

The first sign that a design opening is not bowling the crowd over is when you find 95% of the guests huddling around the free drinks table. This was the case a few weeks ago at the introduction of Ingo Maurer's new work at his SoHo gallery. However, seeing that the room was cleared to one side I had the perfect opportunity to investigate what was seemingly less interesting than the acidic warm white wine being poured.
And what I found on the gallery's two floors was an answer, no, actually a question. What the hell happened to the prince of lightness?
As I walked with Natasha, a twinge of sadness hit me. It was that same sinking feeling you get when you see your favorite footballer loses a step he will never gain back, or the day you realize Eddie Murphy can't squeeze another joke out of a fat suit.
Ah, that might be it. Maybe the wittiest man in illumination has lost his delivery, his timing, the punch line. After all, he is 75 and German. Seriously now, how many Germans have made you laugh? How long did you think he could keep us smiling and dreaming?
Frankly I was disappointed with many of the recent undergraduate-like concepts and executions of his new pieces, however, it is not time for this man to hang up his thinking cap. Although men and mice in stacked metal cages and exploded porcelain doll head chandeliers did not have had the succinct voice or impact of his past work, he continues to joyfully experiment with new technology by making it human and approachable, and he keeps on breaking the perceived rules of functional lighting, sometimes literally.
Beyond that ratty ponytail, the man is looking good, healthy and strong. Ingo has no off switch. In fact, he and his team are currently showing at the Cooper-Hewitt that features numerous site-specific installations for the museum's daunting and serious spaces.
So raise your glasses and toast Ingo, just don't do it with a plastic cup, he deserves better than that.
Ingo Maurer is now showing at the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum with his show "Provoking Magic: Lighting". It will run through January 27, 2008. I'm not going to miss it.

