alchemy of light
sofitel melbourne on collins.
“Sarah Tracton’s Alchemy of Light transforms the Sofitel lobby into a luminous field of porcelain. Each handcrafted light is shaped by fire and repaired through Kintsugi—a Japanese method of embracing imperfection. The outcome highlights a poetic collision of fragility, resilience and light.
The exhibition also debuts a portable, rechargeable porcelain light that doubles as a serving tray, developed with technical collaborator Dr Ian Watkins. Seamlessly merging art, design and sustainability, Tracton’s work offers a radical rethinking of functional lighting.”
Presented at Sofitel Melbourne On Collins as part of Melbourne Design Week 2025, Alchemy of Light illuminated the intersection of sustainability, craftsmanship, and design — transforming porcelain into radiant, poetic forms that transcended the boundaries between fine art and functional design. A five-star luxury hotel located in Melbourne’s prestigious Paris-end, Sofitel is renowned for its elegant French design, world-class service, and sweeping city views.
Tracton’s handcrafted porcelain lighting revealed an ethereal translucency, with each piece meticulously layered, fired, and refined to celebrate the union of fragility and strength. Drawing from the Japanese philosophy of Kintsugi, she embraced imperfection as a source of renewal, transforming what is broken into something luminous and whole.
