gypsum-coated loops are clustered together based on naturally occurring points of contact. The designer seeks out three or more points of intersection and fixes the loops as they are—without imposing a specific form.
This method results in a seemingly chaotic structure. Yet, it reflects the laws of nature—much like sand dunes or rock formations, where shapes emerge from repeated accumulations governed by subtle patterns rather than strict rules.

Structure and Support: Balancing Stability and Visual Lightness

Once the sculptural cluster is complete, it is mounted on four slender steel rods extending from a cylindrical concrete base, which discreetly conceals the actual light source within.
This configuration provides the lamp with structural stability, as the concrete base anchors it securely. Meanwhile, the thin rods add a sense of visual lightness, preventing the composition from appearing heavy or overbearing.

Maintaining Visual Harmony

Although the concrete base serves a purely functional role, the designer ensured its seamless integration with the rest of the piece.
It has been coated with a layer of gypsum. This unifies the material and texture across the entire structure and reinforces the sense of cohesive design.

Dimensions and Visual Presence

The lamp’s horizontal span ranges between 40 and 50 centimeters, while its height lies between 70 and 80 centimeters.
These proportions allow the piece to stand out within any interior space, without overwhelming or disrupting its surroundings.

The Moment of Transformation: From Material to Experience

While the exterior form remains static during daylight hours, the visual experience shifts entirely once the lamp is lit. A clear dramatic transformation occurs—the sculptural object becomes a tool for casting shadows. This reactivates the interplay between form and void.
This duality between light and darkness elevates the lamp beyond mere function, offering an aesthetic and artistic experience.

Visual Transformation: When Light Becomes an Artistic Component

In daylight, the lamp appears as a simple, raw mass. The gypsum surface—with its muted colour and texture—gives it a static, understated presence.
But once the concealed light source inside the base is switched on, the entire experience is reversed. Shadows begin to stretch across the walls and ceiling, revealing an intricate internal geometry.
These shadows don’t form fixed shapes; rather, they shift and transform with changes in the viewer’s angle. This creates a continuous dialogue between light and space.

Between Sculpture and Installation

This dynamic interaction elevates the lamp beyond mere utility, drawing it closer to the realm of installation art.
Its purpose is not just to illuminate, but to activate the surrounding space. It turns it into a living canvas of light and shadow.
So far, Nishi Moto has produced only three prototypes—each one uniquely shaped, owing to the spontaneous, handcrafted nature of his process.

Functional Considerations: Art Is Not Without Challenges

Despite the aesthetic value of the LOOPS design, there are practical aspects worth reflecting on.
First, the piece is entirely handcrafted, meaning each unit is unique. This makes it difficult to achieve visual consistency when using multiple lamps in the same space.
Moreover, the effectiveness of the shadow play depends heavily on the surrounding environment—such as the lamp’s placement, wall colours, and the reflectivity of nearby surfaces.
As a result, the experience will not be identical across different settings. It requires spatial awareness when choosing where to place the piece.

Rethinking the Role of Material

Despite these challenges, the design offers an organic perspective that contrasts sharply with conventional, ready-made lighting fixtures.
It reminds us that design doesn’t always have to begin with a strict technical blueprint. Sometimes, it can emerge from listening to the material itself—allowing it the freedom to shape its own form.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

The LOOPS lamp embodies a design philosophy that doesn’t begin with form, but with the behaviour of the material itself.
It is a project that reminds us lighting can be more than a functional tool—it can be a visual language that redefines our relationship with light and space.

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