The Salmon of Lugh

The sculpture with the title "The Salmon of Lugh" is a fish with a long arm. The direction of the hand with the raised thumb and extended forefinger stands for knowledge. A "windmill" on top of the thumb spins in all directions showing that knowledge is a constantly evolving process.

What's going on here?

"The Salmon of Lugh" is about Lugh "with the long arms", the messenger between humans and the gods. There is an ancient Celtic tale about Lugh as a disciple of a sage who knew that Loki, the trickster, a shape shifter, the god of mischief, had transformed himself into a salmon. After you would catch the fish and eat it directly then... all of a sudden you gain infinite knowledge; you've become omniscient.

The wise asked Lugh to catch the salmon, Loki the shape-shifter. After he had caught the salmon the wise ordered him to fry it. During the preparation of the salmon, hot oil splashed onto the thumb of Lugh. He put his thumb in his mouth and then...something happened what the wise men already knew...he gained all knowledge possible. He became omniscient.

The sculpture on the site ofbuiten beeld in beeld