Uggi Lights, also known as dried cod lamps, are an interesting example of age old tradition re-made. In Iceland people used to hang fish whole to dry and then eat (and actually, they still do). Two Icelandic designers, Fanney Antonsdottir and Dogg Gudmundsdottir, came up with a new innovative way of using the largest dried cod, 70-100 cm in length. They have turned them into designer lamps.
The concept started as an installation in Copenhagen in 2001 under the name "The Bird That Flew Away and Left Time Behind". The installation has been traveling around the world since then, being featured in the Guggenheim in Berlin, FNAC in Paris, The National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington DC, The International Design Biennale in St.Etienne and the National Museum of Iceland in Reykjavik. The Uggi fish lamps are now on exhibition at the Keflavik Airport in Iceland.
If you would like a dried cod lap, you can buy one for 680 Euros.
Enlightened Fish
Dried Cod Lamps as Art
Trend Themes
1. Upcycling Art - There is a trend of upcycling traditional items into artistic and aesthetically-pleasing products such as dried cod lamps.
2. Sustainable Lighting - A growing trend is the use of sustainable materials such as dried fish to produce eco-friendly lighting solutions.
3. Cultural Heritage-inspired Art - The trend of transforming traditional cultural elements such as dried fish into contemporary art is gaining traction among artists and art enthusiasts alike.
Industry Implications
1. Art and Design - Art and design companies could explore the market for upcycling traditional items into artistic and aesthetically-pleasing products such as dried cod lamps.
2. Sustainable Lighting Industry - The dried cod lamp is an example of an eco-friendly lighting solution that could be produced and marketed in the sustainable lighting industry.
3. Cultural Heritage Preservation - Organizations focused on the preservation of cultural heritage could collaborate with artists to transform traditional cultural elements into modern art and design products such as dried cod lamps.