Japanese artist Yukiko Morita uses bread not for French toast, or even plain old sandwiches, but to make lamps. Yes – you read correctly. Morita has created a line of lamps called . They’re clever, quirky and all made out of different loaves of bread or croissants – plus, they’re actually functional.
A former baker, Kobe-based Morita is finding a new outlet for her skill, marrying it with a unique creative pursuit.
She starts by hollowing out the bread (everything from croissants to baguettes, pullmans and boules) and then paints it with resin. Once the bread is packed with LED lights, the loaves emit a warm glow fit for any carb-lover’s living room. Some are battery powered, while others need to be plugged in.
Morita’s lamps are undoubtedly kitschy and fun; but they convey a slightly deeper meaning, too – what if our old food could be turned into something practical, rather than simply tossed in the bin? Much the same as other artists who use food as their medium, her practice encourages thoughtfulness about food, waste and repurposing.
Clearly it’s not only Japan that has shown a “knead” for these, as she has recently begun offering the lamps internationally from .
And what happens to the “insides” of the loaves? They aren’t wasted. Morita says it’s all eaten, used for rusks, quiches, French toast and more.
