Lumina by Ng 松衛

Cristine Mandasari Ng Song Wei

LUMINA

Using various experiments, Lumina lamps are made from bamboo chopsticks. Like no others, bamboo is a unique material that has special characteristics such as light, durable, and naturally beautiful. Lumina lamps can be placed in private places such as homes as well as public spots such as coffee shop, art shop, and art museum. Using yellow clear bulbs, Lumina lamps will create unique and soft ambiances around spaces.

ur group chose chopsticks because this local material is very cheap, environmental friendly, and moreover, chopsticks has been a part of Chinese food culture. As for Asian people, especially who are far away from home, chopsticks will indirectly make a nostalgic feeling that reminds of home and family. The connection between product and nostalgic emotion seems to be the best ideas so far. When we are talking about chopsticks, they have different materials, ranging from bamboo, wood, plastics to metal. We decided to use bamboo chopsticks since the bamboo can withstand a great deal of use without damage. Many furnitures and homes are made from bamboo since they do not swell or shrink like hardwoods. Bamboo are also wellknown for its light-weight and durability during any harsh condition. As for aesthetic appearance, bamboo has beautiful natural color, therefore adding artificial color is not necessary. From the environment perspective, bamboo are one of the fastest growing plants in the world. Therefore, we think that we would not harm environment when we make some experiments using bamboo chopsticks. Perhaps, these bamboo material qualities can come in smaller size in chopsticks.

We had several experiments. Some of them were not successful as we expected before, while some others brought some unexpected results. At the end, we chose the most suitable method in making our final products.

t very beginning, we tried to burn chopsticks in order to get different forms and colors. The aim was to seek the possibilities, such as what Maarten Baas done with his Smoke Chair. series. There were three methods of burning. The first method was only burning down the tip of chopsticks. The second method was wrapping chopsticks first with aluminum foil then burning it. The third method had same as the second method but the difference was all about number. In the third method, we tried to wrap some numbers of chopsticks in large aluminum foil and burn together. Eventually, all of them had the same result, burned chopstick provides same function as charcoal does. In this stage, we had ideation about a stool that looks alike pencil and users can have fun writing something on the floor by sitting and gently moving. As we know so far, it might be possible to infuse colorful substances into chopsticks. Nevertheless, it seemed a little bit awkward when colors were applied in eating utensil. Therefore, the only possible color was black. The other unexpected result was if there was no aluminum foil, tip of structure might be fragile and getting thinner. As for the third method result, we tried burning chopsticks together using aluminum foil. The result were obviously not smooth. Some inner parts would not turning black while outer parts would be black and fragile. The other unexpected result was that the smoke residue during the burning process was quit dangerous and sore in the eyes.

Pic. 3. Burned Chopsticks without Aluminum Foil

Pic. 4. Burned Chopsticks with Aluminum Foil

Pic. 5. Burning Chopsticks Together

In the ancient times, people have used bending method to make a curvy surfaces. At the first stage, bending method requires boiling and steaming. Then, at the second stage, bending process needs a molding that has curve surfaces. The result were various, depending on the duration of time and surfaces of molds.

2-1. Boiling and Steaming At this stage, we differentiated boiling and steaming and made experiment by different duration of time. We also tried different bending molds and temperature to seek more possibilities. The result was quit unpredicted. Comparing to boiling method, the steamed chopsticks were easily broken when pressed into molding board. The duration of process were ranging from 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 1 hour and 2 hours. The first experiment were failed because boiled chopsticks were broken when pressed into molding. Previously, there was no enough time of boiling and steaming. During experiments, the boiling stage took about 1 hour to bend chopsticks, while steaming method took a longer time, about 2 hours, to make a perfect bending. At last, we decided to combine both of methods, boiling and steaming, in order to get better result.

