Light and Life in the Sahara Across the vast landscapes of the Sahara, light has always played a vital role in daily life. For the Tuareg people, a nomadic culture spread across North Africa, lanterns are not simply decorative objects — they are practical tools shaped by the demands of desert living and long-distance travel. …
Light and Balance in Japanese Gardens Japanese stone lanterns, known as tōrō, are a traditional feature of temple grounds and gardens, where light is used with restraint and purpose. Rather than illuminating a space fully, these lanterns create a soft, guiding glow that enhances calm, balance, and reflection. Often found along pathways, near water, or …
Light and Celebration During Ramadan Throughout the month of Ramadan, streets, homes, and shops across Egypt glow with colourful lanterns known as fanous. These decorative lights are one of the most recognisable symbols of the holy month, bringing warmth and festivity to evenings marked by reflection, prayer, and community. As daylight fades and families gather …
Every spring, the streets and temples of Korea glow with thousands of colourful lanterns celebrating one of the most important events in the Buddhist calendar — the birth of the Buddha. Known as the Yeondeunghoe Lantern Festival, this centuries-old celebration transforms cities with light, colour, and spiritual symbolism. At the centre of the festival is …
Light as Ceremony In Korea, light has long marked moments of transition. Lanterns do more than illuminate a path; they signal meaning, belonging, and ritual. When a lantern appears in a procession, it is rarely decorative alone. It carries symbolism shaped by centuries of cultural practice. Among the most recognisable of these forms is the …
Light Before Architecture Long before permanent buildings, electricity, or even metalworking, humans shaped light. In the Indian subcontinent, this shaping took the form of the diya — a simple oil lamp made from earth, flame, and intention. Diyas are among the world’s oldest decorative lighting objects still in continuous use. They are not merely tools …
Light Before Wires Long before electric bulbs and ceiling fixtures, Japanese homes were lit by a quiet, portable object known as the Andon. Made from wood, washi paper, and a small oil flame, the Andon did more than illuminate a room. It shaped the way space was experienced after sunset. In traditional interiors of the …
Light as Culture, Not Just Illumination Across Latin America, light is inseparable from celebration. It marks festivals, honours faith, animates streets, and transforms ordinary spaces into places of gathering. Lighting is rarely neutral. It is expressive, colourful, and deeply human. From punched tin lanterns in Mexico to woven fibre shades in the Andes, Latin American …
Light Through Metal and Pattern Long before electric light, homes across the Middle East were illuminated by pierced metal lamps that turned flame into pattern. Brass and copper were shaped, carved, and perforated by hand, allowing light to escape in delicate constellations across walls and ceilings. These lamps were never just functional objects. They were …