Nature inspires art.  During his trips to Africa, Ilan came across the King Protea flower.  The magnificent flower, named for the Greek sea-god Proteus who could change into many different shapes, left an astounding impression on Ilan, with its artichoke-like appearance, its color, unique outer bracts and petals and the long stamens.

Ilan's attempts to relay the impression of the King Protea flower through matter marked the beginning of his journey in creating illuminated crystal sculptures.  

Ilan uses the energy of the light to focus and emphasize the life source and reproduction center of the flower. It is this creative motif that provides the inspiration for this series of art works.