{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1600748"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1600748/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2022ND5307/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2022ND5307/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2022ND5307","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2022NC8504","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2022NC8505","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2022NC8506","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2022NC8507","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1600748","accessionNumber":"B.64-2022","objectType":"Lamp","titles":[{"title":"Little Sun","type":"manufacturer's title"}],"summaryDescription":"Designed in 2012 by artist Olafur Eliasson and engineer Frederik Ottesen, Little Sun is an affordable solar powered LED lamp in the  shape of the Ethiopian meskal flower. After five hours of solar charging, the lamp provides up to 50 hours of soft light or 4 hours of  bright light. \r\n\r\nLittle Sun was initially conceived as a useable, socially impactful output of Eliasson’s artistic work exploring light, energy, and the  natural environment. Eliasson describes Little Sun as ‘a work of art that works in life.’\r\n\r\nThe lamp was designed to provide affordable, safe, personal lighting for people living in areas of sub-Saharan Africa without access to  mains electricity. In these areas, many households instead rely on the light from dangerous, environmentally damaging and costly  kerosene lanterns to work, study, cook or socialise past sundown.\r\n\r\nTo provide Little Sun at the lowest cost possible to the end user, positioning it as a viable alternative to kerosene lamps, sales of Little Sun follow a social business model. The lamp is sold at a higher price point to wealthier consumers as a boutique item, allowing  more to be sold at a low cost to independent entrepreneurs and local retailers in target communities. Subsidised unit prices mean that  these local retailers can offer Little Sun to the end user at an affordable price, whilst still making a profit. ","physicalDescription":"Solar-powered lamp, yellow plastic moulded to the shape of a meskal flower, with an LED lightbulb located at the centre and a small solar panel to the side of it. With the lamp is its original packaging, a hanging cord and two printed paper leaflets. ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Olafur Eliasson","id":"AUTH398842"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"AAT25190"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Frederik Ottesen","id":"AUTH398843"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"AAT25190"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Little Sun","id":"AUTH398844"},"association":{"text":"manufacturers","id":"AAT25230"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"polycarbonate","id":"AAT14473"},{"text":"electronic components","id":"THES274431"},{"text":"card","id":"x30344"}],"techniques":[{"text":"injection moulding","id":"AAT54070"},{"text":"printing","id":"AAT53319"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Polycarbonate, electronic components, printed card and paper","categories":[{"text":"Lighting","id":"THES48925"},{"text":"Product design","id":"THES49025"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"YVA","id":"THES48593"},"images":["2022ND5307","2022NC8504","2022NC8505","2022NC8506","2022NC8507"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"013","id":"THES325115"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"CA001","id":"THES388381"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"013","id":"THES325115"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"013","id":"THES325115"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"013","id":"THES325115"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Box","id":"CIT285957"}],[{"text":"Lamp","id":"x36234"}],[{"text":"Cord","id":"AAT14247"}],[{"text":"Leaflet","id":"AAT211825"}],[{"text":"Leaflet","id":"AAT211825"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"No","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Shenzhen","id":"x43715"},"association":{"text":"manufactured","id":"x29350"},"note":""},{"place":{"text":"Berlin","id":"x28746"},"association":{"text":"designed","id":"x29338"},"note":""},{"place":{"text":"Copenhagen","id":"x32462"},"association":{"text":"designed","id":"x29338"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"2012","earliest":"2012-01-01","latest":"2012-12-31"},"association":{"text":"designed","id":"x29338"},"note":""},{"date":{"text":"2020-2021","earliest":"2020-01-01","latest":"2021-12-31"},"association":{"text":"manufactured","id":"x29350"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"120","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":"Box dims: H: 350, W&D: 128"},{"dimension":"Height","value":"35","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"box","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"128","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"box","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"128","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"box","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'Little Sun / solar lamp'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Title, printed on box lid"},{"content":"'PUSH BUTTON TO SWITCH ON / Featuring a / dimmer / HOLD BUTTON TO DIM.'