Think about these two things for a moment: lamps and gourds. Neither are particularly extraordinary items, and many people wouldn’t consider them to be works of art.
If you tend to agree with those people, you just haven’t seen the work of Przemek Krawczynski. The Polish artist transforms calabash gourds into stunning lamps that illuminate rooms with swirling, psychedelic designs.
When the lights are on, these gourds create beautiful, richly colored patterns.
Calabarte (Przemek Krawczyński)
Calabarte (Przemek Krawczyński)
And they look pretty great when they’re off, too!
Calabarte (Przemek Krawczyński)
Most impressively of all, they cast incredible shadows.
Calabarte (Przemek Krawczyński)
Calabarte (Przemek Krawczyński)
Calabarte (Przemek Krawczyński)
An engineer by trade, Krawczynski discovered his passion for carving calabash gourds after making his first gourd lamp back in 2009. He fell in love with the craft and decided that it was time for a career change.
In 2010, he went to Senegal and found that the calabash gourd was the best one for making lamps. The rest is history.
The interlocking designs of Krawczynski’s lamps showcase his engineering skills.
Calabarte (Przemek Krawczyński)
This tessellating pattern is completely stunning.
Calabarte (Przemek Krawczyński)
Krawczynski is entirely self-taught as an artist.
Calabarte (Przemek Krawczyński)
Every one of his lamps takes two to four months to complete, and no two are alike.
Calabarte (Przemek Krawczyński)
“By day, my lamp is a unique sculpture, but at night, the light breathes new life into that sculpture, seeping through intricately carved wood and passing through thousands of holes,” Krawczynski says of his creations.
Calabarte (Przemek Krawczyński)
(via My Modern Met)
You can see more of Krawczynski’s work on his website, where you can even purchase a gorgeous lamp for yourself. Be sure to keep up with his latest projects on Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter.
