Pilea

Wood, fresnel lens, pins, lamp hardware
11 x 12 x 13.5 in   (28 x 30.5 x 34.3 cm)
Fall 2021

Light sculpture inspired by a pilea plant.

While plant leaves will typically spread out to gather sunlight, the canopy shape they take on also works to block light going the opposite way. Borrowing this strategy, this sculpture features leaves that fan out to diffuse the light bulb nesting within.

The material for the leaves was originally used to even out the lights inside flatscreen televisions. These “fresnel lenses” were harvested from discarded tvs for their diffusive qualities.