There is no denying that lighting is an important element of interior design, as it has the power to transform the look and feel of a space. Whether you want the room to look dramatic or feel atmospheric, light and shadow are the influencing factors that dictate the ambience and vibe of the space. Today, lighting fixtures are as versatile as eclectic and are inspired by things as unique as time, memory and natural materials. Here is a lowdown on three distinctive lighting ranges.
Sama: Yantar, Shailesh Rajput Studio, Mumbai
This collection explores time as an endless continuum that is constantly moving, transforming and reshaping everything it touches. Inspired by the relationship between time, the human form and the eternal spirit, the collection reflects on what changes and what remains beyond time. “Sama:Yantar brings together sculptural lighting and furniture, translating ideas of time, rhythm, spirituality and cultural memory into contemporary forms,” says Shailesh Singh, co-founder of Shailesh Rajput Studio, a design practice in Mumbai.
Each piece is handcrafted with a distinct material language, combining handcrafted aluminium, brass, glass, blow glass, alabaster, stainless steel, wood, saddle oysters, mother of pearl and compound epoxy textures. The collection explores tactile, layered, organic and fluid surfaces, often enhanced through sculptural textures, warm illumination and intricate handcrafted details.
A highlight of the collection includes forms inspired by Rudraksha malas, Shankha spirals, Samudra Manthan, Surya Namaskar, Bharatanatyam bells, cosmic cycles and the path of stars. The colour palette ranges from deep blacks and rich bronze tones to soft whites.
The Alabaster collection, Abner, Mumbai
Crafting lighting options with a focus on material, technology and the way light interacts with different surfaces and forms, has always been the key differentiator of lighting options from Abner. The Alabaster collection is centred around Spanish alabaster, a naturally translucent stone with a distinctive mineral character. Quarried in Spain, the stone carries the geological imprint of the region it comes from, with mineral deposits that create variations in its veining and translucency. This makes each piece unique, and no two pieces are the same. The palette moves through warm whites, creams and soft earthy tones.
“What makes alabaster particularly interesting as a lighting material is the way it responds to illumination. When lit, its natural veins and mineral formations become more pronounced, while the stone
itself diffuses the light to create a soft, layered glow,” says Shashank Nayak, founder of Abner, a design-led lighting practice based in Mumbai. Depending on the stone’s density and pattern, different areas can appear lighter or deeper, giving the fixtures a sense of depth.
The House Remembers, Abhinav Goyal Studio, Delhi-NCR
According to Abhinav Goyal, founder and creative director at Abhinav Goyal Studio, an art and design practice based in Delhi-NCR, this collection began with a very simple thought: people leave a house, but something of them remains behind. A home absorbs routines almost unconsciously; someone sitting in the same chair every evening, conversations around a table, a particular corner belonging almost instinctively to one person, and so on.
The restrained lighting sculptures are crafted from metal, with a deliberately layered and textured look. The metal surfaces retain their raw, fragmented quality, allowing light to filter through the composition and create shifting patterns of shadow and warmth. “The ceiling light takes cues from the cellular structure of a beehive, with repeated metal elements gathering around the light source. In contrast, the hanging light draws from familiar architectural forms like arches, windows, domes and layered facades. Across both pieces, repetition, distortion and the interplay of solid metal with light create a theatrical quality,” says Goyal.
The Bengaluru-based freelance writer is passionate about all things design, travel, food, art and culture.