The collaboration between Flos and Cypriot designer Michael Anastassiades resulted in an impressive collection of lights, debuted recently during the 2013 Salone del Mobile, Milan. A great deal of interest was generated by his creations inspired by the sights and sounds he had experienced throughout his life.
In particular, String Lights, a daring minimal concept of a spatial lighting system which emerged from the removal of all excess, leaving behind the basic element of design. It is composed of a suspended lamp in the form of a sphere or cone, attached to an exceptionally long cord. This allows the light a high degree of flexibility to become an installation which involves a need for support from all surfaces within a space, in order to achieve the desired result. This design was influenced by memories of electric wires strung between rigid pylons as seen shooting by from a train window. In addition a familiar sight to anyone who has attended a party of celebration in a Greek village square, a string of bare bulbs attached to any pole or building so as to illuminate a space on a temporary basis.
His series of IC Lights is a range of elegant forms, an opaque globe delicately balanced on a metal stand at an impossible angle. It was inspired by the mesmerising movement of a juggler as he effortlessly appears to make a ball move at will and balance at unexpected angles. In addition, the letters IC refer to the identity code used to assess immigrants entering the UK. This element of balance also applies to the lives of these people as they juggle to adjust to a new society and its demands. The IC Lights series is available as a floor, suspended or table lamp in brushed brass or painted anthracite.
