Radiance of Nature with Urushi Lighting

Radiance of Nature with Urushi Lighting
by Yu Watanabe

• Awarded April 15, 2024
• CLIENT: Yu Watanabe
• 13.740

Derived from sustainably harvested natural sap in Japan, Urushi lacquer is applied to bamboo creating an immersive space amongst tree-like forms. Unlike Western culture, where people remove shadows from space, this project intentionally creates shadows as a part of aesthetic beauty. The columns of Urushi can reflect a candle-like light in a dark room, giving off a luminous glow that gives a sense of the depth of darkness. The unique properties of shape and light create an enchanting interplay of light reflections and shadows evoking a microcosmic space reminiscent of nature.