VESSELS MOLLY PENDANT by NADER GAMMAS

An evocative exploration of nature’s cycle of death and renewal, Vessels captures the transient beauty of natural decay while celebrating the enduring power of light as a source of life and inspiration. In this sculptural lighting series in handcrafted ceramic and brass, Nader Gammas challenges traditional notions of lighting design by embracing imperfection and individuality. Drawing inspiration from Gammas’ encounters with fallen trees in the Blue Hills Reserve of Massachusetts, the series translates the life that flourishes in decay—particularly fungi of the Sarcoscypha genus—into sculptural light objects

The apothecium, or “cup fungi,” serves as the central motif for the series. These forms, both delicate and robust, are reimagined as vessels for illumination, their contours inviting light to radiate outward in soft, glowing arcs. The interplay between natural ceramic surfaces and patinated brass evokes a tactile dialogue between earthiness and refinement. Each work juxtaposes organic irregularity with precise functionality, inviting contemplation on composition and decomposition, form and deformation, flourishing and decay

The biomorphic arrangements of the “cups” suggest movement and growth, echoing the natural world’s capacity for renewal even in death. The collection’s earthy materiality anchors each work in the organic, while its luminous quality imbues it with a sense of the ethereal. These dualities evoke a primordial connection to nature, while simultaneously gesturing toward something unfamiliar, even otherworldly

Through its integration of sculpture, functionality, and nature, the series serves as a poetic and existential meditation on the interconnectedness of all living things. Handmade in the United Arab Emirates, each work is shaped without a mold, preserving the individuality of the organic forms that inspire the collection