Lightopia Av Mateo Kries, Jolanthe Kugler

Artificial light has revolutionized our environment like almost no other medium. Today, we are experiencing a profound change in the world of artificial light, with as yet unforeseeable consequences for people’s lives. »Lightopia« presents icons and examples of lighting design, setting them in a broader cultural and historical context. The publication comprises three separate books in a slipcase. In volume 1, renowned authors take a close look at the cultural history of light in a number of essays dealing with topics as diverse as the scenographic significance of light or its psychological aspects. Volume 2 presents a selection of the 100 most important luminaires from the collection of the Vitra Design Museum – dating from 1900 to today – and includes texts on the development of lighting design. In volume 3, interviews with well-known lighting designers and artists explore how new illumination technologies revolutionize the creative use of light today. With its three volumes, »Lightopia« constitutes a unique compendium of lighting design. It is opulently illustrated and encompasses an exceptional spectrum of examples from design, art and architecture; with works by Olafur Eliasson, Gino Sarfatti, Ingo Maurer, mischer’traxler, Carlos Cruz-Diez, Wilhelm Wagenfeld, Richard Sapper, Achille Castiglioni, Ulrike Brandi, Pieke Bergmans and many others.