This year we returned with our group, following our carefully-deliberated absence at the 2017 edition (we explained our reasons here: https://www.rossinigroup.it/blog/euroluce-noi-non-ci-saremo-perche/) and the experience was an absolutely positive one. On the organizational side, it was a major commitment, involving all levels and roles within the group as well as the group’s external collaborators: from the conception on paper of new products to prototypes, from commercial choices to the new printed and digital documentation (catalogues, price lists, technical sheets, summary sheets, press kits, etc.), from setting up the stand to communications for our Ninetieth anniversary, using a wide range of printed and social media tools, now active on an almost daily basis, with a busy calendar of issues and releases, eagerly awaited by all our contacts. And after each important event comes the time to reflect and take stock, because the question we will hear most often now is: “how did the fair go?” Right from the outset, our impression was that there was more activity compared to the previous edition. The Rho Pero exhibition centre was almost fully occupied, with great attendance, well distributed over the five days of the event, all the catering spaces were consistently crowded, which everyone knows is a very reliable indicator! But joking aside, we can say that we recorded a high rate of interest for our new ideas in general (we discuss the products presented here: https://www.rossinigroup.it/blog/protagonisti-ad-euroluce-2019/) and, were we to draw up a league table, the award winners would be:

undoubtedly the “in&out” lamp collection, which with its broad range and depth (four different families, all wireless, rechargeable, for use both indoors and out) piqued the curiosity of colleagues, technical experts and the general public alike. The most photographed: Twin and Crystal. The former due to the versatility of our vintage-style decorative lamps, which are customizable, appealing and very trendy; the second thanks to its gorgeous micro-lasered screen and the magical transformation that occurs when it is switched on (from transparent, the screen becomes a solid white).

The most technological, and hence most appreciated by the techies was iGloo, with its magnetic attachment, allowing the body of the lamp to be rotated, freely directing its clean, clear beam of light. It also features a very complete family. The most “designer” piece was undoubtedly Terrazza Martini, brainchild of Chiaramonte Marin, with its fascinating combination of a technological LED core and the classic, timeless exterior form of a sphere, complete with vintage-style finishes. But the truth is that there were a great number of products to meet a broad range of different tastes, and they were all met with enthusiasm.

The stand was also a hit, perhaps because it sought to go a step further, proposing something extra in its concept and creativity, with its reference to the traditional courtyard tenements, a celebration of our ties with Milan, together with a tram that explored the most important moments in the history of our business.
Of course, we had our predictions and expectations, and although Euroluce has only just finished, and it may seem a little soon to talk about tangible results, we can say with undisguised satisfaction that every product comfortably met expectations. Perhaps for different reasons, but the work invested in proposing something new, enjoyable, useful and accessible was amply repaid right across the range of models proposed.
We would like to offer a final observation regarding the end consumers who were allowed access to the fair over the weekend. One fact emerged very clearly: the “public” is increasingly well-informed. People come in with clear ideas, undoubtedly they are happy to receive advice, but in the meantime they have already gathered a lot of information regarding their own lighting needs. They proved sensitive to the issues of sustainability and energy saving, and are prepared to take these factors into account in their choices, provided that these coincide with aesthetically pleasing products. They have an opinion which they can easily share and compare, thanks to the possibilities offered by the internet, often establishing a direct relationship with the producer, and bypassing the classic “middle man”, be that an electrician, light designer or specialist store. Thus, they seem inclined towards more well-thought-out choices, less easily sucked into the classic “impulse buy” in response to a desire rather than a need. Indeed, we feel we can talk about evolution right down the line: from producers and distributors through to retailers and customers, everyone essentially shares the same objective, which is to create a new relationship of trust and transparency, all on the same level, enjoying two-way conversations. This, perhaps, was the real new phenomenon at Euroluce.

New models will be introduced into the DECO catalogue, with the full edition to be issued in September 2019: complete collections (with table and floor lamps, wall and ceiling lamps, and hanging lamps) each with its own distinct character, but all in line with current market trends. From a vintage style, with lots of the gorgeous brass tones currently dominating the décor world, to techno-lighting-style products using distinctive and stylish materials such as micro-lasered clear polycarbonate or special lenses.

