Daniel Rybakken wants to recreate the subconscious effect that daylight has on us

Norwegian lighting and furniture designer Daniel Rybakken is this year’s winner of the Torsten and Wanja Söderberg Prize. His exhibition Daylight and Objects will feature at Gothenburg City Library from 5 November.

Daniel reflects on what light can do to people’s subconscious, and how daylight affects us and our environment. What can a lamp create in a room depending on its location? How can a room feel small, dark, and stuffy on a late November evening, yet feel large, airy, and bright on an early June morning? The development of his objects is characterised by accuracy and precision. His design processes take time – working with light takes time. He tests, researches, and studies tirelessly to get exactly the right feel.

Daniel was born in Oslo in 1984 where he studied at the Oslo School of Architecture and Design. He has a Master of Fine Arts from the School of Design and Crafts at the University of Gothenburg. He now lives and works in Gothenburg where he runs Studio Daniel Rybakken in Majorna. He has won several international awards for his design and has collaborated with a number of design producers.

In addition to a prize of SEK 1 million and an exhibition, a catalogue will be produced in the winner’s honour by branding agency Happy F&B as well as a documentary by Stavfel produktion. Both the catalogue and the documentary can be seen at the exhibition.

Exhibition at Gothenburg City Library

New this year is that the exhibition takes place at Gothenburg City Library, something which the director of the Röhsska Museum Nina Due sees as positive.

- Having an exhibition at Gothenburg City Library gives the Röhsska Museum an opportunity to reach new audiences – the exhibition has been translated into English and partly into Arabic, for instance. We are working with the various departments of the library which will be hosting a variety of theme weeks during the exhibition period, including the theme ‘design’, says Nina Due.

During the week of 20 November, the Röhsska Museum will be partnering with the School of Design and Crafts at the University of Gothenburg, which is organising OPEN WEEK – Gothenburg Design Festival. The museum will be loaning its premises for the design students’ alternative graduation exhibition, and Daniel Rybakken will be giving a lecture at Gothenburg City Library.

Daylight and Objects

The exhibition Daylight and Objects takes place from 5 November 2017 to 18 February 2018 at Gothenburg City Library. Admission is free. Viewings, workshops and lectures will be held during the exhibition period.

The opening will take place on Sunday 5 November at 12:00 at Gothenburg City Library, attended by Daniel Rybakken and Director of the Röhsska Museum Nina Due.

Read more about the winner and the prize on the Röhsska Museum’s website

Media accreditation:

The press preview will take place on Thursday 2 November at 10:00 at Gothenburg City Library in the presence of Daniel Rybakken, chairman of the Torsten Söderberg Foundation Tomas Söderberg PhD h.c., Director of the Röhsska Museum Nina Due, and exhibition architect Bodil Gyllenberg-Pernevi.

The award ceremony will take place on Saturday 4 November. Photography will be permitted. Refreshments will be served from 15:00 and the award ceremony will begin at 16:00 in the auditorium of the University of Gothenburg, Vasa Park, immediately followed by a preview of the exhibition at Gothenburg City Library. The award ceremony is only for invited and press.

To take part in the press preview and/or award ceremony, please contact Communications Officer: Emma Aronsson, emma.aronsson@kultur.goteborg.se or +46 (0)31-368 32 48