Luciferase XLVIII

This unique light sculpture by Nacho Carbonell is part of the 'Luciferase’ series, exclusively produced for Galerie BSL since 2011. The 'Luciferase' series marks Carbonell’s first exploration of light within his work. “The root of this word ‘luciferase' is ‘carrier of light,'" Carbonell explains, “and it reflects the system used by flora and fauna in the abyss, where total obscurity reigns in the ocean’s greatest depths. More than just lights, I see these pieces as creatures that glow with life.”

Carbonell is known for his tactile approach to sculpture, blending textures and experimental techniques. “I like to see objects as living organisms, to imagine them coming alive and surprising you with their behavior," he says. "I want to create objects with my hands so I can imbue them with my personality, transforming them into communicative objects that evoke emotions and imagination. In short, I aim to create objects with a fictional or fantastical element, offering an escape from everyday life.”

Named "Designer of the Future" at Design Miami/Basel in 2009 at age 28, Carbonell was born in Spain in 1980 and graduated with high honors from the Design Academy Eindhoven in 2007. His work is featured in numerous museums worldwide, including the Groninger Museum in the Netherlands; the 21_21 Design Sight in Japan; Fnac–Fonds National d’Art Contemporain in France; the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in Canada; and in the United States, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Mint Museum.