Artificial Suns

In the winter, people in Northern regions experience a severe lack of natural sunlight. With daylight relentlessly decreasing, mornings are darker and evenings arrive sooner. This light deficiency negatively impacts mental well-being, leading to feelings of depression and anxiety. To brighten up the world and uplift spirits, artists, designers, and innovators have come up with remarkable ideas for creating artificial suns.

The Wandering Sun of Norway

In Norway, residents are well acquainted with living without sunlight. During the winter, the sun may not appear for weeks. To combat the lack of natural light, Norwegians utilize not only traditional energy-efficient systems but also unconventional sculptures, such as the wandering sun, to boost morale.

During the winter, the sculpture migrates or wanders throughout Norway, traveling from city to city to add a touch of brightness to the lives of Northerners.

Rjukan - Solar Mirrors

Residents of the Norwegian town of Rjukan face a lack of sunlight as the rays do not reach the valley where over three thousand people reside.

To bring some joy to the residents, an unusual structure consisting of three large mirrors was erected on the mountain ridge in 2013, capturing and reflecting sunlight back into the city center.

The municipal authorities had to invest over 800 thousand euros to manufacture and install mirrors covering a total area of 51 square meters.

A Slice of Sky in Beijing

The perpetual smog in Beijing deprives the city's population of sunlight for weeks on end. There is hope for change in China's future, as the country has initiated numerous environmental programs.

To bring instant sunshine to the residents, a massive multimedia screen was installed in the capital of China. The screen displays beautiful landscapes with bright blue skies and a shining sun. Other images remind the city dwellers of the importance of caring for the environment. This unique project is named "Artificial Sunrise."

Second Moon of Dnipro

Residents and visitors in the beautiful Ukrainian city of Dnipro can witness a unique evening sight - two moons. The replica of the Earth's natural satellite was created based on designs by the renowned artist Olafur Eliasson.

In the morning and daytime, the striking "moon" transforms into a "sun," visible from all points in the city.

The unusual sculpture, titled "Dawn over Dnipro," is placed on the grounds of a local steel foundry - one of the largest in Europe. During the day, solar panels on the "moon" accumulate solar energy to illuminate the city at night.

Tropical Sun in London

In 2012, Britons were gifted with a second sun. An original installation called Tropicana Sun was placed in Trafalgar Square in London.

British citizens and city guests were able to bask in the light emitted by the huge sphere. Tropicana Sun emits the same amount of light as if 60,000 incandescent bulbs were lit simultaneously.

The choice of the name Tropicana was not random - under this artificial light, people could even sunbathe and warm up. Local entrepreneurs took advantage of this opportunity - for an additional fee, anyone could rent a sun lounger right on the square to bask under the artificial sun.

The installation extended Londoners' daylight hours in the winter by a total of 3 hours - 1 in the morning and 2 in the evening.

Pocket Sun - Little Sun

In the near future, every inhabitant of the planet may have their own artificial sun, thanks to a global charitable project. The primary aim is to provide light and warmth to those in need worldwide.

In 2012, Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson developed a new "solar" device - Little Sun. This small device, resembling a sunflower, comprises an LED flashlight and a solar battery.

During the day, Little Sun absorbs solar energy, which can be used for illumination in the evening.

This device's introduction sparked the initiation and progression of the solar light and warmth gifting project. Participants in this noble movement hope that soon, pocket suns will be available to all residents of the poorest and most northern countries.