The term ‘Asia’ covers both a massive area and multiple styles and periods, however in lighting it typically this refers to a simplicity of style; a quiet, restrained and sophisticated elegance with a peacefulness referred to by some as ‘Zen’.
Nature references are common in the forms, as is sometimes an asymmetry in design. ‘Oriental’ is a word that carries much political baggage today, but the rich colors of a traditional Manchu dragon or Willow pattern plate conjure images familiar to many.
Similarly, the soft beauty of the diffuse light emitted by a Japanese shoji screen is well known to all designers.