MOON Forty Alabaster: the presence of stone and light
Designed by Vadim Fortunato
Vadim Fortunato founded A.D.U. (A Deeper Understanding) in 2022, between Antwerp and Lisbon. After years in economics and analytical work, the pandemic years in Portugal gave him the time and collaborators to finally work in three dimensions — turning a lifelong fascination with interiors into a practice. A simple question sparked everything: could an object follow the moon's phase, in real time? The first prototype was built in Lisbon with a small budget and a trusted technical team. MOON Forty Alabaster, at 420mm, is the piece where that early question found its most complete answer — the size at which alabaster truly comes alive and the technology disappears behind the stone.
A stone that remembers the sky
Each MOON Forty Alabaster begins as a block of premium alabaster — a natural stone chosen for its translucency and the flowing, moon-like landscape of its veins. No two are alike. The patterns you see when MOON is lit are not designed; they are the result of thousands of years of geological pressure, mineral movement, and water. We select each block by hand, looking for stones whose inner character will only reveal itself in light.
Inside, custom-designed electronics and carefully crafted algorithms calculate the moon's exact phase, angle, and visibility based on your position on Earth. The illuminated crescent — its size, its tilt, its brightness — is rendered with precision. But precision is not the point. The point is presence: a quiet, living thing in the corner of your room that connects you to something vast.
“You can turn it on, but you can't choose the phase. A full moon takes 29.5 days. In a world where everything responds to a tap, MOON asks for patience — and patience, I think, is where understanding begins.”
— Vadim Fortunato
Two ways to experience MOON
Contemplative mode
In its original mode, MOON lights up only when the moon is above the horizon at your location — and fades when it sets. Since the moon rises roughly fifty minutes later each day, the rhythm shifts constantly. Some nights it glows until dawn. Other nights, it appears only briefly. You begin to notice. That noticing is the point.
Everlit mode
MOON can also function as a light you switch on and off. But even here, you cannot choose the phase. The illuminated crescent follows the sky regardless. Control the light — not the moon.
Details
MOON Forty Alabaster measures 420mm in diameter and 230mm in depth, weighing approximately 13 kg. Each piece is individually numbered, signed by the designer, and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. It is part of a limited edition of 100.
Setup is a single touch — the companion app connects MOON to your exact time and location. From there, it runs autonomously. Brightness is adjustable through the app. The LEDs are rated to last over fifty years. Annual energy consumption is roughly 40 kWh — about €10 a year.
Works in any country, any hemisphere. The moon is the same everywhere. Only the perspective changes.
Meet: Vadim Fortunato
Vadim Fortunato is the founder and designer of A.D.U., a studio working between Antwerp and Lisbon. His work explores contemplation through light, material, and time. MOON is his first collection — the only object in the world to show the moon's phases in real time.
Limited edition of 100 — Numbered and signed
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