While the concentrated beam of a spotlight compels us to take center stage, the soft, diffused glow of a shaded lamp invites us to decompress and settle into our surroundings. Through his latest creations, the Touch and Strut collections, Coil + Drift founder John Sorensen-Jolink delves deeply into how different forms of lighting fundamentally affect a room and the people who inhabit it. Presented collectively in an exhibition titled Lookout at Colony in New York, these new works stage a thoughtful dialogue between intentional, focused illumination and rich, atmospheric glowing.
As a contemporary dancer turned designer, Sorensen-Jolink brings a profound, embodied understanding of light to his physical creations. Whether he is guiding focus, capturing the nuance of movement, or establishing a subtle ambiance, he recognizes that lighting profoundly shifts a person’s lived experience of a space. He explores this dynamic relationship in both Touch and Strut, working closely with a specialized team of in-house artisans to translate his sophisticated understanding of choreography, human movement, and architectural space into striking, sculptural lighting objects.
The Touch collection reimagines the theatrical spotlight as a sophisticated domestic object, drawing direct inspiration from Sorensen-Jolink’s early encounters with stage lighting. Growing up in a home that had been renovated by a theater worker, he was surrounded by dimly lit interiors where recessed fixtures and track lighting cast concentrated, intentional pools of illumination. Though he was initially resistant to this dominant, somewhat impersonal light source during his youth, Sorensen-Jolink ultimately returned to the concept of the spotlight with a hands-on, tactile approach in his design work for Touch.
Constructed primarily from enduring metals such as brass and steel, the Touch collection features adjustable, cylindrical shades and slender, elegant stems. These mechanical features allow users to fluidly pivot and direct the beams of light, while thoughtfully integrated wooden accents emphasize warmth and tactility. Rather than remaining fixed and static, the pieces within the Touch collection allow light to shift dynamically in response to the layout and energy of the room, successfully balancing mechanical precision with the intimate warmth of human touch.
Reflecting on the psychological and spatial impact of these forms, Sorensen-Jolink explains the fundamental premise behind the collection: when you are standing within a bright pool of light, you are metaphorically on stage, actively performing. Conversely, when you step outside of that concentrated beam, you can sort of disappear into the shadows, finding a sense of privacy and retreat.
While the Touch collection is designed to foster heightened focus and clarity, the companion Strut collection introduces a quiet, grounding ambiance intended to support the natural, everyday rhythms of a home. Inspired by the exposed wooden frameworks of historic fire lookout towers scattered across the Catskill and Rocky Mountains, Strut translates this rustic, rugged utility into sophisticated wooden lighting fixtures. These pieces feature subtle metal detailing and an intentional, artistic use of negative space that honors structural integrity.
Furthermore, the collection incorporates elongated linen shades—inspired in part by Sorensen-Jolink’s personal collection of vintage cloth-shaded lamps—which emit an enveloping, gentle glow reminiscent of a glowing ember or a warm campfire. Together, these collections embody two contrasting approaches to illumination, both of which are deeply informed by the ever-changing light surrounding Sorensen-Jolink’s studio in the Catskills. Through their distinct forms, sophisticated silhouettes, and honest materials, Touch and Strut balance focused illumination with softer, ambient light, successfully introducing the organic, shifting rhythms of sun and shade directly into contemporary interior spaces.
Lookout remains on view through October 21 at Colony Gallery in New York City.
