Ye.Light

Since 2007, Kyryl Yelchyts has been breathing new life into everyday objects through his visionary project, Ye.Light. This series of lamps and chandeliers exemplifies creative conceptual upcycling, where ordinary items like plumbing fixtures, kitchen utensils, and other seemingly insignificant materials are transformed into striking light installations. Each object in the collection showcases Kyryl's ability to see the extraordinary in the ordinary, reimagining these materials and giving them new meaning.

In 2007, inspired by the movie The Matrix, Kyryl designed one of the first Ye.Light chandeliers, which still adorns his apartment to this day.

The Ye.Light collection also includes a variety of playful and symbolic works. For instance, the Antenna lamp, created in 2008 for his apartment, stands for the transmission of ideas and communication, making it a perfect fit for the space above the kitchen table, where conversations flow. Another iconic piece, the Spider lamp, designed in 2010 for a Kyiv restaurant, uses complex intertwining pipes, creating a visual play that immerses guests in the culinary experience.

One of the more interesting pieces is a chandelier designed in 2012 for a Kyiv venue, inspired by Art Deco interiors. It incorporates plumbing fittings, copper pipes, and stainless steel bowls painted in a copper hue.
Another notable creation is the Thousand Belts chandelier, designed for the same restaurant, which masterfully uses belts to form a unique lampshade.

Some of Kyryl’s works, like the Headphones lamps, designed in 2011 for the bar area of another Kyiv establishment, convey the energy of youth culture and nostalgia. These were assembled using plumbing fixtures and stainless steel salad bowls painted in copper. One of the bowls was intentionally dented, playfully suggesting that when everything above the bar seems crumpled, it’s probably time to go home.

Kyryl’s creations are also meant for playful and imaginative spaces. The Cocoon light was designed in 2012 for a children's creative space, while the Shower installation for a creative coworking hub humorously combines the idea of water flowing through pipes with electricity, emphasizing the flow of light, warmth, and ideas.

The Ye.Light collection also includes sculptural elements. A chandelier designed in 2009 for a city café combines water hoses and light, creating a unique fixture that gives the illusion of movement. This piece won first place at the 8th Ukrainian competition INTERYEAR 2010. Boy and Girl, two playful floor lamps created for the same café in 2009, serve not only as light sources but also as functional coat racks or information stands.

For a 2012 KIFF exhibition in Kyiv, Kyryl presented an installation called Time = Result, addressing the pressing social theme of the interaction between client and designer. The project explores how the elements of time, creativity, and process influence the final outcome of any design project.
The core idea of Time = Result is that every successful project goes through a series of necessary stages: the inception of the idea, development, visualisation, and time. If one of these components is compromised — whether through budget cuts, accelerated deadlines, or a lack of attention to detail — the final result may be achieved but will lack the proper impact and effectiveness.
Kyryl’s installation visually represents the journey from individual construction elements to the completed art object, symbolizing how going through each of these stages directly affects the final product. The work serves as a metaphor for the creative process, highlighting the importance of a thoughtful approach to each stage of design.

In 2016, Kyryl collaborated with the design agency Loft Bureau to create steampunk-style wall sconces for a Kyiv bar, along with the large chandelier Light Generator, combining industrial elements with an artistic approach.

Through the Ye.Light projects, Kyryl Yelchyts transforms everyday objects into stunning light pieces, demonstrating that even the most mundane things can have hidden creative potential and artistic value.