28.280 by Omer Arbel, now, the video
28/09/2013.
Victoria & Albert Museum. [VIDEO] from Bocci. [LON] UK
metalocus, SARA REBOLLO
metalocus, SARA REBOLLO
This is a time lapse video of our installation at The Victoria & Albert Museum atrium as part of the London Design Festival. We presented a massive, custom 28.280 chandelier in the main atrium of the museum. The installation, featuring the celebrated 28, descended through the large existing void cutting through the entire length of the V&A Building, with an astonishing height of more than 30 metres. The intent of the installation was twofold; On the one hand, it was a pure celebration of the monumental open height of the building, which uses light to crystallize a powerful phenomenological experience for the viewer. On the other hand it was the most ambitious exploration to date of a novel glass blowing technique. 280 of the 28 pendants hung within a 30 metre vertical drop, suspended by a novel, perhaps awkward and heavy copper suspension system, that had as much presence or more than the glass it supports. The installation continued our research into the process of making, and stands testament to Arbel's remarkable journey as an articulator of form.
The installation will remain at the museum until the end of 2013.
Omer Arbel. After apprenticeships at Miralles Tagliabue Architects and Patkau Architects, in 2005, Omer Arbel founded a multidisciplinary design studio focused on blurring the boundaries between the fields of building, industrial design, and materials research. It has been said of Arbel’s practice that its industrial design works, in both limited edition and mass produced formats, appear to be motivated by larger scale concepts which can only be considered architectural. Conversely, critics have noted that the practice’s built works appear to be inspired by an obsession with the object, the possibilities implicit in the process of making, and the intrinsic quality of materials.
In 2005, Arbel became Bocci’s creative director. His conceptual approach, now fueled by an infrastructure for prototyping, fine craft, manufacturing and distribution, has given birth to a collection of conceptually driven lighting, furniture, electrical accessories and objects, which have since gained significant presence and impact within the design community.