And in addition to devices with traditional bulb sockets, which allow end users to add their own personal touch with our range of vintage and decorative bulbs, we also offer products with integrated LEDs for excellent lighting performance. Now allow us to present to you Terrazza Martini. You can discover the rest of the collection – iGloo, Karaoke, Crystal and Twin – at Euroluce!

Terrazza Martini designed by Chiaramonte Marin What better cocktail than a Martini with a tasty olive plunged into the cocktail glass? The plump olive inspired the shape of this luminaire, created by the designers Chiaramonte and Marin. Made of a smoked finish blown glass round diffuser with an internal LED soul in a milky white sandblasted glass cylinder. The internal diffuser encloses the LED boards fixed into an aluminium structure. Available as table and suspension lamp, with closing details in brass satin finish.

We mentioned our portable products for outdoor use, so that the light can follow us wherever we may go. So here is our idea of open-air lighting: the OUTDOOR collection. One of the most enjoyable parts, in addition to coming up with ideas for new models suitable for outdoor use, was giving them names with a summery feel. At last we can spend hours in the pleasant company of friends, or simply take some time to relax outside, lulled by the warm evening air, and leave the chill of winter far behind us.

Of course, nothing prevents us from using these same lamps anywhere inside the house, creating unexpected corners of light, thanks to the convenience of wireless devices, and they can also be extremely versatile in the catering field. The title of the brochure, “In & Out”, was not chosen at random! To give you a quick foretaste here, we will present Pic-Nic, while the other models – Siesta, Take Away and Take Away Sound – can all be found at our stand.

Pic-Nic LED table lamp (2700K), portable and rechargeable, perfect for terraces and gardens and why not for cheer up your pic-nic at the park. The wireless lamp following you wherever you go. Die-cast aluminium body with pretreatment finishing for outdoor (protection grade IP54). Touch switch, charges through a USB cable, 9 hours battery life. Available in three finishes (white, anthracite, corten) and two heights.

Finally, a peep at our contract collection: to pique your curiosity, we want to tell you about our blown-glass chandelier that can also be used in bespoke compositions (I’m sure you can imagine the potential for spectacular compositions). At Euroluce you can view it in two special finishes, but it will be ultimately available in the colours of your choice, as always, meeting interior designers’ demands for character, dimensions and customization.
All in all, this Euroluce will have so much to tell you about us. And the feeling, now more than ever, is that we have light in our blood, and we can’t wait to share it with you!

Visiting the most important fairs in our sector, even when we are not part of them, is always useful. The Euroshop fair, now in its nineteenth edition, held once every three years, was celebrating its 50th birthday (it looks great). This fair attracts an international audience with a high percentage of decision makers of the retail industry, as well as architects, planners, designers and general contractors. With a total exhibition area of ​​127.000 square meters, in which more than 2.300 companies from over 60 nations exhibited their products, the exhibition areas were organized into categories, such as Shopfitting and store design, Pop Marketing, Expo & Event Marketing, Visual Merchandising, Food Tech & Energy Management, Retail Technology and, of course, lighting.

A pavilion and a half was devoted to lighting, a new formula from that of previous years, which saw the lighting sector scattered throughout the fair. Thus, this one was a much more comfortable and easier exhibition for visitors, who could focus their visit to the fair in their areas of interest.
If we talk about retail, the goal today is to provide stores with personality, real, live, customized and often unique shops. Stores often include art objects, preferring the use of natural and recycled materials and offer other products and services within the store itself, expanding its role and use. The visit to a shop must become primarily an experience: narration and emotion are included in the selection of solutions to be adopted, in the decision of the products to display or the concepts that a store (or brand) wants to convey. The light obviously contributes to this effect and to the primary purpose of stores: make people buy.

Talking about retail, we want to share with you two of the latest Plexiform projects: for Expert City in Cesano Maderno we decided to use “Trado“; for Sua Maestà Shoes, in Busca, we thought Futura – hanging version – was perfect to illuminate the products. You can find both projects in our gallery, after the Euroshop photo reportage.

The retail sector is growing and expanding in the furniture – lighting sector but, certainly, it was not spared from the crisis and, in particular, the e-commerce competition. One of the key topics of the event was certainly the meeting / clash with the technology. From the one hand, the means and devices that a store has to use to be always attractive and to win the competition of the online shop; on the other hand, the addition, right inside the store, of the technology through the digitization of the purchase process or digital light, for example.

