Summarize and humanize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs in EnglishJust like aromas, melodies, and colors can tactfully trigger our subconscious, frameless flickers of light can likewise simultaneously crystalize and drape the present moment in new meaning. If only for a sacred second. Led by Italian-British architect and designer couple Cristiana Giopato and Christopher Coombes, design studio Giopato & Coombes’ practice is devoted to light as a meditative medium that merges the tangible with the intangible. Rooted in an ever-expanding narrative they have entitled “The Supernatural Daydream,” the studio’s light creations bring nuance to everyday moments by elevating them to a safe space where memories and sensations–defined by every protagonist’s unique state of being–are awakened, embraced, and celebrated. On the occasion of Milan Design Week 2025, Giopato & Coombes will unveil Scarabei, a multifaceted concept that explores the metamorphosis of matter through light. Inspired by the natural world, the site-specific installation will showcase a new collection of luminous forms that dares to encapsulate the invisible forces that conduct the spontaneous growth of living organisms.Scarabei’s origins can be traced to observations of nature and the notion of exploring nature’s mysterious language of growth and transformation. Giopato and Coombes share how it is inspired by “the natural processes of propagation. We sought to translate their rhythm of repetition and variation into a design that expresses the spontaneity and complexity of living forms.” Guided by a mood board that brought together a wide array of emotion-infused images of living organic forms that replicate in nature, a pillar of the pair’s creative process is how they continuously draw inspiration from their relationship with nature and how “specific places or elements generate a deep emotion within us. Starting from there, we try to capture the essence of that emotion and then try to reproduce it through our experimental approach to design until we encapsulate it into a new lighting sculpture.”Through the use of the ancient technique of sand casting, each element of the luminous compositions is shaped in aluminum castings on earth molds. The one-of-a-kind surfaces echo the raw irregularities of matter and its natural textures. The concave domes within every lamp vary in size and density and illustrate an ecosystem in constant evolution. The designers describe how all their lighting pieces are “unique and magical at the same time because of the nature of light. And light is an activator of emotions, transcending every possible boundary. Scarabei is born from a dialogue between repetition and freedom, diversity and uniqueness, where light and matter merge into a living presence”.Each object that makes up the new Scarabei collection is the outcome of a process that blends craftsmanship, design, and fearless experimentation, and most importantly, never repeats itself in the same exact way: vibrant surfaces and dense forms reminiscent of the iridescent bodies of the Afro-Eurasian dung beetle species scarabei. As manual meticulous craftsmanship is mirrored on every surface, all the lamps have a presence of luminous sculptures that house matchless identities. Giopato and Coombes reflect on how they began experimenting with “raw and faceted textures to convey a sense of organic growth, where every angle seems sculpted by the hand of time and nature. The ancestral artisanal method of sand casting allows for the creation of detailed forms while maintaining a rough and authentic texture. The molten aluminum comes to life in hand-shaped earth molds, carrying with it the traces of human touch and primordial matter.”The studio’s decision to showcase the Scarabei collection through a site-specific immersive installation is a natural extension of Giopato & Coombes’ mantra “Lighting up the world with wonder” which has gradually manifested in all of their projects thus far. Both are guided by their desire to witness how their audiences interact with and get to know their masterpieces up close. A sensory experience that establishes a dialogue between matter, light, and space–a format that not only informs but inspires them as well. “When people’s eyes sparkle, it is the most satisfying part for us as designers, so we imagine the concept of wonder as an activator for an inner journey that is brought by our creations to become an occasion for daydream–this is our mission,” they explain with earnest smiles splashed across both their faces.Founded in 2014, Giopato & Coombes couples functional design with art research. The studio’s portfolio in the making depicts both designers as creative people of many curiosities and appetites–and that makes all the more sense considering their backgrounds. After Giopato graduated from the Politecnico di Milano with a degree in Industrial Design in 2002, she continued her studies with a degree in Architecture in Venice in 2012. Having completed his degree in Industrial Design at London’s Brunel University in 2001, Coombes then moved to Milan and worked for George Sowden and Sebastian Bergne, gaining invaluable experience in the realm of industrial design.Fundamentally, the study of the behavior of light and how light establishes links with our inner selves can be identified as the foundational principles of the Italian design studio’s body of work. Both believe that “there is a series of forces connected to the places we live in and we always try to approach that. We consider these elements also when we design our exhibitions, creating unique pieces and site-specific installations able to bring people into a journey.”Driven by passion and wholeheartedly invested in the pursuit of creating truly unconventional pieces, Giopato & Coombes’ otherworldly lighting objects appear to float in space and time, ever in transition. The luminous forms of the Scarabei collection will unfold in a fluid canvas as each behaves like a living organism willing to metamorphose through collision with its surroundings. Light will dance with shadows and reflections that amplify the tactile perception of the material skeleton of each singular creation. Perhaps memories of sweetness will be awakened. Or a chance to connect with our inner child will be granted. In any case, a refined means of escapism is imminent.Giopato & Coombes’ immersive exhibition showcasing the studio’s new Scarabei collection will take place at the Giopato & Coombes Gallery from April 7-13, 2025, during Milan Design Week 2025 at Via San Maurilio 19, Milan, Italy.
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