As I was thinking of some examples of soft sculpture, I was actually reminded of these inflatable origami-inspired solar lanterns called the SolarPuff by Solight Design! Although I deeply appreciate the fine art soft sculpture pieces I’ve encountered and learned about (I actually wrote about Do Ho Suh’s sculptures in some of my college application essays!), these SolarPuffs stood out to me for their valuable design, distributability, simple beauty, and direct impact on the environment and built world. Inspired by an origami ball, the SolarPuff is a solar-charged lamp that can flat-pack, and easily be blown up by a few breaths, without the need for a tube or nozzle which can increase the chance of spreading germs and disease. After being charged in the sun, it can provide clean, carbon-free light for up to eight hours. Although simply a small, 5 inch cube at its largest, the SolarPuff exemplifies exactly how much difference good design can make in people’s lives.
For example, Syrian refugees often depend on kerosene lamps to travel to their camps. However, these lamps are heavy and expensive, not to mention outright dangerous– toxic kerosene fumes are the cause of death for an estimated 1.5 million people per year. The weightless and collapsable SolarPuff is a much more efficient and safe alternative, even reducing crimes such as child kidnapping or sexual assault in the camps as it provides safer travel. The light is also used in Haiti, where many families and children don’t have access to electricity or sustainable lighting. With the SolarPuff, people can work into the night, increasing economic productivity, and children can do their homework after nightfall without the need for toxic lamps.
Although very utilitarian, I chose to write about this “soft sculpture,” because that’s exactly what each of these lamps are! Beautiful, simple, and inflatable, this product intrigued me because it also relates to my interests in Product Design, sustainability, and different materials! Although I’m learning wood-working skills in the Products studio, I hope to develop more of a sensitivity to other materials and soft textiles and develop more humane, sustainable, and beautiful designs!
