Charlotte Tangye is busy juggling her design practice with working for Hidden Art Cornwall. We spoke to her as she gets ready to launch her Godolphin Globe chandelier.
What sparked your interest in design?
I loved Graphic Design at school but was persuaded to do an English degree and went on to a career in publications. It was on a trip to Australia that I took a short course in stained glass and discovered just how much I felt at home in the studio. The key thing for me was producing something beautiful that was also functional. As soon as I returned to England I enrolled on a degree in 3D Design, which I finished last year.
How did the design of the chandelier evolve?
I love the interplay of light and shadow and how it is constantly changing and I started working with sliceforms because I was fascinated by their construction. The light conducting properties of acrylic make it the perfect material to work with because the lit edges really highlight the structure of each piece whilst the clear slices give an ephemeral quality. I have also been working in steel for the outdoor lights and it gives a completely different effect, emphasising the overall form.
This piece was inspired by the stone arches in Godolphin House in Cornwall and resulted from a Crafts Council commission to create a range of interior and exterior lights for the Hidden Art Curated exhibition at Godolphin this summer.
What are you hoping to get from the exhibition?
I took the prototype of my original Globe light to the Lighting Show at the NEC in January and had a lot of interest from retailers and interior designers. My main aim now is to find a manufacturer to work with on developing the lights for production and possible licensing.
The Globe range also has the potential for commission pieces and I would love to develop it for large scale installations so I’m also hoping to build up contacts with architects and interior specifiers.
How does Hidden Art Cornwall help you to achieve your goals?
I only moved to Cornwall in February so being part of Hidden Art Cornwall has helped me to feel part of the design community down here very quickly. It has also created fantastic opportunities for developing and showcasing my work through exhibitions like Hidden Art Curated. 100% Design will be the first major trade show I have exhibited at, something that would have been inconceivable at this stage in my career without the support of Hidden Art.
