Metalarte unveils Metalarte by

Collaborations with graphic artists kicks off with Cristian Zuzunaga’s reinterpretation of the Alta Costura lamp.

Decorative lighting firm Metalarte has launched a new line in its catalogue of products called Metalarte by, which sees graphic artists collaborate with the firm by giving a new twist to some of its most iconic products. The first collaboration is with designer Cristian Zuzunaga who has reinterpreted the Metalarte’s Alta Costura (meaning Haute Couture) lamp.

It’s not the first time artists have treated a lampshade as a blank canvas, but it’s the first time a canvas of this kind has measured 3m long and 1m wide. Zuzunaga has adhered to his unique, personal style which has brought him international fame, describing it this time around as ‘Pixel-Op-Art’.  The result is a homage to the hypnotic style of Op Art and the Alta Costura lamp, originally designed by Josep Aregall almost a quarter of a century ago. It’s been made in a limited edition of only 25 lights, each hand-printed by the designer himself.

Born to a Catalan mother and Peruvian father, Zuzunaga has developed a style whose roots lie in discovering the beauty hidden in the microscopic while studying biology. This led him to break down images into their infinitesimal parts, then transforming them into patterns and systems — now his trademark. Although colour is his forte, for this commission Metalarte requested he use black and white only.

Metalarte is part of the Spanish group Luxiona. Since it was founded in 1932, its catalogue has given equal emphasis to the past and future, the contemporary and traditional, and focuses on Spanish design and designers. Luxiona, and its brands Metalarte, Troll and Sagelux, provide a wide range of internationally renowned technical and decorative lighting. Luxiona has subsidiaries in Mexico, Peru, China, Poland, France, Italy, Germany and Hong Kong.