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New York, NY, June 6, 2011 – Global materials consultancy Material ConneXion is pleased to present an exhibition by the multi-talented, Finnish-born artist and designer, Stefan Lindfors. The show, which will be on view at Material ConneXion’s New York City headquarters at 60 Madison Avenue from June 21 - July 8, 2011, will feature an installation of Lindfors's internationally-acclaimed Light Works—an intriguing group of illuminated three-dimensional works that explore the boundaries between art and design, lighting and sculpture.
A pioneer of Finnish contemporary design whose clients include such companies as Alessi, Iittala, Marimekko, Nokia and Vitra, Stefan Lindfors has been experimenting with light since his first solo exhibition in 1988. Light Works, however, is his first body of work in which each sculpture is built around the idea of an integrated light source.
The inspiration for this exhibition came to Lindfors in 2009, when the renowned New York-based photographer Nan Goldin acquired Lindfors's sculpture Nymph and wanted it fitted with LED lights. Lindfors explored the idea further and eventually arrived at Light Works—a concept in which light is used as a medium to give each sculpture its own identity. Through light, Lindfors is able to introduce an exciting new dimension into his works, illuminating their interior lives and setting their souls alight.
While the new works represent a departure from Lindfors's previous explorations, they are also strongly linked to the past. According to Lindfors, “Some of the pieces are totally surprising, at least to me, and with others, I can see similarities to my earlier projects.”
Composed of steel plates welded with thin wire and transparent fiberglass skin, the pieces in Light Works incorporate light sources that use current and future green technologies, including LED and energy saving light bulbs. Lindfors considers them to be the product of both sculpture and design, leaving it up to the viewer to decide whether they are seeing lit sculptures or unique light fixtures. By keeping the question of utility open, he offers a powerful commentary on the debate over what distinguishes art from design.
“So far, much of my light work...lacks conventional definition, often landing in the so-called ‘borderline’ area. These Light Works that I’ve recently created represent a body of work by myself as both sculptor and as designer; abstract stories beyond industrial reasoning on the one hand, latest eco-light technology and user-friendly design on the other,” says Lindfors.
The Light Works exhibition was first presented at the Bukowskis showroom in Helsinki in February 2011. The show made its US debut at the Embassy of Finland in Washington DC in May 2011.
Public Viewing Hours:
June 21-July 8, 2011
Monday-Friday, 6-9pm
Stefan Lindfors Light Works has been made possible with support from
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About Stefan Lindfors
Stefan Lindfors (born 1962 in Mariehamn, Aland, Finland) is a multi-talented artist who operates widely in the fields of art, design, architecture and film production and the territories in between. He graduated as an interior and furniture designer from the University of Art and Design Helsinki (currently the Aalto University School of Art and Design) in 1988. The Scaragoo lamp that Lindfors designed the same year for Ingo Maurer launched him into international prominence. Lindfors is one of the pioneers of Finnish contemporary design, and his works have been presented in a number of exhibitions. He has won many prestigious international awards. Lindfors' clientele includes major companies and organizations, such as Alessi, Amnesty, Artek, Iittala, Marimekko, Martela, Nokia, Sony Playstation, Vitra and Warner Music. Stefan Lindfors has also worked as a teacher and lecturer. www.stefanlindfors.com
About Material ConneXion®:
Material ConneXion is a global materials consultancy that helps companies innovate through smart materials thinking. Built on the belief that Every Idea Has A Material Solution™, Material ConneXion is the trusted advisor to Fortune 500s, smaller forward-thinking companies, and government agencies seeking a creative, competitive, or sustainable edge through strategic material selections. With offices in New York, Bangkok, Cologne, Daegu, Istanbul, Milan and soon China, Material ConneXion's international network of specialists provides a global, cross-industry perspective on materials and their potential uses. The company maintains the largest subscription-based Materials Library of innovative materials and processes in the world—an indispensable asset to a wide audience of designers and architects and a vital tool for the development of design, industry and economy. Material ConneXion is owned by Sandow. www.materialconnexion.com
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