My First Paperlamp: ¡Que Rico!

May 1, 2026

As you've probably read, I have been going to a lot of arts workshops. They're a nice way to meet people and make friends, and part of the research for my new company leday.club.

Saint Joseph the Carpenter by Georges de La Tour, 1645 - a single candle illuminates a craftsman's hands working in deep shadow, his young apprentice's face glowing softly in the candlelight — Georges de La Tour, *Saint Joseph the Carpenter*, c. 1645. The patient-folding-by-candlelight vibe.

I must admit that the paperlamp workshop had Mister Miyagi Karate Kid vibes. Folding this stuff is tough and time-consuming. But I had good help from the Hispanic folks who were leading the workshop.

Until very recently, I was largely indifferent to home decoration. But after I started actually doing stuff, it has become fun. You can see on the blog the painting, vinyl painting, keychain, collage. I also designed a doormat (a company brought it to life) - one of the million inside jokes I share with my long-time friend Lucas. 😬

The doormat I designed: an inside joke with my friend Lucas

Incelismo vem forte para 2026.

Now I also have a cool paperlamp. As a hispanic "friend" 😬 would say: ¡/Que rico/!

This is how it looks during the day in the living room:

Origami-folded paper lamp hanging in a Montreal living room during the day, soft white shape against a window

During the day, it half-disappears into the room. It's only when the bulb goes on that you remember why you bought it. That sudden switch from quiet folded paper to a glowing object always reminds me of Magritte's house at night under a daylit sky.

The Empire of Light by Rene Magritte, 1954 - a single street lamp glows below a house at twilight, while the sky above is bright daylight, the surreal coexistence of day and night in one frame — René Magritte, *L'Empire des lumières*, 1954.

As with most lamps, mine is cooler at night:

The same paper lamp glowing at night, warm light filtering through the folds and casting a soft pattern around it

Warm yellow light is the cheat code for any room. Every café terrace I've ever lingered at had it. It's what I'm trying to bottle with Le Day Club, in some way - rooms that feel like Van Gogh's terrace at night, where people actually want to stay.

Cafe Terrace at Night by Vincent van Gogh, 1888 - a warm yellow lamplit terrace in Arles glows against a deep blue starry sky, people gathered at small tables — Vincent van Gogh, *Café Terrace at Night*, 1888.

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If you got here and the music was playing, that's by design. For synesthetic and historical reasons, this post wants The Doors' Light My Fire playing from the 0:24 mark. The first time I lit the paperlamp, that's the song that came on. Now they're permanently fused.

If your browser blocked autoplay (most do these days), the player up top has controls. Or open the song on YouTube and let it run while you scroll back up.