Lisa Ishii / Lighting Designer
Published on 19 July 2019
Lisa Ishii is a lighting designer. Today, she’s turning the spotlight on all those special somethings that fuel her inspiration.
Lisa Ishii dressed the Eiffel Tower in light for Les Japonismes 2018. And this will be her seventh year staging the Light Trend zone at MAISON&OBJET. Shops, monuments, museums, public spaces, landscapes… nowhere escapes the creative clutches of this amazing Japanese talent who’s spent the last twenty years living in Paris crafting poetry with light.
Self Portrait. We invite professionals from the decoration and design world to snap six shots that sum up their story. Smartphone in hand, they have fun revealing all the little nothings around which their world revolves. It’s time to take a peek behind closed doors.
“My dual culture is really enriching and comes through in my designs”
“I do sometimes work in the office, but I’m usually out and about, on project sites, at meetings, travelling overseas… In and amongst, I try to switch off from time to time, as it helps focus my mind. My office is actually lots of different places.
This photo highlights that, but I also chose it for its symbolism. I’m actually from Tokyo, but I’ve been living in Paris for approximately twenty years whilst nonetheless maintaining links and continuing to work on projects in my home country. My dual culture is really enriching and comes through in my designs, although nowadays the international aspect is getting ever stronger. My office and my inspiration can be found in lots of different places.”
Useful object
“My job as a lighting designer has both a creative and technical side. Coming up with an idea is always a lightbulb moment, but then you have to know how to actually make it happen. I’ve got an army of extremely practical friends to help me: a laptop and so on, a light meter and even DIY tools… They’re what follow me around the world wherever I go. All my items are generally black or grey to ensure they stay “in the shadow” of my creations.”
Futile object
“My ambassador’s plaque from the Lyon Light Festival, an object that could be deemed futile but that holds so much meaning for me. I go every single year, partly for work, but mainly because I love it! The first time I was asked to present a work, back in 2006, I was absolutely over the moon. Then in 2016 I won my first award there, and after 3 participations I was invited to become one of the ambassadors for the event, which was a real honour.”
Good luck charm (1)
“My Chinese painting kit, and notably the calligraphy brushes that I’ve had for a long, long time; they’re a source of zen, inspiration and, at times, frustration. It’s an art form that’s dear to my heart, that I’ve been doing ever since I was young and that I regularly find myself going back to. Sometimes I create my lighting designs with artwork I’ve done with my brushes, such as on Rome’s Colosseum, which was pure magic.”
Good luck charm (2)
“My collection of perfume bottles, which has gradually been getting bigger and bigger since I started getting interested in lighting design. It’s a permanent fixture in my life and has pride of place on the mantlepiece in my office. I love seeing the light shine through the transparent surface. The different shapes, colours and finishes of the glass used to make the bottles is almost architectural, which I find hugely inspiring. Particularly since I believe in the beneficial effects of combining light and scent to promote well-being.”
A souvenir
“The Eiffel Tower. What a stunning object and symbol! I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to create a diplomatic light and sound show there last September that brought my two cultures, France and Japan, together. The context was extremely meaningful for me, and then the show itself received an amazing welcome from an extremely enthusiastic crowd. Ever since then, each time I see it, it brings back all those wonderful memories.”
Current crush
“This year, my agency I.C.O.N. celebrated its 15th anniversary in the Magic Mirror at the Parisian Fairground Museum, the Musée des Arts Forains, a truly historic and iconic venue for anyone involved in lighting. I’ve got a real crush on the venue and the event itself was amazing, casting my mind back over 15 years of incredible projects and encounters. This particular photo is one of my favourites as it features my team – all the people that help make our work so rewarding on both a professional and personal level.”
