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Sangmin Oh Illuminates Upcycled Industrial Fiber in Knitted Lighting Sculptures

21 Nov, 2024

This post was originally published on Colossal

Sprouting like coral or fungi, Sangmin Oh’s biologically-inspired lighting designs and furnishings merge form and function. Based between The Netherlands and South Korea, the designer (previously) is fascinated by the interplay of material, aesthetics, and sustainability.

Oh’s sculptural pieces revolve around the use of textiles to create knitted or woven shades for lamps and other objects. In a new project titled SOIL TO SOUL, he and a team of studio assistants have assembled an installation using Heracron brand aramid yarn—a type of lightweight and strong polymer fiber that is resistant to the effects of heat, abrasion, and chemicals.

an installation of mushroom-like, abstract lighting fixtures made from woven material
Installation view of ‘SOIL TO SOUL’

Aramid yarn is often used in bulletproof vests, heat-protective clothing, and as coverings for optical cables. Oh utilizes scraps of the material discarded by the manufacturer, turning to 3D knitting technology to reimagine colorful, textural pieces of fabric.

“The functional narrative of Heracron aligns with that of mushroom, which protects and sustains the earth,” Oh says of the works in SOIL TO SOUL. “Its hair-like strands mirror the skein of mycelial threads. Inspired by this similarity, the shape and pattern of the knitted fabric were designed to reflect these qualities.”

Oh’s work is currently on view in Seoul at RE;CODE, a brand focused on upcycling, where pieces like a sprawling, fungi-inspired floor lamp comprise the illuminated window installation. See more on his website and Instagram.

a sculptural form made from woven fabric
Woven fabric for ‘SOIL TO SOUL’
an abstract pink light made from stiff woven textile
“Pink Dendrogyra Mutant”
an installation of mushroom-like, abstract lighting fixtures made from woven material, viewed in daylight
Installation view of ‘SOIL TO SOUL’
an installation of abstract lighting fixtures made from woven material
Installation view of ‘SOIL TO SOUL’
a detail of yellow woven fabric
Detail of fabric used in ‘SOIL TO SOUL’
“Acropora”
woven strips of fabric hanging from a wire, used to for light shades
Woven fabrics for ‘SOIL TO SOUL’

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Sangmin Oh Illuminates Upcycled Industrial Fiber in Knitted Lighting Sculptures appeared first on Colossal.

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This consultation paper seeks views from investors, companies and the broader community on a framework for sustainable investment product labels.

These labels are designed to help investors and consumers identify, compare and make informed decisions about sustainable investment products to understand what ‘sustainable’, ‘green’ or similar words mean when they’re applied to financial products.

The government said a more robust and clear product-labelling framework will help investors and consumers invest in sustainable products with confidence and help tackle greenwashing.

This phase of consultation will run from 18 July to 29 August and help the government refine its design principles for the framework.

The consultation paper is available on the Treasury consultation hub.

Image credit: iStock.com/wenich-mit

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