The Uggi lights were first exhibited in 2001, as an installation of 14 fish lamps, sand and feathers at The Museum of Decorative Arts in Copenhagen. The installation was titled «The bird that flew away and left time behind».
The lights have now been exhibited by galleries and museums in more than 9 countries, including Deutsche 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.
An installation of 25 fish lamps is currently installed at Keflavik International Airport in Iceland.
The lamp refers to the old Icelandic tradition of drying whole fish. The fish were hung up on special wood constructions where the winds would dry them. This architecture was very visible in the landscape in the coastal areas up to modern days. Dried fish or stockfish was an important export product in Iceland for centuries, as well as being highly appreciated by Icelanders both for consumption and for trading. This method of preserving fish has been unchanged since the settlement in Iceland and is still practised in some rural areas.
How do you make them?
We use large cod fishes that we skin by hand. Then we clean the skins thoroughly. After drying and shaping the skins, we install the lights. The process from fresh fish to a finished Uggi light takes up to 3 weeks.
The length of an Uggi light varies from 70 to 100 cm.
Where does the name «Uggi» come from?
Uggi means a fish fin in Icelandic.
What happens to the fish itself?
The fish is fresh when it is skinned. The fish meat continues its regular processing in the fish factory, so nothing goes to waste.
How many do you make?
Not many. So far, we have made 47 lights.
Can I buy them, and how much do they cost?
The design shop Kraum in Reykjavik, Iceland has Uggi lights for sale. You can also contact us directly. The price is €670. We can't guarantee that we have them when you order, but contact us and see.