We increasingly see the combination and connection between light and technology. From the one hand, light control system, such as the DALI system and the domotics; on the other hand, the internet of things which is now a reality that has become part of our lives.
How light can affect the purchasing process has been studied and analyzed by a department of the Zumtobel group, with a research entitled Limbic Lighting. The research, carried out in collaboration with a German clothing company that has analyzed the behavior of its customers at its stores, has led to the evidence that light can affect the purchasing process of a consumer. By creating different types of lighting in the showroom, they investigated what are the parameters of the light that have more effect, and which light scenes are more effective on an emotional level, depending on different types of customers. Among other things, it was found that even minimal changes of the scenarios, almost imperceptible, are enough to cause very different reactions in them. And, above all, they found that different types of customer are associated to different lighting projects. Thus, it is a light tailored to the customer or group of customers.

Another issue related to light and to its development in technology is the IoT, internet of things. That is the ability to adjust the lighting fixtures in consideration of external light. At different times of the day (and therefore different physical needs of people) different types of light are needed. They change the intensity or hue of color, preferring for example a shade of cold light in the morning or a softer and warmer light towards the afternoon / evening.
Studies conducted on the shades of light and the color rendering (reported with the CRI value, color rendering index, on the devices) are particularly important in the retail environment. Several companies presented very colorful stalls and stands, showing how sometimes even with the same machine you can create different lighting scenes, getting different effects on the merchandise. This is the case of the dynamic white, namely the ability to mix different diodes inside the LED (and, therefore, within the same device) and modulate power, thus obtaining hot or cold light depending on the requirement specification. Thus, we are talking about tailored light in all sectors for all times of the day and for all types of consumer. Could we call it liquid light?

The choice of the Overlite showroom (member of RossiniGroup) as a location for the vernissage is not random. With a total area of ​​1400 square meters and over 60 lighting brands available, it is a unique exhibition in the city; it is the ideal partner to adequately illuminate the works by Domenico David. Talking about lighting, art and exhibition areas, which better brand than ERCO, one of the leading brands in the field (among the other projects signed by the German brand, we mention Milano Duomo, the Uffizi Gallery in Florence and the Imperial Forums in Rome).

On the one hand, then, light in painting: Domenico David tells how light has always been crucial in the figurative art. Through a very interesting historical overview, he explained to a curious and interested audience, the role of light inside the painting, expressed by colors and strokes on canvas: from Giotto to Caravaggio, Leonardo, Rembrandt up to Rothko. Looking at his works, where the forms are abstract and are basically color volumes, the reference to Rothko comes out in a clear and immediate way. However, David, as a good teacher (he is professor at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Brera), introduced the topic of light in philosophy and in the Italian language. From the myth of Plato’s cave to the concept of “making light”, namely enter, explore, uncover and reveal the truth: because light comes before the colour and, finally, the human eye that is there to perceive not only the colors, but also the shadow.

David’s works are illuminated in the showroom in a masterly way by ERCO, a German company founded in 1934, which made lighting its reason for being. As Massimiliano Scaletti, technical manager of the company in its Italian headquarters, tells us, light is not only emotional matter, but it is first and foremost a science, a practice that requires study and technique. Illuminating an exhibition area or an artwork requires the combination of the right product and the right design, like the illumination prepared by the technical staff of Overlite in cooperation with ERCO design office. David’s works on display are illuminated through some binary projectors used for the indoor lighting of the Duomo, products that enhance and bring out the play of light and color present on the canvas, highlighting the strokes in the background and giving a real materiality and almost physical and three-dimensional presence to the volumes painted on a two dimensional area. Therefore, Mr. Scaletti explained the technical coordinates to evaluate a lighting product, which are also dictated by the effect tone wants to obtain or the demands by the clients. They use special tools, such as LED color temperature, the beam angle of the luminous flux or the use of accessories such as profilers to give almost theatrical lighting and focusing more on some details. Often, the most successful projects are the result of collaboration between the design and the lighting designer, like the case of the Imperial Forums whose project was signed by Francesca and Vittorio Storaro (awarded with the Academy award for three times). The speech ended by listing the several projects implemented by Erco, not only in the art field (there are also private buildings or retail areas like Apple store).

