At IDS: Ani+LUMIGrane

Montreal based artist Frédéric Guibrunet has been chalking his own path to success by showing an absolute deference to paper. Designing under the label of Ani+LUMIGrane, Guibrunet creations play on flexible geometry that gives a contemporary rhythm to the quintessential and emphasizes the designers desire to ignore symmetry.

Maplemap Light. Designed by Frédéric Guibrunet of Ani+LUMIGrane.

Ani+LUMIGrane is also an exhibitor at the Interior Design Show / IDS 09 which is currently taking place in Toronto to highlight the current interior, architecture and industrial design trends. Creating sculptural lighting objects by utilizing something as ubiquitous as paper makes the collection eco-chic and keeps pace with the thriving eco-conscious design continuum. Guibrunet believes in recycling and preservation however his creations avoid being a drab social commentary.  In fact the touch of humor and fantasy is omnipresent since paper as a medium allows Guibrunet complete flexibility to experiment with more innovative geometric shapes.

Says Guibrunet: “Ani+LUMIGrane is a dual vocation. Indeed, it offers artistic and cultural events related to the manufacture of paper, recycling and preservation of the environment (Ani) and it designs and produces custom made and series lighting paper (LUMIGrane).”

Maplemap Light. Designed by Frédéric Guibrunet of Ani+LUMIGrane.

Mademoiselle. Designed by Frédéric Guibrunet of Ani+LUMIGrane.

If you explore Guibrunet’s repertoire of work on his personal website you will notice that all his creations have a dishelved elegance to them. On one hand, he is discarding customary utilitarian rules yet on the other hand, he is utilizing time-tested and established construction material like paper-mâché.  This incongruity is seen quite well in his Princesse and Mademoiselle (collaborations with Sophie Mouton-Perrat) Lamps that coalesces papier-mâché with linen paper. For the Maplemap Light Guibrunet uses cotton paper and also gets Didier Boursin on board to utilize his expertise in origami.

Guibrunet’s imaginative musings may not be everyone’s cup of tea as they slant towards the quixotical, contravene conventions and at time border on the outrageous. However I can completely envision one of these lamps sitting pretty in the desiccated mallscape of urban cities or making their presence feel in quirky little bar.