Filipino designer from Milan Mirei Monticelli creates biomorphic lighting fixtures that toe the line between sculpture and practicality. The artist’s works ripple outward and glow from within, making them feel alive and quietly dancing wherever they stand or hang.
These gestural, biodegradable structures are woven by hand Banaca fabric made of Abacaa fiber that grows abundantly in Monticelli’s native Philippines. The artist’s studio works directly with a community of weavers in Bicol province on the southeast side of Luzon, sharing with Colossal, “We have developed the material together over time, so it is not just sourcing, but a relationship.”
The laborious act of harvesting Abacá fibers has been common for a long time. From gathering the wild plant’s towering stems and stripping them layer by layer to sun-drying bundles of knotted thread and hand-weaving the strands into functional textiles, the need for human connection has always been part of the process.
The term Banaca– invented by Monticelli – combines modern design elements with an age-old technique that has been passed down for centuries. Monticelli’s contemporary subversion of a material so deeply rooted in Philippine culture further emphasizes the metamorphic and dynamic presence of the works. “The human rhythm gives the material its character, and it is also the reason each piece feels alive when illuminated,” says the artist.
Monticelli’s practice also includes techniques that reflect the construction of clothing and fashion. The artist said many of her methods were also learned from her mother, a fashion designer. Draping, volume building and the creation of form are present in Monticelli’s lamps, underscoring a physical essence in their undulating forms.
Last month, the artist unveiled an installation titled ‘Pleasure Garden’ during Milan Design Week and often collaborates with interior designers, hospitality partners and architectural studios to create immersive spaces. Find more of Monticelli at Instagram.
