In 1951, the Japanese-American Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988) began designing Akari light sculptures, which are light in nature. The name of the lamps 'akari' comes from the Japanese word for 'light' and they are made from traditional washi paper by Japanese craftsmen.
"The roughness of the electric light magically transforms through the paper towards the source of the light - the sun - so its warmth can fill our rooms even at night." - Isamu Noguchi