eye opener
The Image Left, Behind New York, USA At Lightfair 2023, Fisher Marantz Stone (FMS) and Focal Point, a manufacturer of architectural lighting and acoustic systems, collaborated to produce a reflective and immersive space along the theme of the circular economy. Part of the IALD’s Immersive Lighting Installations – a contest to promote circular economy principles in the lighting industry, participating lighting design firms and manufacturers were challenged to create immersive experiences that emphasised economic, environmental and social benefits. The contest also encouraged using renewable and recyclable materials by adopting circular design and manufacturing practices to minimise waste and maximise resource efficiency. FMS and Focal Point invited attendees to enter a reflective and immersive place, where everchanging silhouettes of nature, crafted from repurposed recycled materials, framed your view into the play of colour and light, creating a dazzling sensation of infinite space. Visitors could also walk away with a piece of the installation, made of repurposed production waste, further extending the material’s useful lifetime. The colourful PET felt material that Focal Point uses to build architectural acoustic solutions is composed of 50% post-consumer plastic waste. Through this exhibition, discontinued colours and production waste found another identity through the installation and playful takeaways. Over the three days of Lightfair, visitors could return to watch the exhibit transform through public interaction. “We are inviting the lighting design community to collectively ponder and participate in an initiative that champions sustainability by reducing waste and supporting the circular economy,” the design team stated prior to Lightfair. “Visitors will enter a space that creates a memorable experience, invites reflection, and conveys the message that, in the end, nothing should be left behind, if only an image. Hence the title: The Image Left, Behind.” Visitors were encouraged to post their images and thoughts on how they can make choices that support a circular economy using the hashtag #TheImageLeftBehind. Most components of the immersive experience were made from manufacturing waste, such as scrap or discontinued materials, and following the event, every component was repurposed or recycled. www.fmsp.com www.focalpointlights.com 120 / 121