The Art and Science of Light by Rock & Soar
EXPERTS 15.10.24
In this exclusive OLISE interview, we dive into the creative minds behind Rock & Soar, exploring the inception and artistic direction of their innovative sculptural lighting company.
Q: What motivated you to establish Rock & Soar, and how did your previous experiences in the luxury industry shape this journey?
It was an exciting and challenging decision to build Rock & Soar. We felt the market was missing a women-led sculptural lighting company that is daring in its approach to concept design, colour, and texture while ensuring UK craftsmanship is celebrated and respected—all of which we’re incredibly passionate about. Collectively, we have been in the luxury industry for 16 years, leading sales and design teams in various companies. When we met each other at our previous job, we saw that each of us had skills the other didn’t, making us ready to build a well-rounded business and set sail.
Photo by Frank Yamoah
Q: Can you elaborate on a specific piece where discoveries within nature or science have influenced the design?
We spend a lot of time observing nature in order to develop and create our in-house collections. Our aim is to allow the viewer of the lighting installation to take a moment of consideration to observe details of the natural world that they may not have been conscious of before, which are translated through our lighting sculptures. One example of this is ‘Storm’, a hand-blown glass installation inspired by the formation of storm clouds and the reflection and diffusion of colour wavelengths during incredible dramatic skies. It was an exciting journey for us to learn how clouds are formed and why each storm is so unique in colour and texture.
Photo by Sylvain Deleu
Q: Your work features a bold approach to materials and textures. How do you go about selecting and experimenting with these elements to ensure each piece is both high-quality and environmentally conscious?
Being environmentally conscious is always on our minds, and it is easier to implement as a new business. We choose conscious processes for high-quality materials; for example, our clear glass is recycled from our glassblowers, and acrylic casting can be made from ‘over-run’ from other jobs, meaning less landfill waste. Each time we design or look for new materials, we always discuss these aspects with the maker or manufacturer.
Q: What current trends in sculptural lighting and luxury design do you find most inspiring, and how do they influence your work at Rock & Soar?
Interior designers and architects often incorporate FF&E trend finishes into our work. As our lighting is often bespoke and collection ranges can be customised, we are now seeing a lot of bronze or antique brass metal finishes being requested, which is a shift from the previous brass and gold-plated elements. We’re keen to follow our own path in statement lighting despite trends, experimenting with colours and textures in a unique and elegant way. We believe this approach gives the most impact and ambiance to an interior setting.
Q: Can you provide a glimpse into the technical aspects of creating your lighting sculptures, particularly how you integrate advanced engineering with artistic design?
Although our creative process starts with a sketch and watercolours, we move on to detailed engineering drawings, practical and structural details, and CAD modelling, which helps us see how feasible our concepts really are. Materials such as hand-blown glass and ceramic do not bode well with precision engineering due to their malleability and warping, so a lot of work goes into adjustability and tolerances when combining traditional crafts with technical design.
Visualisation by Rajan Sawhney
Q: What does a typical day look like in the Rock & Soar studio? Can you take us behind the scenes of your creative process?
It starts with sketching pencils, watercolours, and inspirational objects in nature. When beginning a concept, we focus on breaking down the key aspects of form, pattern, texture, colour, and how the object in nature reacts with light. This is then reconstructed into a tangible design that pulls details from the original source. “Noticing nature” is a motto we live by.
Sketches and paintings emerge, forms of components are designed, and these ideas are passed to our makers and product engineers for feasibility. It's a wonderful process of creatively feeding the soul and collaborating with talented people.
Q: Who or what are your biggest artistic influences, and how do they inspire your work?
Scientific reactions and changes in nature are mesmerising. They provide a broad scope for the imagination in terms of materials and form. Phenomena such as changes of state (solid, liquid, gas), growth, wavelengths, and biological structures are all beautiful elements that we can bring into a home, highlighting how fascinating they truly are.
Q: What future projects or collaborations are you most excited about? How do you envision the growth of Rock & Soar over the next five years?
We have just started to enter the US market, which is incredibly exciting, and we are continuing to promote our lighting collections, with plans to launch a few more in the future using different materials. We’re working on some fantastic bespoke concepts involving smell, sensory stimulation with aromatherapy and neuro-aesthetics, as well as a magnificent large-scale lobby entrance feature in a private residential building using pine tree elements with subtle forest green and bronze tones.
Discover the full range of Rock & Soar’s sculptural lighting and upcoming projects on their website.
