Ilanel Design Studio were invited to collaborate with Tokyo’s Space Dance group, to create a set of illuminated props that could be interacted with on stage.

“The project looks at various aspects of design, mainly from the original commissioning requirements of creating an illuminating interactive experience,” said Creative Director Ilan El.

“It examines Butoh dance as an external representation of internal notions which evolves and creates an individualised wholeness.”

The idea inspired nu, a flexible luminary that bends and twists to create an interactive sculpture.

“Bamboo was selected as representative of the culture from which Butoh originates and particularly for its structure, which resembles a limb with its joint,” says El of his choice of material.

nu was recently on display as part of the Design Institute of Australia (DIA)’s Motion + Emotion exhibition – but it looks best on stage when reflecting the motion and movement of a dancer.

Ilanel Design Studio
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