Oriental Landscape Lighting Cup

Oriental Landscape Lighting Cup

Oriental landscape Lighting cup is an innovative dual-purpose ceramic design that seamlessly merges traditional Korean artistry with contemporary lighting functionality. Created by designers Bo-hyung Kim and Jin-woog Koo, this sophisticated piece draws inspiration from Soomook-sansuhwa, a traditional Korean landscape painting style, reinterpreting it through varying ceramic wall thicknesses that create subtle gradations when illuminated. The design consists of a delicately crafted ceramic cup with walls measuring 2-3mm in thickness, accompanied by two saucers - a standard ceramic version and an LED-equipped variant. The LED saucer features modern technological integrations including touch-sensor controls, rechargeable battery capability via Micro-USB connection, and dual-brightness settings that can provide up to 10 hours of continuous illumination at its lowest setting. The cup's walls are meticulously engineered to achieve optimal light transmittance while maintaining structural integrity, a feat accomplished through extensive research and development. When placed upon its LED saucer, the cup transforms into an ambient lighting fixture that projects a serene, moonlit landscape effect, exemplifying a harmonious blend of functional design and artistic expression. This innovative approach to combining traditional ceramics with modern lighting technology earned the design a Bronze A' Design Award in the Lighting Products and Fixtures Design category, recognizing its contribution to contemporary lighting design. The piece represents a significant achievement in addressing the technical challenges of creating thin-walled ceramic vessels while maintaining their practical functionality as both drinking vessels and decorative lighting elements.

ceramic lighting design, traditional Korean art, multifunctional homeware, ambient illumination, touch-sensor technology, translucent pottery

— Adam Dawson