When you stand amongst the floating lamps by Yuko Nishikawa, you will feel as if you’re drifting in space where gravity does not exist.

The whimsical lighting collection created by New York-based ceramic artist Yuko Nishikawa is one of her latest ceramic collections that explores the creation of functional objects in abstract forms. The collection, which the artist named “You See a Sheep”, is composed of numerous hand-built ceramic shells to house the light source that is suspended mid-air with the help of a thin metal wire. When the clusters of lights are switched on, their warm, ethereal glow is revealed through the holes against the dry, paper-like surface, illuminating the space with a sense of mysterious wonder.

The bespoke collection is made specific to an installation site, with its arrangement, colours, and numbers strictly designed based on the layout and volume of the space that the piece will occupy.

The unique name of the collection “You See a Sheep” was inspired by two stories. The first being the popular children’s story, The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, specifically, the part where The Prince finds his favourite sheep in a drawing of a box.

The second story that inspired the name, as well as the creation, was Model T Frankenstain by renowned Japanese novelist Hideo Furukawa - a thought-provoking piece that opens with the line “You see a goat”, suggesting that it is our perception that the goat, or any animal or thing in question, exists.

To create the whimsical outer shell of the lighting, Nishikawa mixed paper fibre in a wet clay body to achieve a strong, lightweight structure, using a coiling technique that emphasizes the uneven surface and irregularly enclosed forms. Once the clay firmed up, individual holes were cut out to create the distinctive look and feel of the collection. Colours were then applied to the surface and cured in an electric kiln.

The chandelier below is a statement piece featuring 24 ceramic shells. The installation was specifically designed for the exhibition ‘In Good Company’ held in Fernando Mastrangelo Studio in New York. The exhibition held in 2018 was seen as a celebration of art and design, providing artists with opportunities to build supportive communities and networks with other designers, artists, and users. Utilizing this opportunity to showcase her work, Nishikawa designed the eye-catching piece with diverse variations in height and depth to create a conical volume. The display constructed an environment where people could walk through and physically engage with the installation.

Collection Details

Collection Name: You See a Sheep

Artist: Yuko Nishikawa

Photos courtesy of Yuko Nishikawa