The Perfect Light
Pic: Nayan Kulkarni
The Search Goes On… Light Collective tell us about the Perfect Light Experience, a competition launched in conjunction with Citizen that took a team of lighting designers on a pilgrimage to Japan in search of the Perfect Light.
I
n 2017, Light Collective set off on a mission to discover
to its make up.
Citizen. The project involved capturing the thoughts and
these factors, together with Citizen, we kicked off a competition at
what makes the ‘Perfect Light’, in conjunction with
characters of well-known lighting designers around the
As part of the continuation of the project and in order to analyse
the start of 2018. We asked entrants to make a one-minute video that
globe at this unique time in the development of light and lighting.
described either a Perfect Light Experience that they had previously
22 of the worlds leading lighting designers on the topic of Perfect
Tapio Rosenius of Lighting Design Collective, Florence Lam of Arup
The end product was a 35-minute film that outlines the opinions of Light.
The film has since been shown in London, Paris, Berlin, Milan, New
had, or would like to have in the future. The entries were judged by
and artist Nayan Kulkarni, who picked their favourite three entries.
The chosen three accompanied Light Collective, Lam and Kulkarni on
York, Reykjavik, Winterthur, Athens, São Paolo, Beirut, Dubai, Turku
a trip to Japan in search of a Perfect Light Experience of our own. The
and Mexico later this year. Everyone that has viewed the film has
from Arup, Alita Escobada, a stage lighting designer from Mexico and
use of LEDS.
We wanted to select people that were passionate about light and to
and at PLDC. There are also further planned showings in Stockholm commented on the timely nature of it in questioning our ubiquitous
winners were Francesco Anslemo, lighting and interaction designer Stuart Alexander, lighting designer from Michael Grubb Studios.
The Perfect Light Project led us to conclude that we do not have a
offer them a chance to experience, share and discuss light with us as
generally respond to that could help create a ‘Perfect Light’. It also
We created a trip that included a stay in James Turrell’s House of
perfect light source yet, but there are properties of light that people generated a discussion about what is a ‘Perfect Light Experience’. For those of us who love light, we know what it’s like to be in a
part of our journey to find the Perfect Light.
Light in the Echigo Province, a walk through an ancient beech forest, watching the sunset at Mount Fuji, walking through the city lights
moment where the lighting conditions take away our ability to speak.
of Shinjuku and Ginza and an opportunity to see one of natures most
light does something so magical that it transcends our practical
The trip has been captured in a new film that ponders the question
Where we are astounded. Where our breath is taken away and where needs. This is what we refer to as a Perfect Light Experience.
These moments allow us to realise how crucial it is to seek out inspiration and experiences where, for that one brief point in
time and place, light is perfect. The parameters of a Perfect Light
Experience vary. It’s probably impossible to apply scientific metrics
to them but we believe that there are general factors that contribute
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efficient light sources – the firefly – up close.
of what makes a Perfect Light Experience. The London showing will
take place on December 12th 2018. Please contact Light Collective for a space at the event.
The Perfect Light Project is supported by Citizen and will continue in 2019. For more information, email hello@lightcollective.net www.perfectlightproject.com