Blush is an ambient lamp that is set within drywall and painted over to make it invisible. When turned on, the lamp pulsates slowly with a pink light that glows through the surface of the wall.

It uses electroluminescent technology and is designed to be embedded in most sheetrock walls.
A fader allows the user to adjust the intensity and the speed of the light sequence.

The current version of the lamp is a blurred pink circle of light of 27 inches in diameter, integrated into a thin sealed box made of plywood and plexiglass.

I first presented the project as an experimental piece in an art gallery. I then improved the model to present it at the ICFF studio in New York in april 2011.

My goal was to create a lamp that would have no visible structure and focus on the light phenomenon only.

The challenge was to set the right light conditions in order to reveal both the glow produced by the light source and the materiality of the wall.

Also, the structure of the lamp had to be flat enough so that it could be integrated in most drywalls.

Through a very eclectic practice, I have been exploring for the past twenty years, as a visual artist, the relationship between an object and the context of its presentation in order to challenge perception.
My interest in product design is closely related to my artistic practice and stems originally from a question on the status and methods of distribution of objects. Pieces such as the Blush lamp reflect my recurring concern for the notions of displacement, shift of perspective, adaptation and resistance.
I have a particular interest in dematerialization, meditative objects that offer sensory experiences, and the idea that, more than ever, we must do more with less. The Blush lamp is another step in that direction.

My main goal for this unusual lamp was to focus on the quality of what would appear to be its only constituent: the light itself. I needed to create a colored glow as subtle and uniform as possible. After doing some research about light technology, it appeared that working with electro luminescence was the best choice for my project.
The advantages of this technology is that it is flat, highly visible in darkness and have low power consumption. It is effective and maintenance free. There is no filament to break and it does not burn out suddenly. It is cold to the touch and light-weight, shock proof and not affected by vibration.

The next step was to experiment with different translucent materials in order to filter the light and give the lamp its characteristic blurriness as well as the desired color. Naturally, I had to keep in mind that the overall object needed to be flat enough to be integrated in most plaster walls.
Also, I had to adjust the pace of the pulsation with a timer and a dimmer in order to create the feeling of a fragile light phenomenon on the verge of disappearance.

The installation process requires basic carpentry and painting skills and the lamp design has been optimized for distribution so that it could be installed relatively easily. The lamp is sealed into a flat box that protects it and makes it easier to handle. Specific installation instructions are provided with the lamp and I am available for assistance during the installation process.

Finally, once integrated into the wall, several coats of wall paint need to be carefully applied over the lamp with a large paint roller. The challenge here is to add enough paint to hide the lamp structure while allowing the light to glow through the surface of the wall.

The current versions of the lamps are custom made in order to meet specific installation criteria, and are mostly commissioned by art and design collectors or by architects and interior designer willing to integrate Blush into their architectural projects.

I am currently working on the development of industrial production solutions for the Blush lamp.

The Blush lamp is the result of a combination of ideas that derive from my practice as a visual artist. I often work with unstable materials such as light, sound or smoke and I am interested in creating a sense of density out of immateriality.

The idea is a simple one, but finds the user/spectator drawn into an experiential situation in the face of an unexpected, and unusual physical presence. Walls do not normally glow, and they certainly are unlikely to blush.
The Blush lamp insists on the emotional nature of our relationship to certain objects that constitute our immediate surroundings and to the spaces we live in. It changes the way we perceive them and in return questions our relationship to our environment.
Blush is a subtle presence more than an object.

By focusing on the light quality rather than on the physicality of the object, it is also a humble statement toward immateriality.

In an era marked by very high energy consumption, it is urgent to move toward more responsible practices and redefine the notions of growth and consumerism and Design is a good place to address these questions.

Blush is a flickering ghost of a lamp on the verge of invisibility.

It is also a product that symbolically invites us to meditate about our needs for new products….