Inside Bali Lighting Atelier Ong Cen Kuang

Lighting studio Ong Cen Kuang’s unique lighting designs marry contemporary sensibility with Balinese craft

Ong Cen Kuang is one of a new wave of creative practitioners bringing Asian design and craft sensibilities to a previously Western-dominated market. The studio, founded in 2008 by Budiman Ong and Rudi Winata, is based in Bali, where lead designer Ong’s creations are produced in-house by a team of skilled artisans.

The atelier has become known for turning common or unexpected materials into beautiful, sculptural pieces, each with a distinct character and strong tactile characteristics. ‘Material choices are most important,’ says Ong. ‘We want them to be available continuously or produced locally. I also consider is the uniqueness of the materials for lighting and whether they can provide an element of surprise, but I’m also drawn to very common and simple materials that we can pair with unique, intricate handmade processes.’ 

Many of the materials are natural, in keeping with Ong’s nature-inspired designs. The most recent collection, Kentang, is made from handmade paper. ‘This particular paper is made out of banana fibres, planted locally,’ says Ong. ‘We source it from a local paper artisan who only produces limited quantities of paper.’ Other materials — from linen to steel, zippers and Tyvek paper — take centre stage in elegant objects created for everyday use, yet holding the preciousness intrinsic to the meticulous craft.

The approach is in keeping with the small-scale making focus. ‘We’re not a manufacturer,’ notes Ong. ‘We produce by hand in small batches — more than ninety-five per cent of our sales are produced by request.’ And the artisans are local to the island. ‘We empower them through craft, by teaching them handcraft techniques and by instilling in them pride in themselves and in their work,’ the designer explains. ‘Giving people a set of skills can do wonders. This is why we really believe in craft.’

Even the design process centres craft. ‘We experiment with various paper shapes as mock-ups, combining this with various gauges of copper wire as rims to find the right balance,’ says Ong. ‘There’s a sense that we feel just right when all the components fall into place. This can only be achieved by working directly with materials.’

The unique approach leads to genuinely striking pieces, from best-seller Kelopak to the glorious Buckminster Fuller-inspired Kapuk, the cloud-like Bungkus and the studio’s bespoke commissions.

To date, Ong Cen Kuang’s designs have been used by leading architecture and interior design practices across the world, and commissioned for locations such as the Jacy’z Hotel in Sweden, JW Marriott in the Maldives, Como Shambhala resorts in Bali and the Cabinet Meeting Room of Indonesia’s new Presidential Palace. And Ong says he isn’t planning to change anything. ‘I’m curious about the possibilities and potential of collaboration between materials and handmade processes.’