The works are on display (and for sale) at the Overlite showroom until February 27. An event not to be missed by those who wish to experience light that becomes painting and painting that becomes light.

Certainly, the figures – and the time – will give us a clearer picture on the subject; and maybe, there will be some food for thought about the meaning of a specialist Fair in an increasingly digital world. But that’s another story, and we will tell you in the future.

If you face that, you know that the approach path is not easy. You have learned it personally after several years of experience. The path is steep, full of surprises, setbacks and difficulties. The approach period is long (the red date has been flashing on the calendar of your iPhone for months) and starts much before the first day of the fair but, at the same time, it seems very short, with the day of the debut approaching at gallop, and things yet to complete that seem to be one million.

You get to the day before the debut, when you are already at the stand. That lamp still seems to be hung crooked. The other one has not been assembled yet. There are no stools at the reception. Where did we put the USB pens we have to give customers tomorrow? Those bulbs do not fit that glass sphere. Did we really forget the biscuits we should give along with the coffee? The fair is all that. It’s light, it’s product. It’s about lamps, LEDs, but it is also about gadgets, sweets, vacuum-sealed Grana Padano cheese and salami packs coming from Italy (of course, you cannot show German food at a stand characterized by the made in Italy). The fair is composed of men, arms, hands that weave cables and hang wires.

The day before the beginning, everything seems to be in the weeds around your stand. Only late in the afternoon, they start laying the carpet in the common areas of the fair. You still see papers and cartons all around there. Then, as if by magic, the next day everything is shining. At 9 a.m., everything is clean and in order for the opening. The stand is perfect (and if there is still something wrong, you are probably the only one who knows). Your sales representatives are so quiet and smiling, ready to welcome prospects with a bright smile (despite they made efforts the day before and worked as much as you did). You are there, enjoying the show. Who cares if the red fingernails are already damaged and the hair set by the hairdresser is already floppy. It doesn’t matter if it is still 9 a.m. on the first day and you are already tired as if it were the last day. It doesn’t matter if something went wrong (is there anything going the right way??). All that – and much more – is the fair of light, is Light+Building 2016. And it was great to be part of it.

Bari / Medimex – 29, 30, 31 October 2015 – at Teatro Margherita.

Venice / Biennale, Palazzo Pisani, until 22 November.

On the website kernelfestival.net, you can read: “Kernel is proposed as a carrier of new multidisciplinary synergies between electronic music and sound design, audiovisual mapping, ephemeral architecture, digital and interactive art.

Kernel project is created as a platform for a continuous and dynamic connection aimed at offering opportunities for meeting and exchange between the public, up-and-coming talented people and renowned artists at an international level. In order to offer artists many opportunities to show their work to the public, and so that the public can appreciate research, projects and works from all over the world, Kernel is proposed in different forms and structurally different but complementary events.”

We cannot but be fascinated while waiting for the next show eagerly (because it is a real show) on 25 and 26 September at Desio, in the Brianza area: Il Barbiere di Siviglia (The barber from Seville) played by Giovanni Falzone Contemporary Orchestra at Villa Tittoni. “It is a new interpretation of the classical world where video projections, generated in real time, give birth to an involving and amazing multimedia event, along with the music.”

How cannot you consider the ability to create a new way to engage and excite as a form of art? Just so you can make the public, even the youngest, approach classical music as well as theatre, technology, photography, art direction and sound… an explosion of feelings and life that– once again – the light has contributed to create and spread, democratically, transversally… from 8 years to 80 years. Because even Rossini likes Rossini (Gioachino, of course)!

kernelfestival.net

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Born in England in 1946, McCall has been living in New York since 1973. Since the early 1970s he has devoted himself to the creation of sculptures of Solid Light Sculptures: beams, curved or conical plans outlining new volumes crossing a completely darkened exhibition space. Light sculptures by McCall transcend pure aesthetic dimension to become an authentic sensory experience able to subvert the observer’s perceptual habits. In the spaces of the Museum four solid light sculptures created between 2003 and 2013 will be seen, including the digital version of his seminal work, Line Describing a Cone, dated 1973.

Lugano, from September 12, 2015 to January 30, 2016 – LAC Lugano Art Culture Museum.

www.luganolac.ch