MILAN 2015: FABRICE HÖFGEN’S LIGHT INSTALLATION IMITATES HUMAN CONVERSATION

An eye-catching and intriguing installation spotted at Venture Lambrate

Olen is an interactive light installation by German designer Fabrice Höfgen. As part of the design collective Made in Darmstadt, Höfgen presented Olen along with his other products at Ventura Lambrate during Milan Design Week.

Inspired by human interaction, the lamps communicate through pulsations of varying light intensity. Similar to how the human voice fluctuates in volume within a conversation, the lights range from whispers and shouts. Simultaneously, the lamps create ripples of light on surrounding surfaces that change in kaleidoscopic patterns throughout the “discussion”.

Although very much created by humans, the installation creates a space seemingly independent of external intervention. The artificial discussion of light gives personality to an object that we view as lifeless, capturing the true intangible nature of light and reminding us to keep our minds open to something more.