Michael Anastassiades For Flos
London based, Cypriot born, lighting designer Michael Anastassiades‘ new collection for Flos, String and IC, are works of lighting genius. Having launched his studio in 1994, after frustrating attempts to amalgamate into the design mould, he was now free to design and produce, a bold and courageous move for which the design world is endlessly thankful. Anastassides, now inducted into the design hall of fame with his new collection for Flos, joins their tirelessly brilliant roll call of classics.
As he puts it, “i’m interested in the instability that exists in design”, a common thread that runs though his design aesthetic. The IC collection of balanced balls are caught mid-roll or perched precariously atop a brass rod. It’s no wonder that the starting point for these was watching a street juggler at work. The name ‘IC’ is a reference to the initials that the English police use for describing the ethnicity of a person. He doesn’t expand on this point but the precariousness is undoubtedly hinted at.
The String series own their space. They are a delightful play of minimalist sculpture and brilliant functionality. First conceived by the power lines of trains, Anastassiades elaborates further about his inspiration describing the way traditional village squares in the Mediterranean are delineated by a festive string of lights. Even though they are delicate, they are striking in their volume and their division of space. The ball or cone forms of the Anastassides’ String series are suspended pure objects yet their they fine strings colonises the architectural story of the space they occupy.
We could bask in Michael Anastassiades’ luminousity for many years to come. What a treat.
Credits: Style Park, Minimalissimo, Flos, Flodeau, Larcobaleno, archiportale