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Instruction label, adhered to box lid"},{"content":"'THE POWER OF THE SUN / FOR EVERYONE'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Information, printed on rear of box"},{"content":"'JOIN THE LITTLE SUN PROJECT / WHEN YOU PURCHASE A LITTLE SUN, YOU / MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR LITTLE SUNS TO BE / SOLD IN OFF-GRID AREAS AT PRICES THAT / ARE LOCALLY AFFORDABLE'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Printed on reverse of box"}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"The early 21st century saw the foundation of several similar social enterprises providing accessible, off-grid lighting solutions. Examples include: London based SolarAid (2009), South Africa based Sonnenglass (2010) and Philippines based Litre of Light (2011). Between  2010 and 2011 the off-grid lighting market in the continent of Africa grew 450%, a reflection of the diversification of products, improved distribution systems and increased consumer awareness driven by the innovation of off-grid lighting enterprises. \r\n\r\nLittle Sun distinguished itself from these projects through its focus on emotional design and desirability. In a 2012 interview with VICE, Frederik Ottesen described the product development he and Eliasson undertook in dialogue with Ethiopian users: \r\n\r\n“We were struck by the fact that nobody had done anything to make the lamps beautiful. Nobody had done anything to emphasize that  this was something we should all aspire to buy,” \r\n\r\n“These people are just like you and me…they want fancy stuff; they want new stuff.\"\r\n\r\n\"We asked (users) how does beauty look? How does prosperity look?\" And that understanding translated into a shape that turned out  to be something in between a sun and a flower—a nice object, an interesting object—something that people would smile about.”\r\n\r\nAccording to the organisation, Little Sun had distributed over 1.4 million personal solar devices by 2021. They estimate that this has resulted in 139 million additional study hours for children, saved households 175 million US dollars in expenses and helped reduce CO2 emissions by 1 million metric tons. \r\n\r\nThe lamp has since become the namesake product of the non-profit Little Sun, a global organisation led by Eliasson and Ottesen that  aims to ‘increase universal access to design and deliver affordable clean energy solutions, and inspire people to take climate action’. Expanding past product design and distribution, Little Sun has launched global culture programmes to engage artists and creatives in crafting positive and action-based narratives around climate change.","briefDescription":"Solar lamp, Little Sun, Olafur Eliasson and Frederik Ottesen, designed 2012","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Mass produced","id":"THES48863"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"suns","id":"x31103"},{"text":"flowers","id":"AAT132399"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"<b>Personal solar lamps </b>\r\n\r\nLittle Sun is a non-profit organisation bringing solar-powered lights to communities with no electricity across the Global South. Founded by artist Olafur Elliason and engineer Frederik Ottesen, the lamps are sold in wealthier countries to make them affordable to those in need. \n  \r\nFive hours of sunlight provides 50 hours of electric light. Newer models offer directional lighting or a battery for charging devices. \n\r\n<b>5 Little Sun ‘Diamond’ </b>\r\nDesigner: Olafur Elliason \r\nDate: About 2018 \r\nLocation: Designed Denmark, manufactured China \r\nMaterials: Plastic, electronics, metal \n\r\n<b>6 Little Sun ‘Charge’ </b>\r\nDesigner: Olafur Elliason \r\nDate: About 2018 \r\nLocation: Designed Denmark, manufactured China\r\nMaterials: Plastic, electronics, metal \n\r\n<b>7 Little Sun </b>\r\nDesigner: Olafur Elliason \r\nDate: About 2012 \r\nLocation: Designed Denmark, manufactured China \r\nMaterials: Plastic, electronics, textile \r\nMuseum no. B.64-2022 \r\n\n[Young V&amp;A, Design Gallery, Design responds to our needs, group object label] ","date":{"text":"01/07/2023","earliest":"2023-07-01","latest":"2023-07-01"}}],"partNumbers":["B.64:1-2022","B.64:2-2022","B.64:3-2022","B.64:4-2022","B.64:5-2022"],"accessionNumberNum":"64","accessionNumberPrefix":"B","accessionYear":2022,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-10-10","recordCreationDate":"2021-03-26","availableToBook":false}}