SHINING A LIGHT by Gabriel Tan & Gen Taniguchi
As part of Lisbon Design Week 2025, Molteni&C and Servant Lisbon presented Shining a Light, a poetic installation by Porto-based Singaporean designer Gabriel Tan and Japanese washi artist Gen Taniguchi. On view at the Molteni&C Flagship Store, the exhibition explored the intersection of light, craft, and materiality through a series of sculptural lighting objects and delicate washi forms.
Featuring three lighting collections by Gabriel Tan - Flag, Obelisk, and Carnation - alongside Taniguchi's Kago sculpture series, the installation offered an evocative expression of material storytelling. Set against the refined backdrop of Molteni&C's furniture, the exhibition captured a dialogue between lightness and solidity, restraint and expression.
For Gabriel, the project was as much about design as it was about scenography. "The installation explored the relationship between light, material and space," he said. "We wanted to create a moment where washi became more than paper, where it felt alive and atmospheric."
Each of Gabriel's lighting pieces was made using handmade washi from Nao Washi, a 300-year-old family-run paper mill in Saga, Japan, where Gen Taniguchi was also the 7th-generation owner. The Flag series drew from nautical references, with floor and wall lamps that used dual washi scrolls to suggest sails in motion. In contrast, Obelisk presented monolithic, asymmetrical columns of light, where washi wrapped over hinoki wood structures like glowing towers. Carnation, a tribute to Portugal's 1974 Carnation Revolution, reimagined rifles as peaceful symbols, with pleated washi lampshades that resembled delicate flowers.
Adding a sculptural counterpoint, Gen Taniguchi's Kago series was made not from processed washi, but from the raw bark of the Kaji tree, the same trees his family had cultivated for generations. Using a technique inspired by traditional Japanese hariko craft, Gen allowed the natural fibres to form and hold shape without adhesives. The result was a raw yet poetic meditation on human connection to nature, echoing the cyclical beauty of the material itself.
The collaboration spoke to shared values across both artists, a reverence for craft, a commitment to storytelling, and a pursuit of quiet impact. Set within Molteni&C's Lisbon flagship, the brand's first in Portugal, Shining a Light reflected the Italian furniture company's ongoing support for emerging voices in global design.
Together, Gabriel Tan and Gen Taniguchi created an immersive experience that was tactile, emotive, and deeply rooted in place, inviting viewers to see light and material in a new, more intimate way.
Gabriel Tan is a designer and creative director based between Porto, Portugal and Singapore. His work spans furniture, lighting, accessories, spatial design, and creative direction. Gabriel's approach is fresh and distinctive while maintaining a deep appreciation for craftsmanship, materials, and the narrative behind each creation. His works have been exhibited in Milan, New York, Stockholm, London, Paris, and Singapore, earning international recognition for their thoughtful balance of tradition and innovation.
Gen Taniguchi is a Japanese washi artist and the 7th generation owner of Nao Washi, a 300-year-old handmade paper mill in Saga, Japan. Gen’s exceptional craftsmanship brings washi paper to a level of artistry rarely achieved, preserving ancient techniques while exploring contemporary applications. His papers are prized by artists, designers, and museums worldwide for their unique texture, durability, and aesthetic quality.
Molteni&C is a prestigious Italian furniture company known for its elegant designs and dedication to quality craftsmanship. The Lisbon Flagship Store represents the brand's first physical presence in Portugal and was inaugurated by Servant Lisbon's founder, Ana Kurash. Molteni&C has a long history of supporting emerging talent and design innovation, making it the perfect partner venue for this boundary-pushing installation.
