Safilana
The name Safilana is inspired by the Swahili word “safi”, meaning clean, pure, or clear. It reflects the nature of this lamp — precise, harmonious, and designed to bring light that defines a space with calm clarity.
Safilana was created as a one-of-a-kind piece for a special interior in Kenya — a place where light plays a very important role in the atmosphere.
Making of Safilana
The gourd used for Safilana was relatively large, with a diameter of 27 cm. The entire outer surface was carefully sanded and leveled to create a clean base for the design.
The geometry of the design is based on triple symmetry — a balanced and fluid pattern that expands in three directions, forming an organic rhythm across the surface.
The visual flow is smooth and deliberate, giving the lamp a strong, unified character.
Exploring The New Technique
In Safilana, I continued exploring the possibilities of a new technique I first introduced in the Nuraya lamp. The process involves filling the carved pattern with a custom compound made of polymer gypsum, mixed with fine particles of stabilized wood.
This time I used green and blue tones in the stabilized wood particles that beautifully complement the rich brown surface of the gourd. Once the compound hardened, the surface was carefully sanded so that the resin remained only in the carved grooves.
Achieving the desired effect required precision in carving, careful control during filling, and a slow, patient sanding process.
Carving
One of the most distinctive features of this lamp is the way the carved areas gradually blend into the outer surface of the gourd — a technique I introduced in Safilana. This soft transition adds to the fluidity of the pattern and creates a more natural integration with the form.
Perforation and light
The perforation pattern is based on expanding and connecting waves. It casts clear, intricate light patterns across the walls and ceiling, creating a dynamic but balanced visual presence in the room.
The top of the lamp is finished with a yew wood element — a subtle and warm complement to the design.
A personal connection
Safilana was an especially rewarding lamp to create. The scale, the use of color, the complexity of the geometry — and the freedom to try something new in the carving technique — made this a turning point in my process.
Seeing it illuminated for the first time was a moment of true satisfaction and joy.
Refinement comes from attention — to form, to light, to detail. Safilana is a reflection of that ongoing search for balance between structure and emotion, craft and intuition.
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