Lest

LEST is a series of three lamps powered by gravity (from ballasts or from their own weight).

Long description

LEST is a series of three lamps powered by gravity. The project started from questioning the beauty of analogue systems, mechanisms or asking: “What object do you use if electricity disappears?”. It finally became a research based on mechanisms and their possibilities.

I created two types of lamps which create their own energy to illuminate: one works with ballast, the other with its own weight. In both cases, gravity is exploited to put pressure on a gear, making it rotate and powering the LEDs. They only need a brief human touch to be re-activated: by switching weights places or rotating the structure restores the parts to their original position so that they can descend again and power the LEDs.

The idea is to show the beauty of creation of electricity by making useful objects which enhance the process. The lamps show a simple principle (the human switch to create energy), which could be adjusted to different places, scales or uses.

My aim is to improve the system and create daily objects that users want working with this principle, the lamps are a first step. In a more artistic way, I also want to create installations for a public where they could act on many larger lamps and directly see their impact (Museums / airports / public spaces).