design magazine

Article by Tania Droggitou
Posted on January 25th, 2013
in Design, Art & Frank Gehry

Almost three decades after the emergence of the Frank Gehry Fish Lamps, they have been reinvented by the architect and artist who has created several new pieces for the two exhibitions which are running concurrently at the Gagosian Gallery in Beverly Hills and Paris.

From his childhood, the celebrated octogenarian has been fascinated by the shape and movement of sea creatures and especially fish. He was inspired to create his first lamp in 1983 when the Formica company asked him to look at the possibilities of their new product, Color Core. When he accidentally dropped and broke a piece of the material, he noticed that the shape and texture was similar to the scales of a fish and from this his first lamp was created. Since then, his fish shape which in his eyes is the epitome of ‘a perfect form’ has been used in a sculptural form throughout his distinguished career.

The new group of lamps in the exhibitions are a larger version, measuring from 3 to 7 ft long. Some are mounted on sticks, some are suspended as chandeliers from the ceilings and others simply sit on a flat surface, either alone or in groups. The familiar soft glow is emitted from the lamps which all exhibit the textured form and grace of movement which the public have come to expect from the work of this brilliant man. The event at the Gagosian Gallery in Beverly Hills runs from January 11th through to February 14th, 2013 and at the Gagosian Gallery in Paris from January 24th through to March 9th.