In the loop: the making of Sabine Marcelis’ neon circles of light

Light, in its simplest form, is merely a natural agent that stimulates sight and makes everything visible, but it’s the manner in which it is revealed that is so arresting. With neon and resin as her accomplices, Dutch lighting designer Sabine Marcelis has captured the world’s attention with each enigmatic collection of lighting she has created. After turning heads in 2014 with her 'Dawn' collection – where neon strands were artfully encased in perfectly hued resin sculptures – Marcelis has once again piqued interests with her 'Voie' light series.
Though the material players remain the same, their characters have taken on new personas and intentions. '"Voie" means path,' explains Marcelis. 'The collection was born out of a curiosity to manipulate the path of light.' This is something the Dutch designer consistently flirts with in all her projects. For Marcelis, it’s the analysis of material that leads to further investigation. 'Within "Voie", playing with resin allowed me to manipulate the line of light in different ways, creating a stronger diffusion or dimming effect,' she states. 'And, neon was a natural choice as I have always been drawn to its vibrant light quality and malleable shape.' When asked about where she derives her creative perspective, Marcelis notes, 'I always have my eyes open and am actively curious and inquisitive about everything. Some may be surprised to find that I’m equally as inspired by nature as I am by technological advances and artificialities.'
It’s been Marcelis’ loyalty to such cutting-edge technology that has made her designs so prolific. Exploring the mutually beneficial relationship between materials and their subsequent interaction with light has been her industry trademark. 'The final shape and form of each project is really defined by the effect I want to expose or what the material properties demand be highlighted,' she says. The trained industrial designer has artfully carved her own path, one that strictly adheres to original content. 'My pieces are functionally decorative in the end,' she says, 'and demand an interaction with the space and user.' This trailblazer is certainly discovering new ways to turn light into an art form.
Exploring the mutually beneficial relationship between materials and their subsequent interaction with light is Marcelis' industry trademark
Marcelis at work
'My pieces are functionally decorative in the end,' Marcelis (pictured here) explains, 'and demand an interaction with the space and user.' This trailblazer is certainly discovering new ways to turn light into an art form.
The production process behind 'Voie' in action.
'"Voie" means path,' explains Marcelis. 'The collection was born out of a curiosity to manipulate the path of light'
The trained industrial designer has artfully carved her own path, one that strictly adheres to original content.
INFORMATION
For more information, visit Sabine Marcelis’ website
Photography courtesy Studio Sabine Marcelis
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
-
Premium patisserie Naya is Mayfair’s latest sweet spot
Heritage meets opulence at Naya bakery in Mayfair, London. With interiors by India Hicks and Anna Goulandris, the patisserie looks good enough to eat
-
Discover midcentury treasures in Marylebone with Álvaro by Appointment
London is full of sequestered design havens, and Wallpaper* knows them all. Allow us to point you in the direction of Álvaro González’s shop window on Nottingham Place, home to a bonanza of beautiful 20th-century antiques
-
Beach chic: the all-new Citroën Ami gets an acid-tinged, open-air Buggy variant
Citroën have brought a dose of polychromatic playfulness to their new generation Ami microcar, the cult all-ages electric quadricycle that channels the spirit of the 2CV for the modern age
-
Sabine Marcelis creates candy-coloured donut seats for Hem
Sabine Marcelis and Hem unveil their ‘Boa’ pouf, two years in the making and a delightful play on the Rotterdam-based designer's recurrent donut motif
-
Solar light by Marjan van Aubel brings the sun’s colours indoors
The new ‘Sunne’ solar light by Dutch designer Marjan van Aubel captures the sun’s energy and mimics its glow, evoking sunrise and sunset in your living room
-
Amsterdam's grand Felix Meritis unveils contemporary refresh by i29
Dutch architecture studio i29 is behind the listed Felix Meritis building's interior restoration and redesign in Amsterdam, a scheme bringing together historical glamour and contemporary design sophistication and technology, while enriching the city's culinary and cultural scene
-
House of fun: design duo Studio Job creates a maximalist pad in Amsterdam
-
The Design Circle: kneeling at the altar of Amsterdam’s Art Chapel
An exhibition at Amsterdam's modernist Art Chapel paints a sweeping picture of Dutch design today
-
The highlights: Dutch Design Week 2013
-
Dutch Design Week 2012