A Dream: A Tabletop Lighting Installation

Visualizing the Surrealistic Nature of Dreams

A dream is weightless and transparent, elusive yet realistic. Naai-Jung Shih sought to capture these qualities in the "A Dream" installation. The entire setting is placed on a transparent base, with a light source projecting upward, creating the illusion of weightlessness and floating in the air. Each curved linear form contributes to a part of a propagating dream, adding to the surrealistic nature of the piece.

The realization of this design required a free-form linear member that mimics the blurred boundaries of a metaphor. After extensive research and testing, Shih found that hangers were the perfect choice. The installation is meticulously hand-chained, with each hanger held in position by a transparent 3 mm plastic string, providing tension and stability.

Measuring 80*70*35 cm, the "A Dream" lighting installation is designed to be placed on a table, with the top part slightly lower than eye level. Its dynamic form allows for interaction, as one can traverse the entire setting inside and outside, up and down, from any orientation. The relative location between the box and the installation is also changeable, adding to the versatility of the piece.

Created in Taipei, Taiwan, this project took approximately one month to complete. It is part of a series of designs that explore the profound study of orders, elements, and light sources. The development of a closed loop in this installation holds significant meaning, as dreams do not have specific starting or ending points.

The "A Dream" lighting installation by Naai-Jung Shih has received recognition for its outstanding creativity and ingenuity. It was awarded the Bronze A' Design Award in the Fine Arts and Art Installation Design category in 2017. This prestigious award is bestowed upon designs that exhibit strong technical and creative skills, contributing to quality of life improvements and making the world a better place.