Platonium
The Vortex: Silk serving art
The 324 luminescent strips which make up the artist Éric Michel's creation light up the exhibition space in blue. They are the result of a technology developed by the Lyon company Brochier Technologies which made its name in silk weaving. The strips of luminous material were woven on the same looms as conventional silk but the fibre used is totally revolutionary, combining as it does optical and synthetic fibres.
Initially, silk was the main material produced by Brochier but now weaving optical fibres is an integral part of the company's knowhow. The company branch which produces luminous materials (Brochier Technologies) emerged in the middle of the 2000s when the famous fashion designer Olivier Lapidus ordered a luminous wedding dress. Since then, the company has obtained numerous patents, a fact which testifies to its ability to innovate in this field.
However, these luminous materials are not just beautiful to look at. They are also used in the medical sphere to treat new-born babies with jaundice thanks to the development of a luminous sleeping bag for babies destined to replace the luminous lamps which are currently used. In the automotive sector, they are used to make backlighting devices.
