In Nahuatl, an Aztec language indigenous to Mesoamerica nonetheless spoken by greater than 1,000,000 individuals all through Mexico, kauani means “to flourish.” Designers Inés Quezada and Inés Llasera, co-founders of Tornasol Studio, conceived of a sequence of luminaires impressed by native flora in celebration of the area’s wealthy botanic variety.
The continuing sequence, KAUANI, emulates particulars of endemic species, drawing on textures discovered on cacti, geometric agaves, and the rhythmic patterns of corn. The duo additionally discover inspiration within the distinctive seeds of mamey and guanabana fruits or the pigmentation of cacao and chili peppers.
“Cacti symbolize resilience,” Quezada and Llasera say in a press release, sharing how the vegetation’ variations to excessive environments imply they will endure lengthy droughts and excessive temperatures. The pair provides:
For example, their spines not solely function a protection mechanism but in addition condense water and create a protecting layer. Their pale pigmentation, ensuing from waxes that insulate their tissues and their water-retention capabilities grant them distinctive volumetric kinds. Not like most vegetation, cacti carry out photosynthesis at evening, closing their stomata throughout the day to preserve water and vitamins. It’s in darkness that they really “breathe.”
Merging pure types of fruit and botanicals with textiles, the lanterns incorporate knitted skins with delicate spikes, ruffles, or tentacles that tread the road between illustration and abstraction. Melon-like orbs and rectangular shapes paying homage to seed pods are suspended from the ceiling or propped up on surfaces with spindly ft.
Should you’re in Mexico Metropolis, you’ll be able to see KAUANI in Noches Árides by means of Could 15 at AGO Tasks. Discover extra on the designers’ web site, and comply with updates on Instagram.
