Italian designer Gaspare Como presents Ciàvuru, a lighting collection that proposes a new relationship between user and object through direct manipulation. Born in Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily, Como developed the pieces from a combination of contrasting materials – plaster, leather and metal – which allow users to alter the shape and direction of light.

The collection comprises three objects: two table lamps called Babbasone and a floor lamp named Picciriddu. The names refer to the designer’s Sicilian origins and evoke affective memories linked to everyday life and regional traditions.

A graduate in product design from IED Turin, Como worked in Madrid and Eindhoven, where he sought to broaden his vision of the relationship between art and functional design. His career includes time at the studio of designer Nacho Carbonell, a reference in sculptural objects.

Interaction as concept

The Babbasone lamps feature a textile base that allows users to bend and tilt the structure. With each movement, the direction of light and the spatial configuration of the object change. Available in two sizes, the pieces combine the rigidity of plaster and metal with the flexibility of leather.

The Picciriddu lamp stands out for its dimensions. With an extension of hand-stitched eco-leather stretching over 3 metres, the piece articulates rigid and flexible components. The wooden and plaster structure contrasts with the leather, creating visual tension between materials.

For Como, the objects function as relational devices that invite active user participation. The proposal seeks to transform lighting into a spatial and sensory experience, going beyond the utilitarian function of light.

The collection was presented at Dutch Design Week and forms part of exhibitions exploring the artisanal component of contemporary design. Como maintains a studio in Eindhoven, a city recognised as a hub for design experimentation in Europe.