Gaby
Israeli designer Albi Serfati seamlessly blends aesthetics and functionality with socially meaningful ideas.
He not only adds practicality to his postmodern art pieces but also expresses concern about the planet’s problems through contemporary forms and cutting-edge technology.
Take his new series “Light on Water,” a collection of original lighting fixtures. Serfati dedicated the series to lake ecology, aiming to draw attention to freshwater lakes that are polluted and drying up because of human activity.
As the founder and creative director of Aqua Creations, Serfati didn’t just design creative sources of artificial light. Designboom writes that the pieces tell stories about environmental damage and the consequences of destroying Earth’s plants and animals.
The “Light on Water” series includes floor lamps, table lamps, wall and ceiling fixtures, as well as a mobile phone. To convey socially relevant messages through his designs, Serfati used the reflective effect of rust-resistant steel and his signature material—colored silk. Both metal and fabric helped the artist simulate water by reflecting surrounding objects.
The series’ key element, the “Lotus Lakes,” produces its most watery, sensuous effects. Its 17 movable shades project light onto the steel, creating the illusion of sunlight shimmering on water. Some fixtures in the collection are named after lakes that need human care, such as Lake Chad in Central Africa and Lake Doiran on the border of Greece and North Macedonia.
Serfati says he wants public figures whose decisions affect the planet to see this conceptual series. For that reason, he chose the prestigious Design Miami 2022 exhibition as the first venue to showcase “Light on Water” (taking place in Miami Beach, USA, from November 30 to December 4). After the presentation, the exclusive lighting fixtures will be available for purchase.
Designer and photographer Albi Serfati founded Aqua Creations in 1992 with his wife, artist Ayala Serfati. The studio team draws inspiration from natural forms while creating enchanting, original light fixtures. They design lighting objects on commission, tailoring each piece to individual projects.
