Solar Egg
2017
In response to a commission from Riksbyggen, Bigert & Bergström have created a sculptural chamber in the form of an egg-shaped sauna that has been installed at Luossabacken in Kiruna, Sweden’s northernmost town.
Kiruna is currently undergoing a radical transformation, which involves a gigantic move for the whole town. This is so that the mining company LKAB can extract more of the iron seam that cuts diagonally downwards beneath the town. The iron ore is and has been – ever since it first began to be extracted at the end of the 19th century – an important source of income for Sweden, and absolutely vital for the town of Kiruna. No mine, no town. But the breaking up and devastating transformation of the landscape, the environment and the architecture caused by the move are also sparking a lot of debate.
Solar Egg has been made as a social sculpture where local people and visitors to the town can meet and, for instance, discuss these challenges. In the arctic climate of Lapland the sauna occupies a key position, as a room for warmth and reflection. B&B have taken up this tradition and developed a sculptural symbol that prompts thoughts of rebirth and an incubator that nurtures conversation and exchanges of ideas. The project is a continuation of the artists’ strategy to incorporate the climate into the experience of the artwork which was initiated with the Climate Chambers in 1994.
The egg is made out of stainless golden mirror sheeting, its multifaceted form breaking up the surroundings that it reflects into a multiplicity of different mirror images. Landscape, mine, town, sky, sun and snow are here combined into a fragmented image that can evoke associations with the complexity spanned by today’s discussion about climate and sustainable community development.
The egg’s interior has been formed out of wood, with the wall panels and floor decking made out of pine and the bench of aspen. In the center of the egg stand the wood-heated, heart-shaped sauna stove made out of iron and stone. The temperature inside the egg varies between 75° and 85° Celsius.
"Solar Egg," 2017 Stainless steel mirrors with titanium gold color coating, steel, stone, wood, brass, glass, LED’s, solar panels, batteries, rubber, 588 x 567 x 455 cm Production Artists: Bigert & Bergström Commissioner, Riksbyggen: Mathias Sandberg Project management, communication and graphic design: Futurniture Construction and drawings: Lars Hässler Construction and installation: Hangmen AB Welding of the heart-shaped hearth/fireplace: Zoltan Schnierer LED lighting and solar panels: Ljusdesign AB
Tour of Solar Egg
Kiruna
April 2017
Solar Egg was created to stand on Mount Luossavaara outside Kiruna.
Photos: Jean-Baptiste Béranger
Björkliden
June 2017
During the summer of 2017, Solar Egg was moved further out onto the mountains of Lappland, to Abisko and Björkliden.
Photos: Jean-Baptiste Béranger
Paris
November 2017
The Swedish Institute in Paris is situated in the Marais Quarter, in the Hôtel de Marle from the seventeenth century. Within the framework of the project Swedish Design Moves Paris, Solar Egg was exhibited in the courtyard of the Swedish Institute from 15 November to 10 December 2017. As a new layer to the project, the Swedish fashion designer Diana Orving has designed kimonos for visitors to use while taking a sauna in the egg.
Photos: Jean-Baptiste Béranger
Stockholm
January 2018
In Stockholm’s archipelago lies the art institution Artipelag, where Bigert & Bergström presented their exhibition Eye of the Storm in the winter of 2017-2018. Solar Egg was placed in the institution’s park.
Photos: Samuel Lind
Gällivare
June 2018
Gällivare is Lappland’s second-most important mining town and similarly to Kiruna, historical parts of the town have to be moved due to mining. Up to 5 000 people’s homes have to be demolished and the unsafe area closed off. In the summer of 2018, Solar Egg was placed in the town park next to the river.
Photos: Jean-Baptiste Béranger
Copenhagen
September 2018
Kunsthal Charlottenborg is one of Denmark’s leading museums for contemporary art. It is situated in Kunstakademins historical buildings close to Nyhavn and Kongens Nytorv. Solar Egg was displayed in the museum’s courtyard throughout the fall of 2018.
Photos: Jean-Baptiste Béranger
Minneapolis
March 2019
From March 6 to April 28, 2019, Solar Egg was temporarily resided in the courtyard the American Swedish Institute, Minneapolis.
Photo: Studio Bigert & Bergström
Rättvik
June 2019
Between June and August 2019, Solar Egg was placed at Siljan beach in Rättvik, Sweden.
Photos: Jean-Baptiste Béranger
STOCKHOLM
October 2021—March 2022
Solar Egg was displayed in Djurgården as part of the group exhibition Expedition Konst (Art) (30.10.2021—20.03.2022) at Prins Eugens Waldemarsudde.
Skellefteå
2023
Solar Egg has been placed on the terras of Skellefteå Konsthall in relation to Bigert & Bergström`s solo exhibition, The Broken Greenhouse which will be on view between 11th February and 21st of May 2023.
