Finn Lumsdale

A large suspended hand hovers above a model box, each fingertip casting a distinct light that transforms the miniature world below. Audiences are invited to step into the role of the lighting designer by controlling the lights themselves, shaping the atmosphere, focus, and emotion of the scene. The hand serves as a physical representation of that creative role - the unseen force that sculpts how a story is seen and felt. The work reflects on the collaborative nature of theatre and the power of light to define space, perception, and meaning. By using a home setting without characters, the work emphasises environment over narrative, allowing light to become the primary storyteller and inviting audiences to imagine the space and its possibilities

Although Finn’s first experience in a designer role was through model making, his practice has since evolved towards lighting design. Acting as a miniature stage, the model box explores space, scale and the transformative impact of lighting. Shaping Space combines that early practice with my current focus on lighting design, uniting the precision of model making with the expressive potential of light. This piece embodies Finn’s growth as a designer and invites others to experience the act of shaping a world through illumination.