Art in Sweden

The art scene in Sweden has attracted increasing international attention in recent years. Some may ask whether, in today’s age of globalisation, mobility and a growing exchange of information, it is appropriate and sensible to look at art from a country-specific perspective. After all, with the avant - gardes born at the beginning of the 20th century, common ideas, themes and formal languages were developed which went beyond national horizons. Upon closer inspection, the history of art and culture reveals that individual countries have provided the impetus for artistic developments in other countries time and again. Art and culture spring from a national context, while at the same time crossing national boundaries. The different nations and cultures of Europe are a valuable source from which Europe can draw inspiration. Without a curiosity for and receptiveness to cultural diversity, this potential would remain untapped, and there would be little room for innovation or for creating common experience.

Due to its position on the map, Scandinavia was for a long time somewhat isolated from mainstream European culture. Since a vivid cultural exchange did not take place, folk art motifs and traditional handicraft have instead influenced the development of modern design. Scandinavian 20th century design has gained a good reputation and is exported to countries all over the world. A characteristic feature of the Swedish arts scene is the large number of art associations (about 1800). Most of them are formed by art-loving employees at companies or institutions. Foreign art experts often find Swedish design very functional, and no wonder, since Sweden was one of the strongholds of the Functional movement. Its breakthrough can be dated back to the Stockholm Exhibition in 1930, which was conceived by architect Gunnar Asplund and 'the ideologist' Gregor Paulsson. Asplund´s very simple but still sophisticated architecture received much attention abroad at that time. One of his creations is the District Court House in Sölvesborg, which became a source of inspiration to European and American architects. The ideas if the Functionalist movement can still be found in the profile of the IKEA company. It produces cheap furniture and household goods of a simple design, which still has a lot of charm and personal touch about it.

All around Dalarna there are numerous shops and other outlets where you can see and purchase high-quality folk art and handicrafts, including Leksands hemslöjdsförening, a large, well-stocked shop in the town of Leksam. Dalarnas museum in Falun, and of course the Nordic Museum in Stockholm, are the places to go if you are looking for an overview of historic Swedish folk art. The village of Nusnäs is the original home of the Dalacarlian horse, with several workshops open to the public where you can buy your own handpainted horse. If you are interested in the origins of contemporary Swedish design and interiors, and Nordic aesthetics in general, a visit to the marvellous Sundborn, near Falun, is an absolute must. Sundborn is the preserved home of turn-of-the-century national romantic artist Carl Larsson and his wife Karin – one of the leading pioneers in Swedish interior decorating. For contemporary design in the broadest sense, Stockholm is widely acknowledged as a leading centre in Europe, on a par with Milan, Paris and London. It’s a city where the design aficionado can spend weeks indulging in the beauty of shapes, colours and proportions. But you can also find many sites of great interest outside of the capital. These days, cities such as Uppsala, Örebro, Västerås, Falun, Eskilstuna and Gävle all offer shops, interiors and attractions if your passion is contemporary design. There are also many design and craft sites of particular interest in the countryside.

 

Tiled Stoves

Tiled stoves are not only decorative, but in the old days they offered a more economical way of heating a house than an open fireplace. The production of tiled stoves in Sweden was resumed in 1980 at the Gustavsberg porcelain factory. Tile stoves has a long history in Sweden. During the 1700s an energy crisis occurred in Sweden, due to the lack of wood. This was primarily due to the iron works massive use of wood fuel for their production of bar iron. Tile stoves have always been designed as a luxurious interior object in accordance with contemporary fashion. In the 1960s something weird happened, to fashion and opinion, and 10,000 or more stoves were emptied in dumps. People didn’t appreciate them anymore.

 

Woodcarvings

Sweden is renowned for its decorative and beautiful handy crafts, this especially evident in the wood carvings of the Sami people of Northern Sweden. Since a large part of Sweden is forested there is plenty of material for woodcarvings. In the province of Dalarna this old tradition has become a tourist industry, the most famous product of which is the gaudily painted Dalecarlian horse. The Dalarna region is Sweden’s leading centre for traditional crafts.  The Dalacarlian horse is painted in the typical kurbitz technique of colourful floral ornamentation. It’s a style that graces many of the region´s characteristic folkloristic craft objects, including items of woodwork, ironwork, textiles, pottery, jewellery, and even hair art – a unique weaving technique using human hair.

 

Mora of Sweden

The town of Mora in Sweden has been a centre of knife making for many centuries. The naturally superior Swedish steel, combined with skilled craftsmanship, resulted in knives that became famous for their ability to hold a superior edge and sharpen easily. The smiths in Mora developed a basic functional style that became a classic, known simply as the “Mora Knife.” Until recently there were two remaining large companies in Mora, KJ Eriksson and Frosts of Mora. They have merged into "Mora of Sweden", but some stock is marked with the previous names. Mora knives place function before style. But the simplicity of functionality has a beauty of it's own. The quality and prices are great, and they're one of the best knife bargains around. They have the flat Scandinavian grind that goes cleanly to the edge, and come from the factory very sharp. This style of grind is easy to sharpen without jigs or gadgets.

 

Swedish Glass

The Swedish glass art form has thrived for centuries. Glass craftsmen create dazzling works of art, featuring everything from ornate modern dinnerware to exotic luxury sculptures that only the very rich can afford. Swedish glass craftsmen constantly push the envelope in terms of what the dynamic art form can accomplish. However, thanks to competition from cheaper international glassmakers, Swedish glassmakers themselves have recently been put on the defensive.In Sweden, glassmaking is a highly localized industry, which takes place in a small province commonly referred to as the Kingdom of Glass. This area is situated in the Swedish province of Smaland and spans from Kalmar to Vaxjo. Minor craft shops abound, but the major force in the Swedish glass industry is a company called Offerfors Kosta Boda.Technically, Offerfors Kosta Boda is really four different glassmakers. These designers employ dozens of artisans, and they produce some of the most enduring works of Swedish glass you can find anywhere.

 

Swedish Paintings

Most Swedish painters with an international reputation were active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Among the most renowned artists from this period are Anders Zorn, Carl Larsson and Bruno Liljefors. Many of their works can be found in Swedish art museums. Swedish art has always been influenced from around the world, but the influences have come from different geographical regions in different ages. Swedish art is inherently a part of Swedish culture and the cultural tradition of the Western world. The influences of Swedish art have has mostly come from continental Europe, especially Western Europe: the other Nordic countries and countries like France, Germany and Italy.

 

Dance and Music

Sweden shares the tradition of Nordic folk dance music with its neighbouring countries including polka, schottische, waltz, polska and mazurka. The accordion, clarinet, fiddle and nyckelharpa are among the most common Swedish folk instruments. This instrumental genre is the biggest one in Swedish traditional music. In the 1960s, Swedish youth sparked a roots revival in Swedish folk culture. Swedish music has also included more modern and pop influences. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Scandinavian death metal bands became very popular with the international heavy metal community. Swedish pop bands like ABBA, Roxette,  Ace of Base, The Cardigans and Swedish singers Meja, Carola Häggkvist, September and Robyn have had international success. A number of bands with less emphasis on pop and rock music but still have international success have come out of the country in recent years. Another Swedish artist, DeDe, was so successful in Japan in the late 1990s that she inspired a collectible doll. Sweden has also historically dominated the Scandinavian music scene, with Danes and Norwegians listening to music in Swedish.