Pic. 8-9. Molding Board

We used various bending molds. The first experiment used molding boards, while the second one we tried small bottles. The last one, we used a milk powder can. After boiling and steaming method, we put chopsticks into molds and press it immediately, and then wait until a few hours to see the result. In the first experiment, using molding boards, chopsticks had a slight of curve. However, if we saw them on the next day, the curve would be lesser. Therefore, we tried bending chopsticks on more solid molds such as glasses, bottles, and can. Because glass surfaces were not big, we decide to cut the tip of chopsticks into 2 parts or 4 parts. The bending result can be seen in the Pic. 12. As for the next stage, we put some chopsticks in normal air temperature and some others in the refrigerator. Through this process, we found out that there was no different result between normal air saving and low temperature. In the last experiment, we used a milk powder can as a mold. Using same previous method, the result was beautiful curved chopsticks. The diameter of can should be big enough so that chopsticks would not easily to be broken after the steaming boiling method.

Pic. 10. Molding Bottles

Pic. 11. Cutting Tip of Chopsticks after Boiling and Steaming Method

Pic. 12. Bending Method

Pic. 14. Bending Chopsticks using Can Mold

Pic. 15. Curved Chopsticks

Having any further directions with previous method, we tried to play with structures such as simple basic geometric dome and tensegrity. These kind of structures are most common used in architecture field. At the certain point, we finally realized that our direction might be wrong. In fact, every material actually can be applied using these structures. Such as in Pic. 14, we used toothpicks to represent chopsticks. Therefore, if we insisted in using structure method, the main character of bamboo chopstick can not be expressed.

Pic. 18. Fragile Structure

Pic. 19. Different Results

Considering the previous experiments, we finally come to final decision. Song Wei was very excited to use geometric form to design a unique lamp, while I was trying to look back traditional Asian cultures of cane work. In fact, we enjoyed making our own lamp design through a long road of process. From the beginning, we decided to give freedom to each other in order to explore the design possibilities with our own personal tastes. If urgently needed, we would give best recommendations and helps, also support to each other. Below are some documentation of our design process. Song Wei used numerical pattern to make a geometric shapes such as triangle, square, and round surfaces. At first, he used rubber to make a quick framework of chopsticks. To make a better solid structure, he repeatedly poured white glue. The white glue residue is clear enough so that it would not make any dirty on surfaces. At the end of process, he successfully made three lamps with different beautiful patterns.

As for my design, I tried to look back the traditional methods in making cane work. At first, I used steaming and boiling method. To get more flexibility, I cut chopsticks into half. Because of steaming and boiling method, chopsticks were easily cut. Then, the next process was to make a cane work using half chopsticks and glued to maintain the frameworks. The process were repeated until there were enough chopstick sheets. To be honest, it was quit confused to decide what kind of form that could be made using the chopstick sheets and I did not have any ideas in what kind of places I would hang my lamp. However, after trying to assemble chopstick sheets, I finally decided to make a curly line. Using clear strings and power glue, I could make a better framework for my lamp. As for the result, I felt very satisfied with the beautiful form. It looked alike a mother who hug the lights. The light reflection that went through the spaces between chopstick made wings illusion on wall.

It was a rough decision to find a suitable name for our lamps. Song Wei lamp has a geometric image, while my lamp has curvy sides that makes a hugging impression. We have no clues at all, except both lamps are made from same material and looked alike traditional lamp. At the end we were agree that our lamp has unique warm lighting. In last minutes, we chose “Lumina” for our lamp name. It means “light” in Greek language. As for logo, we choose the warm brown orange lights that surrounds LUMINA name. It reflects the warm lights that LUMINA produces between the space of chopsticks.

In this project, we used new chopsticks to make LUMINA lamp. However, it will be great if in the future we can utilize used chopsticks. By doing this, we can make an environmental friendly design. Considering bamboo residues during the process, perhaps we can recycle them into its lamp packaging. Using the same tea brick (çŁ&#x161;č&#x152;ś) traditional method, bamboo residue can be packed in molds and pressed into board form. Finally, by writing the design process, we also want to encourage people to make a better DIY lamp by using LUMINA method.

Thank you for reading ..:)