According to ancient Greek mythology, Medusa was a Gorgon, one of three daughters of Phorcys and Ceto, and a chthonic, early monster whose appearance and hair turned hideous. With serpents for hair and a stone-blasting gaze, Medusa was eventually beheaded and now stands as one of the most remembered tales of all mythology. A few years back Finnish designer Mikko Paakkanen designed a mobile light for Saas that honors the tale – calling it Medusa.

Medusa Lamp. Designed by Mikko Paakkanen for Saas.

Like the Medusa of Greek Mythology, the Award-Winning Light by Mikko Paakkanen for Saas is One for the History Books

Nominated in 2006 as a “Young Designer of the Year”, Mikko Paakkanen has been extremely active in the world of industrial design that includes everything from chair design to light fixtures. The Medusa has receieved its fair share of nominations, one which placed it in the top three of the Forum AID Award competition in 2008.

Inspired by both Medusa’s story and also the “pulsating movements of a jellyfish”, the coated optical fiber and high power LEDs is composed using a microprocessor-controlled motor. The shape can change from long and lean to big and round and be stopped at any point during the transformation. This allows you to decide how the mobile light affects the design of the space. Depending upon its movement, the Medusa light measures 1900 mm in height with a 250 – 1200 mm width.

Looking similar to a giant, solid whisk, the Medusa pendant light by Mikko Paakkanen can be seen as a potent symbol of Greek mythology or a modern fixture that breathes a little modular light into any space.