Japanese design studio Medum will present "Light is Shadow" at Milan Design Week 2026, running from 20–26 April in the Tortona district at Back12. The installation explores the nuanced interplay between illumination and darkness, inviting visitors to reconsider their relationship with light in an era of constant brightness.
© Medum
Head of Medum, Shintaro Monden.
Following its debut at Milan Design Week in 2023, Medum returns with a project that goes beyond lighting prototypes. The installation offers a cultural and sensory reflection on light and shadow, highlighting the Japanese concept of "Awai", the subtle in-between space where opposing states coexist. In this vision, shadow is "not absence, but an active presence; light does not dominate the space, but accompanies it," creating a contemplative environment that encourages reflection and imagination.
The installation features prototypes made from inorganic electroluminescence (EL), a flexible, thin, and multilayered material that emits soft, uniform light. Medum transforms inorganic EL into a light source capable of expressing Awai, combining aesthetics with sustainability: the sheets are modular, energy-efficient, and allow for creative shaping with minimal waste. The studio emphasises that its designs are not only visually striking but also replicable, functionally optimised, and suitable for both artistic and industrial applications.
© Medum
Visitors can experience the installation at their own pace, with no predetermined path, allowing for slow observation and immersion in the dialogue between light and shadow. Alongside the main exhibit, Medum will present an archive exhibition of its representative works, offering insights into the studio's prototyping process and the role of experimentation in shaping final designs.
Medum's "Light is Shadow" promises to be both a sensory and intellectual experience, encouraging a renewed sensitivity to darkness and the subtleties of perception. The installation demonstrates how thoughtful design can combine technical innovation, sustainability, and contemplative engagement in a contemporary interior context.
Event details:
- Venue: Back12, Via Tortona 12, Milan
- Dates: 20–26 April 2026
- Hours: 10 am – 7 pm (20–25 April); 10 am – 4 pm (26 April)
More information:
Medum
[email protected]
www.medum.jp
