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I have been fascinated by bioluminescence for a long time. Some animals and fungi emit light, in patterns or all over their body, flashing or continuous. It’s not just fireflies. Some species of plankton also emit light, as do fish, jellyfish, deep sea creatures – and some mushrooms. They look almost like fairytale creatures.

Electricity is a lot like magic. Everyone uses it, yet few people wonder why it works, or how. Often, electrical devices have typically technical designs: geometric and strong shapes are very common. Though sometimes playful or elegant, it never looks like nature. Yet electricity is a natural phenomenon.

We often use electricity as a light source. Bioluminescence is a form of light (chemoluminescence) that looks a lot like the electrical form of light (electroluminescence). This resemblance inspired me to make art that lights up. But not just any light would do: It had to look and feel natural. Not the light from a clearly visible lamp, but light from a natural phenomenon. The combined magic of bioluminescence and electroluminescence.

I started to create my Wisp Lights. They continue to provoke a specific question from my guests: are those real mushrooms?

More info: www.wisplights.com | instagram: @levend_lichtje

Amanita muscaria – lights on

Amanita muscaria – lights off

Taraxacum laneum – lights on

Taraxacum laneum – lights off

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Mycena albatus – lights on

Mycena albatus – lights off

Cuphophyllus albatus – lights on

Cuphophyllus albatus – lights off

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Mycena albatus – lights on

Mycena albatus – lights off

Inocybe betula – lights on

Inocybe betula – lights off

Mycetinis rubra – lights on

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Mycetinis rubra – lights off

Mycetinis rubra