Maria S.C. Lamp, photos: Barbara Kaja Kaniewska, Magda Jurek

Design blogs across the world are raving this month about designer Pani Jurek's luminary tribute to fellow Pole and Nobel Prize-winning chemist Maria Skłodowska-Curie

The lamp is made of two rows of test tubes set within plywood panels in a structure that references the traditional form of a chandelier and Art Deco elements, with an innovative twist à la Duchamp. The versatility of the form allows one to leave the tubes empty, fill them up with water or coloured liquid, even stick flowers in them - endowing the object with an added 'experimental' aspect. The lamp is 50cmX50cm in diameter, with an adjustable height.

Over the first few days of February dozens of popular design blogs such as design-milk.com, apartmenttherapy.com, and trendhunter.com have featured the lamp as one of the most interesting design projects on the global market. On Fräulein Charlotte blogger Charlotte B. writes "I love the idea of using them for floral trimmings or vines, but you could also try stones, sand or colored water to switch things up. It is such a personal and creative thing!"

Sayhi-todesign.blogspot.com is a blog run by Kraków-based Art Director and blogger Maja Pelc, with a special slot devoted strictly to the best and the brighest of Polish contemporary design - a great one-stop resource for news on hot Polish design.

Pani Jurek and her Gang Design group join a solid group of designers from Poland, such as Puff-Buff and +OYO, who are making name for themselves for their innovative use of materials (often eco-friendly recyclables) and new ergonomic solutions. The Maria S.C. lamp is part of the Illuminate the Crisis group exhibition, the largest-ever event for young designers of contemporary lighting solutions.

The exhibition, on at Kraków's BB Gallery through the end of March, presents designs from Daria Burlińska, CablePower, EMANDES, Joanna Figurniak, Pani Jurek, Kafti, Anna Kłósko, Olga Łaniewska, Jeremi Nagrabecki, Katarzyna Okińczyc, Alicja Panasiewicz, Piotr Paszkiewicz, Puff-Buff, Michał Radziemski, Razy2, Tomasz Andrzej Rudkiewicz, Tomek Rygalik, Przemysław Stopa and Tabanda. The show strives to highlight the value of good design in our everyday lives while turning its back to the crisis that's been getting everyone down and looking on the brighter side through great lighting projects.

Maria S.C. Lamp, photos: Barbara Kaja Kaniewska, Magda Jurek

Pani Jurek was established by Magda Jurek, a Warsaw-based designer and graduate of the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts in 2007 with a degree in Painting. Jurek's designs are mainly items of everyday use which explore new ways of looking at the interaction between the object and the user. Lighting is a particular focus, along with socially-driven project in the public space. With Edyta Oldak she set up the Z siedzibą w Warszawie Society for such projects. In 2010 the society won the Mayor of Warsaw's Award as the Best Extra-governmental Initiative in 2010 for Great Architecture for all Children. She's also won various design contests, such as third place in the Souvenir from Poland competition organised by the Cepelia Foundation for a USB flash drive in the folk style.

Design blogs on the Maria S.C. Lamp:

design-milk.com

www.rabbit38.com

www.trendhunter.com

fraeuleincharlotte.blogspot.com

hilan.tumblr.com

sayhi-todesign.blogspot.com

www.apartmenttherapy.com