While the concentrated light of a spotlight compels us to take center stage, the soft glow of a shaded lamp invites us to decompress and settle in. Through his new collections Touch and Strut, Coil + Drift founder John Sorensen-Jolink explores how different lighting can affect a room and its inhabitants. Presented together in Lookout, a new exhibition at Colony in New York, the works contrast intentional illumination with atmospheric glow.
As a contemporary dancer turned designer, Sorensen-Jolink understands the significance of light. Whether guiding focus, capturing movement, or establishing an ambiance, lighting shifts people’s experience of a space. He explores this relationship in Touch and Strut, working with a specialized team of in-house artisans to translate his understanding of movement and space into sculptural lighting that bridges the gap between mechanical precision and emotional resonance.
The exhibition, which captures the fundamental ways humans interact with their environments, offers a deeply considered look at how domestic objects dictate mood and spatial awareness. Sorensen-Jolink’s background in contemporary performance heavily informs this perspective, translating the ephemeral nature of theatrical stagecraft into permanent, functional pieces designed for everyday residential living.
Touch reimagines the spotlight as a domestic object, inspired by Sorensen-Jolink’s early encounters with theatrical lighting. Growing up in a home renovated by a theater worker, he was surrounded by dimly lit interiors, where recessed and track lighting cast concentrated pools of light. Though initially resistant to this dominant, impersonal light source due to its starkness, Sorensen-Jolink eventually found himself returning to the concept of the spotlight with a hands-on, artisan approach in his latest collection.
Constructed primarily from brass or steel, Touch features adjustable, cylindrical shades and slender stems that allow users to pivot the beams, while wooden accents emphasize tactility. Rather than remaining fixed like traditional commercial spotlights, Touch allows light to shift in response to the room, balancing mechanical precision with the intimacy of human touch.
The materiality of the collection underscores this balance. The cold, industrial nature of brushed metals is softened by warm wood elements, inviting physical interaction. Users are encouraged to adjust, swivel, and direct the light, turning the act of illumination into a deliberate, physical engagement with the space.
“When you’re in a pool of light, you’re on, you’re performing,” Sorensen-Jolink explains, reflecting on the psychological shift induced by concentrated illumination. “When you step out, you can sort of disappear.” This theatrical dichotomy—the tension between being seen and retreating into the shadows—serves as the conceptual anchor for the entire Touch series, translating the drama of the stage into the intimacy of the home.
While Touch fosters focus and dramatic presence, Strut introduces a quiet ambiance intended to support the everyday rhythm of a home. Inspired by the exposed wooden frameworks of fire lookout towers across the Catskill and Rocky Mountains, the collection translates this quiet utility into wooden lighting fixtures with subtle metal detailing and an intentional use of negative space.
The structural integrity of these wooden frames mirrors the architectural honesty of the lookout towers, celebrating joints, framing, and skeletal support. Elongated linen shades, inspired in part by Sorensen-Jolink’s personal collection of vintage cloth-shaded lamps, emit an enveloping glow reminiscent of an ember or a warm campfire. This gentle, diffused light stands in direct opposition to the sharp beams of the Touch collection, offering a sanctuary of calm within the built environment.
Together, the collections embody two contrasting approaches to illumination, informed by the changing light surrounding Sorensen-Jolink’s Catskills studio. Living and working in a landscape characterized by dense forests, dramatic seasonal shifts, and varying daylight has given the designer a profound appreciation for how light filters through canopies and open spaces. Through their distinct forms and materials, Touch and Strut balance focused illumination with softer, ambient light, successfully introducing the natural rhythms of sun and shade into the modern interior.
The synthesis of these two distinct design philosophies within a single exhibition highlights Coil + Drift’s ongoing commitment to exploring the emotional and psychological dimensions of furniture and lighting design. By acknowledging that a home must accommodate both active engagement and restful withdrawal, Sorensen-Jolink has created a comprehensive body of work that responds dynamically to the multifaceted lives of modern inhabitants.
Lookout is on view until Oct. 21 at Colony Gallery in New York City.
