Shio, the Japanese word for salt, takes its otherwordly form from a process of pouring purified salt into custom growth chambers and allowing it to crystallize into different "species," as MacDonald calls it.
Each mineral sculpture takes about a week to fully form into a mature Shio light. MacDonald classifies his pieces as species, which take on well-formed rounded shapes, or mutants, which take on a life of their own in the growing cycle.
Read more about the Kickstarter campaign, and keep checking back for when Studio Shio will make these lights available to the public.
MORE UNUSUAL LIGHTS ON APARTMENT THERAPY:
• It's a LED and an Edison Bulb?
• Make Orb Pendant Lamps from an Unusual Source
• Blime: A DIY Parametric Light Feature by formatters
(Images: Studio Shio. Via Design Milk)
DIY Idea: Concrete Pendant Lamp
Danielle's Charming, Classic Walk-Up
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
White Enamel Flatwa...
On Saying No to Paleo: Why Eating Isn't One Size Fits All
Perfect Summer Cocktail Recipe: Honey Bourbon Lemonade
Pretty certain my dog would eat it.
Beautiful!
Wow, those are so beautiful. I'd want them to have some protection from dust and moisture, though, so I hope that's a consideration. Having grown crystals as a kid, durability is another question.
What COULD maybe be done is use the salt forms as masters from which to make molds for porcelain. Then you could have the gorgeous structure but still be able to clean and maintain the lamps.
Whatever, they LOOK stunning!
@SherryBinNH - If you go to his site, there's a FAQ where he addresses those questions. He said he dropped one from a ladder and it didn't break, they can handle humidity and condensation, and he also tried to light them on fire to see what would happen.
Very cool ... but oddly enough I don't care for them lit up.
These would make awesome votive holders at Christmastime. And after you can put them in your backyard as a salt lick for the deer.
Needs to be made in the shape of a dog
Would last about 5 minutes whole in my house. Love the sculptural quality though.