Komorebi Explores Filtered Light Through Luminous Sculptures
Komorebi by Aki+Arnaud Cooren (A+A Cooren) is a series of luminous sculptures that examines the interaction between light, material, and atmosphere. The project takes its name from the Japanese term describing sunlight filtered through leaves, using this concept as a basis for spatial and visual composition.
Presented at Carpenters Workshop Gallery, the exhibition extends the designers’ ongoing Ishigaki collection. The works are informed by observations from freediving near Ishigaki Island, where light appears as a concentrated, shifting source when viewed from underwater.
all images courtesy of Carpenters Workshop Gallery, ©Benjamin Baccarani
A+A Cooren’s series Directs Light to Define Shadow and Depth
Each piece is structured around an upward-facing light source set within a carbon-metallic base. This configuration directs illumination toward the ceiling, producing diffused shadows that reference the circular perception of sunlight beneath the water’s surface. The resulting effect emphasizes the relationship between projection, reflection, and spatial depth.
The creative duo known as A+A Cooren uses bamboo stems, linen shades, and controlled pigment applications to modulate light and surface texture. These elements draw on visual associations with coral formations and suspended particles in water, translating environmental references into constructed form.
luminous sculptures structured through filtered light and material interaction
Komorebi Hand-Crafted Lamps Explore Light as a Spatial System
The lamps are hand-crafted in the studio’s Paris workshop, combining natural materials with a restrained formal language. The exhibition includes seven floor lamps developed in a range of tones derived from coral environments, establishing continuity between color, structure, and reference.
Komorebi is presented as a study of illumination as a spatial condition, where light, shadow, and material operate together within a defined system. The exhibition is on view in London until May 30th, 2026.
a series exploring the relationship between illumination and atmosphere
light passes through form, shaping spatial perception
the concept of filtered sunlight informs the visual composition