{"id":335909,"date":"2019-10-04T16:21:59","date_gmt":"2019-10-04T20:21:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/?p=335909"},"modified":"2021-12-15T06:34:52","modified_gmt":"2021-12-15T11:34:52","slug":"enlightened-1stdibs-gallery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/enlightened-1stdibs-gallery\/","title":{"rendered":"100 Black Lamps Light Up the 1stdibs Gallery"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"A
A visitor activates the “Enlightened” display at the 1stdibs Gallery. Photo by Phil Gibson\/PlayLab, Inc.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For one more week, there\u2019s a gangplank in the center of the 1stdibs Gallery surrounded by nearly 100 unlit lamps in various forms<\/a>, by many different makers, from diverse eras, all sharing the trait of being black.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you wander down the platform, you reach a point where you trigger a switch hidden under a carpet \u2014 and suddenly, shockingly all those darkened lights come to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Detail of a few lights in the installation. Photo by Phil Gibson\/PlayLab, Inc.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Depending on your emotional state, the abrupt bath of brightness could make you feel as if you\u2019d reached heaven or like a critter caught in the headlights. In either case, it\u2019s an intriguing experience, and investigating your own response could give you insights into your mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dubbed \u201cEnlightened<\/a>,\u201d the elaborate display (on view through October 11) was conceived by Jeff Franklin and Ana Cecilia Thompson Motta, of the creative group PlayLab<\/a>.<\/strong> The Study<\/em> caught up with the designers to find out what\u2019s behind their bright idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A side view of “Enlightened” in action. Photo by Phil Gibson\/PlayLab, Inc.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What was your overall vision for this heap of light fixtures?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ana Cecilia Thompson Motta: When 1stdibs invited us to create an installation with a broad appeal, we thought about how to make priceless pieces approachable. Instead of simply showcasing items like <\/strong>at a design fair, we began looking at furniture as the medium for art experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jeff Franklin: Out of 20 or so ideas, \u201cEnlightened\u201d became a quick favorite, because it brought the audience inside the installation. People step into a forest of lamps, and the interaction turns the pieces on in a wave of light. It makes furniture browsing feel like a kind of fireworks show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A 1950s Stilnovo floor lamp<\/a> in the installation. Photo by Phil Gibson\/PlayLab, Inc.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Why\u2019d you choose all black lamps?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ACTM: The idea required a lot<\/em> of different lights coming together. We curated a collection united around color so we could highlight the range of designs and details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What were the biggest challenges you faced in realizing the display?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

JF: The main challenge was technical \u2014 how to bring almost 100 lights onto a platform and have them light up smoothly all at once when triggered by a viewer. Thankfully, we worked with a group of talented engineers to make it happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This story’s author at the show’s opening with his nine-month-old daughter, Minerva Hass Morse. Photo by Max Lakner\/BFA.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

So, how do you think it turned out?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ACTM: We loved seeing people\u2019s surprise when they stepped into the sculpture and lit it up. It made for an interactive experience that allowed people to have fun while examining lights by a huge variety of designers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Jeff Franklin and Ana Cecilia Thompson Motta\u2019s \u201cEnlightened\u201d Picks<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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