Nomad II is a collection of minimalist light sculptures by the Barcelona-based artist and architect, Sofia Karnukaeva. Continuing her exploration of form and material, the series expands on her Nomad project, touching upon themes of home, adaptation, and the relationship between people and their environments.

Nomad draws from the idea that living organisms emerge from chamber-like spaces such as seeds, eggs, and wombs, and then adapt to new environments, carrying a sense of home within the body. “The nomad is constantly in the process of becoming, always changing and evolving,” shares Karnukaeva. “Yet, it continues to search for a sense of home, and each time discovers it within itself.” In its second rendition of the series, Nomad II translates that search into sculptural, light-filled forms, embodying “safe and private spaces in which semi-darkness lurks or is illuminated by light.”

Hand-sculpted in white stoneware, the pieces in Nomad II take on biomorphic forms, resembling beehives, nests, and miniature caves. Their surfaces are tactile, allowing light to reveal their natural textures. Ranging in height and scale, light illuminates these sculptural pieces from within, creating a sense of warmth and intimacy, all while redefining the role of the lamp.   

“I call the objects from the Nomad II series light sculptures because they’re not just functional lamps, but rather objects with light.” Notes Karnukaeva. “The light enhances the sense of intimate cozy space, embodying the idea of home.”