Design Week flicks on the switch with a show of lights
Of more than 350 events and exhibitions for Melbourne Design Week, it's easy to pick which one shines brightest.
At North Melbourne's Meat Market Stables, the free exhibition 100 LIGHTS illuminates the work of more than 100 Australian designers, from moody bar lighting, to chandeliers worthy of a concert hall.
One standout is Seven Flowers and a Tall Vase, by Moroccan-born and Melbourne-based designer Abdé Nouamani.
On top of a walnut plinth in a polished cast aluminium vase sits a bunch of lights on stems.
Just like the blooms in a real bunch of flowers, they can be rearranged, because each light has been designed to be moveable.
The lights are housed in aluminium cups that were cut out from a Dutch pancake pan, explained Nouamani.
"I chopped them up and polished them to bring them that shine... they were the perfect lamp holder for the lamps that I was using," he said.
Sundown Lighting's Ripple Chandelier is made from timber shaped into waves, while Ross Gardam's Aeris light is constructed from mouth-blown glass "clouds" fixed to brass bars.
It all shines a light on the inventiveness of local designers, and the variety of materials in play.
There are attractions on a smaller scale too, such as an Igloo sconce from Giffin Design, which shines through a solid block of clear glass, highlighting tiny bubbles of air trapped inside.
And there are quirky pieces on show, like the Wavy Lamp from Luke James, made using vintage Levi's denim for a vintage clothing store.
Issues around lighting - or the lack of it - are a feature of the Design Week program in other ways also.
Illuminating Darkness: Shining a Light on Women's Safety in Running looks at how urban design impacts on safety for female runners.
A discussion session at Collingwood Yards with Katherine Newton and Tom Robertson of V1 Studios will be followed by a 5km run, with participants wearing headlamps to light the way.Melbourne Design Week runs from Thursday until May 25, while 100 LIGHTS runs until Sunday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
West Australian
25 minutes ago
- West Australian
Big Freeze 11: High-profile athletes and personalities take plunge to fight Motor Neurone Disease
Big Freeze 11 has gone off without a hitch as some of Australia's highest-profile athletes and personalities took the plunge in honour of AFL champion Neale Daniher and fighting Motor Neurone Disease. The rain finally held off in Melbourne ahead of the King's Birthday clash between Melbourne and Collingwood as the plungers dressed as Aussie icons to get the day off to an emotional start. Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus was the first to test the water, rocking an Olivia Newton-John in Grease ensemble. Cadel Evans was almost unrecognisable as he did his best to emulate Melbourne big man Max Gawn, the beard and bald cap staying on as he held the board all the way into the water. Channel 7 Sunrise host and former Olympic runner Matt Shirvington did his best to represent Chris Hemsworth in his iconic Marvel role of Thor but wasn't provided the suit with in-built muscles. Peter Daicos lifted a roar from the crowd, the Collingwood legend honouring Heath Ledger by going down the slide as the Joker. Actor Matt Nable braved the cold in shorts to bring AC/DC to life as guitarist Angus Young, his tie never losing its shape, while Australian Diamonds captain Liz Watson channelled Margo Robbie in her Barbie pink and felt the shock of the ice as she plunged into the water. Australian cricket captain Alyssa Healy has performed alongside Katy Perry at the MCG but had the fans in stitches, dressed as Magda Szubanski in a neck brace playing netball in Kath and Kim. She even got a Shane Warne reference in after his iconic cameo on the show, messing up her lipstick as if they had been kissing behind the scenes. Demons favourite Aaron Davey represented icon, Michael Long, before V8 Supercars legend Craig Lowndes donned black leather as Mel Gibson in Mad Max. Australian opening batter and commentator Mark Taylor rounded out the slide, spearheaded by Daniher more than a decade ago, tributing his great mate Warne batting at No.10. He even wore full spikes to go with the white floppy and wristband.
Perth Now
28 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Iconic moments galore as Aussie stars take plunge for MND
Big Freeze 11 has gone off without a hitch as some of Australia's highest-profile athletes and personalities took the plunge in honour of AFL champion Neale Daniher and fighting Motor Neurone Disease. The rain finally held off in Melbourne ahead of the King's Birthday clash between Melbourne and Collingwood as the plungers dressed as Aussie icons to get the day off to an emotional start. Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus was the first to test the water, rocking an Olivia Newton-John in Grease ensemble. Cadel Evans was almost unrecognisable as he did his best to emulate Melbourne big man Max Gawn, the beard and bald cap staying on as he held the board all the way into the water. Ariarne Titmus, Olympic swimming champion, is seen on the Big Freeze 11 slide. Credit: Michael Willson/AFL Photos / AFL Photos via Getty Images Channel 7 Sunrise host and former Olympic runner Matt Shirvington did his best to represent Chris Hemsworth in his iconic Marvel role of Thor but wasn't provided the suit with in-built muscles. Peter Daicos lifted a roar from the crowd, the Collingwood legend honouring Heath Ledger by going down the slide as the Joker. Actor Matt Nable braved the cold in shorts to bring AC/DC to life as guitarist Angus Young, his tie never losing its shape, while Australian Diamonds captain Liz Watson channelled Margo Robbie in her Barbie pink and felt the shock of the ice as she plunged into the water. Former AFL player Peter Daicos goes down the slide for FightMND Big Freeze 11. Credit: Quinn Rooney / Getty Images Australian cricket captain Alyssa Healy has performed alongside Katy Perry at the MCG but had the fans in stitches, dressed as Magda Szubanski in a neck brace playing netball in Kath and Kim. She even got a Shane Warne reference in after his iconic cameo on the show, messing up her lipstick as if they had been kissing behind the scenes. Australian cricketer Alyssa Healy goes down the slide for FightMND Big Freeze 11. Credit: Quinn Rooney / Getty Images Demons favourite Aaron Davey represented icon, Michael Long, before V8 Supercars legend Craig Lowndes donned black leather as Mel Gibson in Mad Max. Australian opening batter and commentator Mark Taylor rounded out the slide, spearheaded by Daniher more than a decade ago, tributing his great mate Warne batting at No.10. Former AFL player Aaron Davey goes down the slide for FightMND Big Freeze 11. Credit: Quinn Rooney / Getty Images He even wore full spikes to go with the white floppy and wristband.
