Wimara
The name Wimara draws from several Swahili roots.
“Imara” means strong or stable — a word that reflects the balanced, grounded character of the lamp. “Wimbi” means wave, while “mara” can mean time, occurrence, or repetition.
Together, these associations suggest a flowing structure that is both steady and dynamic — a presence shaped by rhythm, movement, and clarity.
Wimara was created as a one-of-a-kind piece for a special interior in Kenya — a place where light is not only functional, but deeply atmospheric.
Making of Wimara
The geometry of Wimara is based on fivefold symmetry — a structure often found in nature, from starfish to flowers to molecular patterns. The quality of five is magical. Children instinctively draw fivefold stars, and we all feel its playful, dynamic quality.
Fives are found in apples, flowers, hands, and feet.
Designing a smooth, wave-like pattern required careful attention to proportion and flow. The result is a form that feels both intentional and effortless — a clean, continuous rhythm that embraces the shape of the gourd without overwhelming it.
The overall construction is straightforward — and that was the point. I wanted the lamp to feel intuitive, calm, and clear in its presence.
Color and Flow
In this piece, I wanted the resin-filled surfaces to play a more dominant visual role. As in my previous lamps (Nuraya and Safilana), the carved areas were filled with a custom mix of polymer gypsum and stabilized wood particles. For Wimara, I used a wider range of particle gradation and color.
The resin shifts in tone as it flows down the lamp — from blue with hints of yellow at the top, through blue, and into a rich green in the lower sections. This gradual transition enhances the sense of movement in the design. The colors are vivid, layered, and beautifully offset against the deep browns of the gourd’s surface.
Carving and Drilling
The gourd used for Wimara had a notably thick shell — especially at the top, where the wall reached over 1 cm in thickness. This provided a strong foundation for deeper carving.
The perforation pattern was kept intentionally simple, designed to echo, not compete with, the flowing geometry of the waves. Thousands of tiny, carefully placed holes follow the rhythm of the carved pattern.
Closing the Form
A visible feature of this lamp is the permanent closure of the gourd, which I chose to highlight rather than hide. The closing part was sealed and integrated into the design with resin — making it part of the lamp’s identity and construction, not merely a technical detail.
A Different Flow
Wimara was a refreshing variation within my practice — a design that let me explore form, color, and balance from a slightly different angle.
The result is a fluid, cohesive light effect that evenly fills the room, casting soft, continuous wave-like shadows across the walls and ceiling.
There’s something quietly confident in the way this lamp holds space—steady, subtle, and full of presence.
Some forms speak through stillness.
Wimara is a lamp of rhythm and balance — shaped by waves, grounded in structure, and brought to life by light.
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