Gordijn, Lonneke and Ralph Nauta. Dandelight. n.d. studiodrift.com. Web. 27 June 2014. http://www.studiodrift.com/work/dandelight-1
Artists Lonneke Gordijn & Ralph Nauta have created a lamp made of an LED dandelion connected to a battery. A copper “stem” connects the LED dandelion to a battery at the base of the dandelion. Gordijn and Nauta hand make each lamp and sell them as individual art pieces. I like that the dandelion’s battery is so blunt and apparent, if it were hidden I think it would take away the artwork’s underlying intention. I think this is a good example of organic materials being used as a form of technology and the notion of technology having the potential to reconnect us to the natural world. Along with being really beautiful to look at, it also calls attention to nature’s similarity to technology. The green battery that powers each light acts as a man-made replacement to the dandelions natural power source, its organic roots. The copper wire also acts as an artificial stem that powers the light, feeding it with energy in the same manner an organic stem would. I like how the components of the lamp are artificial but the main focus is the illuminated organic dandelion. I think this is a great example of how art can create an object that blurs the lines between what is perceived to be “natural” and what is seen as artificial or man-made.
