Scan Magazine, Issue 123, April 2019 by Scan Client Publishing

APRIL 2019 ISSUE 123 PROMOTING BRAND SCANDINAVIA

MADS MIKKELSEN: THE HOLLYWOOD DANE GOES ARCTIC NORDIC DESIGN BRANDS AND CREATIVE AGENCIES FASHION FAVOURITES FROM SWEDEN NORDIC CULTURE SPECIAL

Contents 48 14

COVER FEATURE 48

Mads Mikkelsen – The Hollywood Dane Goes Arctic Already well-known in Hollywood and beyond, one half of the world’s favourite two actor brothers from the Nordic Noir genre, is cooler than ever in his latest film, Arctic. Mads Mikkelsen talks about the script that won him over, the challenges of a 30-day shoot in wintery Iceland, and what it really means to be alive.

DESIGN 8

Denim, Pillow Talk and Danish Furniture Design

some of the most celebrated restaurants globally. We list three culinary experiences not to miss the next time you find yourself on Danish land.

Unspoilt nature, charming maritime culture, openair museums, Sami culture and creative, Norwegian culture centres – this and much more, you will find in this month’s culture spotlight.

SPECIAL FEATURES 42

Get Educated If you are a parent looking for the right school for your child in Denmark or a young, budding author, we can help. Among this month’s special features are inspiring schools and both cultural and culinary education to boot.

SPECIAL THEMES 32

The Best Creative Agencies in Scandinavia Need help with a visual identity for your brand, or a new website? Perhaps you need an entire communication strategy designed, or an ad campaign? We list the Nordic agencies that are leading the way.

68 52

A Taste of Denmark Danes are not only the keenest consumers of organic food in the world; their star chefs are also behind the New Nordic Cuisine movement and

The Best Swedish Fashion Brands – Our Picks Boots made for walking and garments made for wearing over and over, perhaps even passing them on when they no longer fit you – these are just some of the things we found when we set out to explore the wonder of Swedish fashion, where sustainability means more than just organic fabrics.

This month’s design section is quite literally packed full of Scandinavian design classics and Nordic design news. Think well-crafted functionalist furniture, super-cool fashion statements, visual design expertise and everything in between.

Nordic Culture: Denmark, Finland and Norway

Visit Norway: Arendal and Lillehammer Whether you are looking for expertly made chocolates, stunning mountain views or a good dose of cultural history, we help you plan your next trip to Norway with some of our latest favourite haunts.

BUSINESS 105 Åland Peace, and the Perfect Network Keynote writer Simone Andersen explains why bigger is not necessarily better when it comes to your business network, while we sent reporters to find out about the peace of mind you can find on the islands of Åland.

CULTURE 125 Scandinavian Culture Highlights Find the best Scandi music news, information about Nordic holiday happenings, and other Scandinavian arts and cultural highlights in the culture calendar, as always.

Scan Magazine | Editor’s Note

Dear Reader, One of the fashion designers I interviewed for this issue, Linn Frisinger of Swedish Stockings, said something that stayed with me. She pointed out that the personal expression of consumption has changed – that we buy stories, not products; that at a time when almost everything else that we consume is hidden within our smartphones, fashion is one of the very few remaining ways in which we express our personalities through the things we buy. One thing I can say with certainty after editing a magazine packed full of Nordic design profiles and boasting a Swedish fashion special, is that those who shop Scandinavian brands care about much more than just style. Not that style is unimportant – that much is evident if you just quickly flick through this issue. But when we support a brand with a circular business model or one that invests profits into education and social development programmes, we vote with our wallets – and we show that we care. That Swedish Stockings – a recycled pantyhose brand that aims to transform how we make and think about one of the industry’s previously most disposable items – is doing so well, then, is quite telling.

there – because phones are not just for input, but also for output. I think personal branding through experience is one of our generation’s most defining habits. Whether you intend to document your next major experience on Instagram or not, you could do worse than seek it out in Scandinavia. From relaxing cultural experiences in Denmark and lively culture centres in Norway, to Danish culinary highlights and Norwegian treats for the soul, we have put together quite the guide this month. It is spring time, and the yearning for travel and discovery is building slowly but surely after months of hibernation. Can you feel it? Put on your most comfortable pair of Scandi jeans and head for your pick of charming, Nordic town or buzzing cultural hotspot. And do not let the challenging filming experience of cover star Mads Mikkelsen, on set in freezing cold Iceland, put you off…

Linnea Dunne, Editor

But I think there is another aspect to this paradigm shift in consumerism, if you can call it that: our music and books may be in our phones and invisible to others, but technology does not stop

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6 | Issue 123 | April 2019

Scan Magazine | Design | Fashion Diary

Fashion Diary… Rock ‘n’ roll is a style that comes back again and again, and as such, it is always great to have a few rock-inspired items in your wardrobe. We have collected everything you need to look cool, casual and trendy this year while channeling your inner star. Are you ready to rock? By Ingrid Opstad | Press photos

