In collaboration with Dröfn Sæmundsdóttir and Gísli Hilmarsson, studio Helgi explored a new way of utilizing the forest of Kaldbakur in Ytri-Rangárvallarsýsla, Iceland. Herbs gathered from the forest became the basis for two forms of herbal preparation: “Into water” and “Under the lip.”
“Into water” takes the form of a tree-shaped teabag, held by its roots and planted directly into the cup. The accompanying package is designed to transform into a small serving vessel, allowing the tea to remain on the table in its own landscape of soil, tree and root.
The packaging establishes the central metaphor: the package becomes the soil from which the tree is taken. Once placed in water, the roots return the power of the herbs—and of the soil—to the cup.
The packaging is intended to evoke the feeling of soil: the teabag, shaped as a tree, is taken from it by the roots and placed into the cup. As the roots enter the water, they return the power of the herbs and the soil from which they came.
“Under the lip” responds to the Icelandic habit of placing tobacco beneath the upper lip, as with snus, replacing tobacco with healing herbs. The preparation is conceived to release the herbs through the mucous membrane beneath the lip, creating a direct relationship between the plant and the body.
Three varieties were developed for both “Into water” and “Under the lip”: Bætir (“improver”), Vætir (“wetener”) and Gætir (“guardian”), names that describe the intended effect of each preparation on the body.
studio Helgi
