Renowned designer, Ben Rousseau, a former Colchester Institute student has put love in lights for his new exhibition

Ben Rousseau, 37, uses light as his “weapon as choice” to brighten up the world and for the Love Hz (Heartz) exhibition took inspiration from the 90s rave generation, sci-fi films and Valentines Day.

Exhibiting at the Lights of Soho art gallery in London, it is a celebration of the passionate nature of Soho through a collection of illuminated artworks and ‘love tunnels’.

He said: “The collection were four pieces which showed a range of technical skills and model knowledge.

"They had a level of precision to them opposite to typical neon works, which are beautiful, but can be quite fluid and lack the cutting edge feel I like in my work.

“With the Tunnel of Love Infinity artwork I was thinking of the moment you become doe-eyed and hypnotised by your partner.

“The Reflection of The Heart was designed with the hope everyone would be sharing their familiar feelings of being in love. I’m hoping someone buys it for their partner and the art will be loved by owners on their walls forever.”

For 14-years Ben has integrated lighting into artwork and interiors for both commercial and residential clients through his company Rousseau Design.

In 2014 Ben and Philip Morant school friend Stuart Farrelly took inspiration from Colchester’s historic warrior queen Boudica.

They created a sculpture entitled the Invisible Forcefield and then watched it burn.

The pair were representing Great Britain in the World Fire Sculpting competition in Latvia.

He began studying art and design at the Colchester Institute in 1995, after he realised engineering was not the creative outlet he searched for.

He added: “I didn’t know where my creative expression needed to be fed but I had this hunger and thirst for something. I knew engineering was too generic so I signed up for art the following year.

“Most of my time was spent in the workshops with technicians. I had an imagination but wanted to learn how to create things with machines and materials. It all stemmed from the Institute.

“Sci-fi films lead me on my initial path as I loved film set design, futuristic transport design and architecture. Djing and hosting parties were a main stay in my personal life and whilst the two were merging the use of lighting became a trademark feature in my design work and small props I made for the parties.”

Ben moved away from Colchester at 18 and now lives in Chiswick, West London. However, he returns to Colchester regularly to see friends near where he lived on Audley Road.

Love Hz closes on February 14. For more information, visit www.rousseau.co.uk.