Make a statement in double black-wash denim. Think skinny, cropped jeans like the Rey denims and an oversized shirt like Elma, both from HOPE Stockholm, channeling the rock ‘n’ roll mood. Relaxed, classic and so trendy. Add a pair of loafers to complete the outfit – an accessory that every wardrobe needs. HOPE Stockholm, ‘Rey’ denim jeans, £146 HOPE Stockholm, ‘Elma’ denim shirt, £129 HOPE Stockholm, ‘Rey’ loafers, £300 www.hope-sthlm.com

Take inspiration from the iconic Blondie: add red lips to become a true rock chic. The Velvet Touch lipstick from GOSH gives the lips an intense, long-lasting colour, due to a high concentration of colour pigments. We suggest the colour 149 Dangerous for a dramatic look. This creamy lipstick gives the lips a bright and shiny look and stays put for hours and hours. GOSH Copenhagen, Velvet Touch ‘149 Dangerous’ lipstick, £7.99 www.goshcopenhagen.com

Throw on an oversized tee with your skinny jeans to instantly look cool and make a statement. Designed with a ‘Femme’ print, this classic T-shirt in organic cotton from Selected Femme is very soft and durable – perfect for everyday wear. Selected Femme, print T-shirt, £20 www.selected.com

A trenchcoat can add a bit of glamour and rock style to your outfit, and you can wear it for evenings out, when going to work, or on casual days off. Mix up the traditional trenchcoat and go for a trendy plaid-patterned option. This one from Gestuz is a great choice. Gestuz, ‘Alifa’ trenchcoat, £239 www.gestuz.com

Scan Magazine | Design | Fashion Diary

Express your rebel spirit with jewellery. This 18carat, gold-plated 925s silver ring from Northern Jewelry, designed in Denmark, features a black skull meticulously etched on the square surface. It is also available in sterling silver, and comes in a pouch – perfect if you plan on giving it as a unique gift. Northern Jewelry, ‘Cranium 925S’ gold ring, £79 www.trendhim.co.uk

Is there anything more rock ‘n’ roll than a classic leather biker jacket? We think not. The Acne Studios Nate clean black is a regular-fit biker jacket in soft nappa leather – an iconic item that is always worth the investment. Acne Studios, ‘Nate biker jacket, £1,300 www.acnestudios.com

Walk this way in these classic suede lace-up trainers from Mads Nordgaard. Trainers add a touch of grunge to your outfit, making you look laidback and eternally cool. Mads Nordgaard, suede ‘Madson’ contrast sneaker, approx. £119 www.madsnorgaard.com

Animal prints are a big trend this season, and they also scream rock ‘n’ roll. This fluffy tiger-striped pullover in cashmere adds an edge to your look, and looks great teamed up with smart trousers and quirky snake-print shoes. So glam! Tiger of Sweden, ‘Nexton’ pullover, £449 Tiger of Sweden, ‘Trolosa’ trousers, £249 Tiger of Sweden, ‘Solen S’ shoes, £279 Tiger of Sweden, ‘Balatin’ belt, £199 Tiger of Sweden, ‘Beau’ bag, £499 www.tigerofsweden.com

Issue 123 | April 2019 | 9

Scan Magazine | Design | We Love This

We love this… As much as the Nordic nations love nature, we also love animals and wildlife – so much so, that there are quite a few Scandinavian design objects based on our favourite furry friends and birds. Here are a few of our choice picks for animallovers of all ages. By Ingrid Opstad | Press photos

These unique, rotating wooden birds were originally created in the 1950s by the Danish furniture designer and true artist Jacob Hermann, and are today manufactured by Warm Nordic. Each of the Twirling Birds has its own character, determined by the grain and colour of the wood. Fun fact: you can easily spin them around for an elegant version of Spin the Bottle – which is exactly what the artist used his for. Warm Nordic, ‘Twirling Bird’ small, £41 Warm Nordic, ‘Twirling Bird’ medium, £48 Warm Nordic, ‘Twirling Bird’ large, £62 Warm Nordic, ‘Twirling Bird’ x-large, £69 www.warmnordic.com

Mons children’s tableware is part of the 35 series by Norwegian ceramics manufacturing company Figgjo, which was awarded the Label for Good Design back in 1969. The sweet set has a retro expression decorated with cats and was designed by Turi Gramstad Oliver. Contact Figgjo if you want to buy a product that is not available in the online shop. Figgjo, ‘Mons’ tableware set, approx £44 www.figgjo.com

The Resting Cat from Vitra is designed by Swedish design studio Front and is a carefully sculpted decorative accessory that will bring a peaceful presence to the home – a great choice for anyone who loves cats but cannot have one themselves. The Resting Cat is part of the Resting Animals series, which not only brings a touch of nature into the home; the peaceful presence goes beyond the visual to communicate a sense of contentment and companionship. ‘Resting Cat’ £169 www.utilitydesign.co.uk

