ONG CEN KUANG WHERE LIGHT HOLDS A STORY PRESENTS “CRAFTING LIGHT & EMOTIONS”

Images courtesy of ONG CEN KUANG and John Hardy

Celebrating 18 Years of Light, Material & Human Connection

There are objects that simply illuminate a space, and then there are those that become part of how we experience it. For ONG CEN KUANG, light has always been an opportunity to explore something beyond function—a meeting point between material, form, craftsmanship, and the emotions that emerge when an object becomes part of our everyday surroundings.

This idea comes to life in “Crafting Light & Emotions”, an exhibition presented by the Bali-based decorative lighting atelier. Opening on 14 August and running through 31 October 2026, the exhibition transforms the John Hardy Seminyak showroom into an immersive journey through contemporary Indonesian craftsmanship, unfolding across its top floor, restaurant, and garden.

Rather than occupying the space as a conventional exhibition, OCK’s lighting pieces are thoughtfully integrated throughout the showroom, entering into dialogue with John Hardy’s architecture, material palette, and artisanal heritage. As visitors move through the space, the works reveal themselves organically, reflecting a shared appreciation for materials, skilled craftsmanship, and the meaningful connections that form between objects and the people who live with them.

Founded in 2008 by designer Budiman Ong, ONG CEN KUANG has spent nearly two decades exploring the emotional potential of lighting. At its Bali atelier, everyday and unexpected materials are transformed into sculptural lighting objects, each produced individually through an ongoing conversation between designer, artisan, and material.

Presented by Coulisse | INK

At the heart of “Crafting Light & Emotions” are three values that define the atelier’s practice: Materiality, Artisanship, and People.

Materiality comes first. Rather than imposing a preconceived form, Budiman allows each material to guide the creative process. Zipper, handmade banana paper, linen, Tyvek, and copper have all revealed unexpected possibilities through years of experimentation, forming the foundation of OCK’s distinctive design language.

Artisanship gives these materials their final expression. Every piece is handcrafted individually by skilled artisans, preserving the tactile qualities and subtle variations of the handmade process. Each object carries traces of the hands that shaped it, becoming an expression of patience, knowledge, and collective craft.

People complete the story. For selected collections, OCK invites owners to participate in shaping elements of their pieces before installation. The process turns lighting into a shared creative experience, creating an emotional connection between designer, artisan, material, and owner that extends beyond the moment of purchase.

The exhibition brings together works from across OCK’s eighteen-year practice, including the iconic Alur Collection, which has transformed zipper into sculptural lighting since 2008, and the participatory Jamur collection, emblematic of the atelier’s owner-centric approach. The paper-based Kentang and Lipat collections, cloud-like Kapuk Dome, and Janur—OCK’s first outdoor lighting collection, inspired by the Balinese penjor and launched at JIA CURATED 2026—further reveal the atelier’s continuing exploration of material and form.

Together, the works show how seemingly ordinary materials can be elevated through skilled making into tactile, sculptural objects with lasting beauty and significance.

As part of the exhibition programme, OCK will also host a special sunset talk, MADE TO MATTER – Craft, Materials & the Emotional Object, on Friday, 18 September 2026 at 5.30pm at John Hardy Seminyak, followed by drinks. The conversation brings together Budiman Ong, Creative Director at OCK, and Polly Purser, Senior Director of Heritage at John Hardy, to explore how material, craft, place, and human interaction give objects meaning—and shape our emotional relationship with the things we live with.

As OCK celebrates its eighteenth anniversary, the exhibition offers Budiman an opportunity to reflect on a journey that began with a fascination for making light and gradually became an exploration of something deeper.

“As our atelier celebrates its eighteenth anniversary, I find myself reflecting on a journey that began with a fascination for making light. What I once thought was a pursuit of form and material gradually revealed itself to be something much deeper. Over the years, I have come to understand that every material carries its own character, every handcrafted object carries the presence of the hands that shaped it, and every piece becomes meaningful because of the people connected to it. Today, I believe we are not simply crafting lighting. We are crafting emotions. By inviting owners into the making of our work, each piece becomes a bridge between designer, artisan, material and owner – a vessel of shared stories, memories and human connection. In the end, light is only the medium, emotion is what truly endures.” — Budiman Ong, Founder and Creative Director at OCK —

More than an exhibition, “Crafting Light & Emotions” reflects on the enduring relevance of handmade design and the stories, people, and processes behind each piece. At John Hardy Seminyak, light becomes a meeting point between material, craftsmanship, culture, and human connection—offering a glimpse of how contemporary Indonesian design can evolve while staying rooted in the hands that make it.

On view through 31 October 2026 at John Hardy Seminyak, Jl. Petitenget No. 557, Seminyak, Bali, the exhibition is open daily from 11am–9pm and accompanied by a programme of curated events. For further details and updates, follow @ongcenkuang.