7NEWS
31 minutes ago
- 7NEWS
Matt Shirvington's $10k promise steals the show at Neale Daniher's Big Freeze 11
Channel 7 superstar and former sprinter Matt Shirvington has pledged to keep his Thor costume on after braving the elements at the annual Big Freeze ahead of the King's Birthday blockbuster between Collingwood and Melbourne at the MCG. Now in its 11th year, another 10 identities from the sporting world took the icy plunge as AFL icon and Australian of the Year Neale Daniher, the driving force behind the initiative, watched on. The theme this year was iconic Australians and while some of the sliders could have gone as themselves, they each went all out. Shirvo went down as Thor, played by Australian actor Chris Hemsworth, and promised to stay in character for his return flight to Sydney. 'You're getting on a plane in a moment. I had someone say if you stay in the Thor uniform and do not have a shower, they will donate $10,000,' commentator Hamish McLachlan said to Shirvo. He only took a moment to contemplate the dare before agreeing. 'If they let me through security, 10 grand to the cause, Neale, hopefully we will make it happen, hey?' Shirvo said. Olympic legend Ariarne Titmus went down as Olivia Newton-John's Sandra Dee from Grease, while netball superstar Lez Ellis paid tribute to Magda Szubanski's iconic Sharon character from Kath and Kim. There was also The Joker, Barbie, and even a double Max Gawn. The Big Freeze continues to raise money for FightMND. Check out all other sliders below and head here to donate. Ariarne Titmus The Olympic legend dressed up as Sandra Dee, the iconic character from Grease played by Australian actress Olivia Newton-John. She had chills, and they were multiplying when she emerged from the icy pool. 'It's actually quite refreshing,' she said. 'I truly believe if everyone had a little bit ofNeale's motivation and positivity, the world would be a better place.' Cadel Evans The Tour de France champion and four-time Olympian donned a skull cap and fake beard for his perfect 'shrunken' Max Gawn impersonation. The real Gawn took time out of his pre-match preparation to speak to Evans after the slide. 'I think his worst day on the bike is way better than my best day on the footy field,' Gawn said with a laugh. Peter Daicos The Collingwood champion nailed his impersonation of The Joker, played by the late Heath Ledger. Daicos lived up to his billing as a master entertainer on the field with a couple of special moves. 'No one would be blaming (Daniher) for sitting at home and sitting there in comfort. I mean, he's working for others. How can you say 'no', took me a split nanosecond,' Daicos said. Matt Nable The former rugby league player turned actor went down as AC/DC rocker Angus Young. Complete with a guitar, Nable said he was inspired by his daughter to dress up as the iconic guitarist. Nable's brother Adam died from MND just over a year ago. He fought back tears when paying tribute to the cause. 'You know, what I see with Neale Daniher, his fight, he's truly inspiring. A lot of you here wouldn't know what it's like with his family and how hard it is, but he is a truly great Australian and a man of great inspiration. I am so proud and privileged to be here,' he said. Liz Watson The netball superstar nailed her impression of Barbie, played by Aussie superstar Margot Robbie. 'A lot colder than I thought,' she said. 'It is an absolute honour. This is such a special day. It is Neale's day. For him to come in there and share with all of us how important this is, it's an absolute honour. Just great to be part of this awesome group.' Matt Shirvington The Channel 7 star and former sprinter went down as Thor, played by Australian actor Chris Hemsworth. Shirvo promised to stay in his uniform on his flight back to Sydney to raise more money for the cause. 'You're getting on a plane in a moment. I had someone say if you stay in the Thor uniform and do not have a shower, they will donate $10,000,' Hamish McLachlan said to Shirvo. 'If they let me through security, 10 grand to the cause, Neale, hopefully we will make it happen, hey?' Shirvo responded. Alyssa Healy The captain of the all-conquering Australian cricket team paid tribute to Magda Szubanski's iconic Sharon character from Kath and Kim. She joked that she had a 'snog' with Shane Warne out the back before taking the slide. 'Really special afternoon. We may have had a snog out the back. Very special to be here, be a part of it, to be Sharon, even better,' she said. Aaron Davey The Melbourne great went down as Indigenous AFL legend Michael Long. He had a puffer jacket on just like Long does for the Long Walk. But the jacket appeared to weigh him down slightly in the pool. 'It actually nearly drowned me just then,' he said. 'Where's Danners? 13 years, never got an ice bath till now. Love you. Massive part of my life. Gave a young man a dream and very fortunate enough to call you family.' Craig Lowndes The Supercars icon looked the part in his leather jacket as Mad Max, played by Aussie actor Mel Gibson. The driver completed a little backflip when he entered the water. 'There's no doubt he and the family are doing a fantastic job. Proud to be here, proud to support it and represent Supercars and I think it doesn't matter where you are, what demographic, you sometimes go through it,' he said. Mark Taylor The Australian cricket great went down as former teammate Shane Warne. 'I was lucky enough to play a lot of my career with my late mate. Miss him, but love what he did for this country in sport,' he said. 'Brought slow bowling back into Test match cricket which people love. People here at this ground, right around the world, loved him. As I said to Tim, great to be here to support him and probably more importantly on a day like today, support FightMND and Neale Daniher, also a great Australian.'
