Tantalus Estate was founded in 2013 on twenty acres of established vineyard on Waiheke Island. Since that date, the venue was closed to the public while they undertook an extensive renovation of the winery building. J
ames Russ along with Emily Priest from Cheshire Architects worked together and created a wonderland of lighting, taking organic materials from the vineyard, adding brass elements and handblown glass spheres. Resulting in a wonderful mix of industrial organic forms, warmth and intimacy to the beautiful detailed finish that is Tantalus.
'Divine Lighting' - An excerpt from Interior Magazine Dec-Feb 2016-19, Written by Camille Khouri
Credit for this sparkling effect is due to James Russ and his team who took sketches from Cheshire Architect, Emily Priest and created these remarkable lights using uprooted vines from the estate and more than 4,500 miniature LEDS, handwoven into the vines with exposed copper wire. Despite the organic material, these are very high-tech lights, with LED drivers hidden within the fixtures and high CRI LED bulbs used to ensure the food looks its best. A skeletal structure of solid brass holds the vines together. To make the junctions for these, Epsilon 3D-printed the mould, then investment-cast them, then poured molten brass into the cavities. This meticulous process gave the parts an aged, textured look. When Epsilon ran low on brass, they bought out all the brass taps at local hardware stores and used those. "They were looking at me like I was crazy," says Russ. "Its a real kiwi ingenuity story really, using basic materials to create fine art."
Master of materiality James Russ has worked in a vast range of materials and techniques throughout his career, creating a unique genre of lighting design infused with fine-art influence. His visual sculptures serve beyond simple illumination, creating a sense of spacial intimacy whilst encapsulating cultural, natural and human stories. Sculptures which have steadily evolved from studies in Industrial design at Victoria university, Wellington, into bespoke fine art for an international audience.
Materials choices include weathered bronze and brass, cast and blown glass, heritage local timbers and select timber veneers from around the world. These materials are combined with the latest in engineering solutions such as Kevlar/carbon fibre composites and high performance alloys. Also Utilising the best in lighting technology such as cold cathode, LED, OLED and Photoluminescent materials. James’s team have extensive knowledge of Dali, DMX, and RF lighting control systems, which allow the works to be seamlessly integrated into both domestic and commercial applications.
James's design process involves in-depth consultation with clients, architects and designers. Collaborating with local industry leaders such as Warren and Mahoney, Peddlethorp, Cheshire and Bossley Architects, amongst many others, has become typical practice for James. International work ranges from bespoke pendants in the UK, Germany, USA - with sculptures and exhibitions throughout Australia and the UAE. From notable large-scale commissions such as the 1 million LED ‘Sky Garden’ for Millennium Hotel Group through to a single bespoke ‘Infinity’ pendant installed in the stunning Philippe Starck designed super-yacht ‘Senses’.
With a highly creative and resourceful design approach, James's designs are now becoming sort after amongst the best in the world. Early projects with New Zealand Fashion Week and Moet and Chandon and more recent presentations with G4 Design Studio and Para Designworks in Paris have led to future commissions for one of the world’s most luxurious jewellery brands. Exhibitions of James’s work are currently being planned for Venice and Milan with projects appearing on TV programs such as The Block and Grand Designs.
James is very proud to continue to share his innovative approach to art and design - blended with an underlying sense of New Zealand’s fast-emerging cultural intently. Let James and his team add value to your next project here