The art of lighting is something that requires a deft and delicate touch that few possess. In the right hands, light can transcend illumination and shape the atmosphere of a space, rich with feeling and resonance.
James Russ crafts lighting sculptures that have this rare quality. We took the opportunity to speak with him about his own evolution as an artist, looking closely at two breathtaking projects that personify his work as marvels of light.
Origins: A lifelong passion for light
As is the case with many dedicated artists, the passion for his craft was instilled in James at a young age. His father taught him how to solder and brought home parts and components, which he used on early creations that regularly incorporated elements of light.
This eventually led to an educational pathway in industrial design, as James explains.
“I built this understanding of materials and the way they can work and the way they behave. I then came across this concept of industrial design, and as soon as I did, it was a clear choice. Most of my projects at design school were related to lighting, and then I took that through into my professional work.”
James found early success with the Ra Series, an amalgamation of natural materials and light — a relationship that would characterise his work in years to come.
“I designed the Ra Series, which was a simple piece of timber that the light could be pushed through. The technology had changed at the time, which allowed timber to be close to the light without having any heat issues.”
The Ra Series got picked up by fashion behemoth, Hallentsteins, for use as wall lights in their retail stores’ changing rooms, and so began James’ journey of sculptural lighting.
Tantalus: Crafting light from land
James’ work at Tantalus, a renowned vineyard and restaurant on Waiheke Island, is a wonderful showcase of his talents. A mesmerising orchestration of natural forms and layered light, the pieces evoke wonder while being deeply rooted in their surroundings.
The project started when Cheshire Architects reached out to James with an unusual request to repurpose grapevines from the vineyard into the proposed lighting fixtures, something that immediately intrigued James, as he explains.
“I was interested in the natural textural aspects of the grapevines with intricate bark details, and that was really in line with the architect's vision for Tantalus, because they were trying to produce a very natural, wholesome, textural atmosphere.”
The collaborative to-and-fro process that transpired culminated in entrancing natural chandeliers that required meticulous attention to detail.
“We wanted to create a sense of motion, a sense of excitement in the lights. So we decided to handcraft and handplace every single LED (over 10,000 in total) in exact locations to give them life, to give them presence, and also just to make them a little bit special.”
Once installed, the effect of the lights was naturally amplified by the design and architecture inside, something that was a wonderful surprise for all involved.
“We didn't know how much glass was going to be in this building, and you have this beautiful kind of infinity mirror effect. So you have the light bouncing off both sides of the building against the glass, and it's just this endless, beautiful visual dynamic, and it is very immersive.”
Wairua: Light as a personal story
Wairua, meaning “soul”, is a deeply personal example of James’ work, commissioned for a hotel lobby in Sydney. For this piece, James found inspiration from the story of Tupaia, the famed Polynesian navigator on Captain Cook’s historic voyage on the Endeavour.
“Tupaia had hand-drawn his version of the world around him, which described travelling routes throughout the Pacific. It was such a lovely, immersive idea, and I thought, why can't I describe the world as I see it and leave my mark?”
The selection of brass, with its natural traits and qualities, was the perfect complement for the project.
“It’s such a lovely material, because it does what you want it to. You can manipulate it. It's soft, it's malleable, but then it changes over time. Every time you look at brass, it'll be just slightly different. It'll carry its own story, or create its own story over time.”
The fascinating treatment of the brass itself, buried underground with native leaves, enabled a process of natural and textural infusion.
“The significant part of Wairua is burying the material below ground, and that imparts this beautiful, textural patina onto the brass. And that brass is a summary of what's happened over the six months or 12 months where that brass has been buried.”
James then perforated his beautiful brass piece with small cuts of glass from which light could gently glow, doing so with its own unique story.
“There are these shafts of light that come out through the cast glass, and each shaft of light represents a special moment in their lives, or a special experience. It's like deeply looking into somebody's soul.”
The future of light and art
James’ work is now sought after both locally and internationally, with projects ranging from luxury residences and hospitality venues to large-scale international exhibitions. It’s a remarkable professional journey that’s been hugely satisfying, as James attests.
“Being able to develop beautifully crafted artwork, having it in beautiful galleries, and that experience of seeing your work on a larger stage, but also having people buy into my dreams. So I'm not necessarily making things just for architects anymore. I’m making them for me, and so when people understand and appreciate that, it's a very rewarding experience.”
James will continue to push the boundaries of material experimentation through his work and will focus on sculptural, narrative-driven pieces like Wairua in the years to come.
“My projects are based on that emotional connection to the work. It's gone beyond lighting. It's gone into story, history and a sense of place. It describes how I interact with the world around me, and at times, I can introduce stories from other people and how they view the world. It's just a lovely experience, and it's a privilege to be able to convey story through my work.”
Find out more about James Russ and his exquisite lighting sculptures