HongKongEcho: Five reflections with Boris Duhamel
Boris Duhamel, Founder and CEO of Baseline Lighting Design Studio, says it’s time for Hong Kong’s creative ecosystem to emerge from the shadows. Let there be light!
On creativity…
Starting from nothing and ending with something is the outcome of creativity. Creativity for me is the process of unleashing your imagination and waking up the kid that we all have inside us without restraint. Its fire gives us the ability to develop and express our ideas in a new way and leads to innovation. Creativity is also about stepping outside of the box to open up possibilities to achieve things that we always believed were impossible. As Albert Einstein said, “creativity is intelligence having fun”.
On lighting…
Without lighting you are in the dark. “The eyes are the windows to the soul” is an expression that is often used to describe the deep connection you feel when looking into your surrounding environment.
We perceive 80 per cent of all impressions by means of sight. As our eyes are the most important organs of senses by far, lighting is music to people’s eyes; it’s a kind of perfume of the physical architecture. For us, lighting is the principle vehicle that contributes to a customer’s experience, creating emotions and even a sense of addiction.
On clients…
We are centred around the idea of providing a vertical service supporting customers from design to completion, including concept creation, lighting consulting, and lighting coaching. Our typical clients are luxury brands, retailers, property developers, hotels and resorts, restaurants, construction companies, furniture makers and general contractors. For them, there is no compromise when it comes to lighting.
On Hong Kong…
BASELINE’s story started in Hong Kong – and for good reason. This city of light is the epicentre of creation and design for construction in the region. In both retail and hospitality, the decision makers when it comes to architecture and design are often located in Hong Kong. The major architecture firms – covering projects across Asia – have their teams in Hong Kong and must work closely with lighting designers.
The city of Hong Kong conceals a variety of creative and artistic talents. It offers the possibility to escape to nature at the snap of a finger. Creative souls need to unplug, as well, to excel. The city, its status as a melting pot, its architecture, its atmosphere, its experience, and its possibilities are all strong criteria of inspiration for passionate creative minds like us. There is something magic in Hong Kong that I cannot explain – a kind of creative energy in the air. Have you ever experienced that? It’s something you cannot touch, but you can feel it.
On creative industries…
Hong Kong has been through a tough situation this year and is experiencing structural and social changes. I believe Hong Kong can reinvent itself with the development of a new creative dynamic between culture, the economy, and technology. The stimulation of the local economy is going through the revitalisation of certain urban areas, preventing pollution, addressing recycling, while including more art and culture experiences, creative education, upscaling, and diversifying experiences for local tourism. Hong Kong now needs a vibrant creative industry ecosystem. I imagine it would contribute to its perpetual transformation into an even better and always-inspiring place.
Hear from Boris Duhamel and other experts from the Creative Industries at our upcoming event: Creativity calling: The new Hong Kong (4 Feb)
