While the concentrated, sharp beam of a spotlight compels us to take center stage, the soft, diffused glow of a shaded lamp invites us to decompress, unwind, and settle into our surroundings. Through his newest bodies of work, titled Touch and Strut, John Sorensen-Jolink—founder of the contemporary design studio Coil + Drift—deeply explores how radically different modalities of lighting can fundamentally alter the atmosphere of a room and shape the psychological experiences of its inhabitants.
Presented together as a cohesive statement in an exhibition titled Lookout at Colony in New York City, these dual collections intentionally contrast precise, directed illumination with rich, atmospheric glows. As a contemporary dancer turned multidisciplinary designer, Sorensen-Jolink possesses a deeply ingrained understanding of the profound significance of light. Whether he is guiding a viewer’s focus across a room, capturing the transient nature of human movement, or establishing a nuanced residential ambiance, lighting inevitably shifts how people experience and inhabit space. He explores this delicate relationship extensively in Touch and Strut, working closely with a specialized team of in-house artisans to translate his sophisticated background in choreography and spatial awareness into tangible, sculptural lighting objects.
Sorensen-Jolink’s creative journey into the world of design was uniquely shaped by his upbringing. Growing up in a home that had been meticulously renovated by a theater worker, he was constantly surrounded by dimly lit interiors where recessed fixtures and theatrical track lighting cast sharp, concentrated pools of illumination. Though he was initially resistant to this dominant and somewhat impersonal light source during his youth, his perspective has matured, prompting him to return to the concept of the spotlight with a deliberate, hands-on approach in the Touch collection.
Touch effectively reimagines the theatrical spotlight as an intimate domestic object. Constructed primarily from heavy, durable metals like brass and steel, the collection features adjustable cylindrical shades and slender, architectural stems. These thoughtful engineering details allow users to manually pivot and direct the beams of light to suit their immediate needs. Meanwhile, warm wooden accents are integrated throughout the pieces to emphasize tactility and warmth. Rather than remaining static or fixed in place, the fixtures within the Touch collection allow light to shift dynamically in response to the changing needs of the room, successfully balancing mechanical precision with the comforting intimacy of the human touch.
Reflecting on the psychological impact of these pieces, Sorensen-Jolink explains the underlying philosophy of the collection: “When you’re in a pool of light, you’re on, you’re performing. When you step out, you can sort of disappear.” This theatrical duality forms the emotional core of Touch, acknowledging that light can act as both an energizing spotlight and a subtle boundary for personal privacy within a shared domestic environment.
In stark contrast to the performative focus fostered by Touch, the Strut collection introduces a quiet, steady ambiance intended to gracefully support the everyday rhythms of modern home life. The aesthetic foundation for Strut draws inspiration from the exposed, skeletal wooden frameworks of historic fire lookout towers scattered across the Catskill and Rocky Mountains. By translating this quiet, utilitarian architecture into refined wooden lighting fixtures, the designer incorporates subtle metal detailing and a very intentional use of negative space.
Furthermore, the collection features 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 crackling campfire. These softer elements counterbalance the linear rigor of the wooden frames, ensuring the fixtures contribute a sense of organic tranquility to any residential space.
Together, these two distinct collections embody contrasting yet complementary approaches to domestic illumination, informed heavily by the shifting natural light surrounding Sorensen-Jolink’s studio in the Catskills. Through their contrasting forms, thoughtful proportions, and rich material palettes, Touch and Strut work in tandem to balance sharply focused illumination with softer, ambient light, ultimately bringing the natural, organic rhythms of sun and shade directly into the contemporary home.
Lookout is on view until October 21 at Colony Gallery in New York City.
