Gica Contra Floor Lamp Design Concept

Gica Contra – the lamp that says “No!”. Gica—better known as Gica Contra, the creative cousin of Bastian Contrario—is a lamp born from a real, spirited, and lovingly rebellious exchange.

It is dedicated to my son Riccardo, who, like all children, grew up questioning his parents’ views with the wonderful stubbornness of someone trying to find his own voice.

At home, his firm “NO!” became a familiar refrain. Every suggestion I made, every rule I tried to set, was met with his unwavering refusal—not out of defiance, but out of a desire to stand his ground. It was a constant back-and-forth—sometimes exhausting, often amusing, always meaningful. And that’s where Gica was born.

One evening, after yet another of our heartfelt debates, I picked up a pencil and sketched an exclamation mark. It was a spontaneous gesture, capturing all the energy of that moment: his loud “No!” and my stunned reaction.

That simple, powerful symbol became the heart of the design. At the base, a circle represents the point of contact—the common ground where our perspectives meet. From it rises a thin, resolute line: Riccardo’s determination, his steady stance even when everything else pushes toward compromise. At the top, a triangle of light opens up, casting a golden-yellow glow—warm, vibrant, like the energy born from every honest exchange between us.

Gica Contra isn’t just a lamp. It’s a luminous sculpture that tells the story of parent-child contrasts, the beauty of dialogue, and the strength of true emotion. An object that brings not only light, but also memory, character, and life.

It’s dedicated to Riccardo. To every heartfelt “No!” he ever said. And to every hug that came after.

Tommaso Cristofaro