10 | Issue 123 | April 2019

Inspire your animal-loving children’s creativity with this adorable wooden chair from Danish design brand EO. Wrapped with beech wood in the abstract shape of an elephant, this chair has a classic Scandi feel and a friendly and welcoming appearance. Paired with the matching table, it will create an art or play station for your little one to enjoy. EO, wooden elephant chair, £185 www.amara.com

We adore Kay Bojesen’s range of familiar, much-loved wooden animals. These sweet creatures are a homage to the playful child in all of us, and come in a range of different options. Each wooden toy comes in a lovely gift box, so they are perfect to give to someone as a gift. Kay Bojesen, bear, £90 Kay Bojesen, dog, £85 Kay Bojesen, elephant, £120 Kay Bojesen, hippo, £85 Kay Bojesen, rabbit, £85 Kay Bojesen, monkey (small), £125 Kay Bojesen, monkey (medium), £389 Kay Bojesen, monkey (large), £1,325 www.skandium.com

Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Møbelsnedkeri Kjeldtoft

The stylish Runa table, designed by Isabel Ahm and crafted by Kjeldtoft Cabinet Makers, will be presented at Copenhagen’s 3daysofdesign event in May.

‘I cannot help saying yes to challenges’ Known for his ability to turn eye-catching design ideas into functional furniture, Danish cabinet maker Gert Kjeldtoft is busier than ever. This spring, his company, Kjeldtoft Cabinet Makers, is entering into new international collaborations, exhibiting at 3daysofdesign in Copenhagen, and working behind the scenes on DR’s just-finished TV show Danmarks næste klassiker (‘Denmark’s next classic’).

the programme’s participants, Kjeldtoft received phone calls from designers Rikke Frost and Isabel Ahm.

By Signe Hansen | Photos: Møbelsnedkeri Kjeldtoft

Fascinated with design since he was a child, 59-year-old Kjeldtoft has long been known among Danish designers as a cabinet maker who not only turns visions into reality, but sometimes, in doing so, actually enhances the vision. More recently, Kjeldtoft Cabinet Makers is also increasingly being approached by major interior design brands. “We are getting more frequent requests from established furniture brands in Denmark asking us to help develop prototypes and 12 | Issue 123 | April 2019

models for their production, and that’s very cool – it’s something we’ve been working towards,” says Kjeldtoft.

Turning visions into functionality Another indication of Kjeldtoft’s growing recognition is the fact that he and his company helped realise the ideas of not one but two of the talented designers featured in the design TV show Danmarks næste klassiker. Within ten minutes of the official announcement of

Fascinated with design since he was a child, 59-year-old Kjeldtoft has spent most of his life turning design ideas into functional furniture.

Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Kjeldtoft Cabinet Makers

“Rikke is a very talented designer; compared to other designers, she’s very product-orientated in that she aims to create something that’s producible and sellable, and that’s very much in line with my thinking – design needs to be functional,” stresses Kjeldtoft. “Also, it’s great to work with someone like Rikke, who is very involved in the whole process. Having her come into the workshop enables us to get input and bounce ideas back and forth, and that’s much more fun than just getting handed a drawing. It lets us put our heart and soul into the final product.”

Makers worked together with designer Jasper Morrison on a special residential project in Doha in Qatar. The year after, it created the stylish Runa table, designed by Isabel Ahm, for the presidential suite at Dubai’s Hotel Viceroy. The table is one of three distinct furniture pieces from the company to be exhibited at Denmark’s 3daysofdesign event in May. Furthermore, Kjeldtoft is currently working on a distinct table designed by Erling Christoffersen and destined for the USA. “It’s a huge table in bent lamination, four metres long – probably the biggest table ever made in bent lamination,” explains Kjeldtoft. “We’re shipping it off to San Francisco in a month, but it’s still very much at the development stage. I’m sure we’ll make it work, but we have to invent a bit as we go along; there’s a risk that it might turn a bit wobbly, but I’m sure we’ll solve it!”

International destinations

Challenges and sleepless nights

Having finished his work on Danmarks næste klassiker (the last episode aired on 26 March), Kjeldtoft is currently working with Frederica Furniture and Japanese designer Keiji Takeuchi to create a bench for the Fiskars Biennale. Kjeldtoft was approached for the job by Thomas Graversen, head of Fredericia Furniture, who says of Kjeldtoft: “You’re in safe hands with Gert – he has many years of experience in making outstanding furniture, panels and all kinds of prototype work for almost the entire Danish furniture community.”

Like the Runa table, Christoffersen’s table is generously funded and likely to end up in a prestigious location – though for this project, Kjeldtoft does not know the final destination. But, to Kjeldtoft, it is not the name of the designer or the prestige of the project, but the challenges within that make a job interesting. “I can’t help but say yes when someone comes with a slightly crazy idea – the kind of idea where there’s a risk of things getting completely wacky,” he confesses. “We go into it with all we have, and sometimes there are some sleepless nights, but we always succeed, and it’s the best kind of work.”

Kjeldtoft agreed to help out Frost in four of the categories and episodes and Isabel Ahm in one. One of Frost’s designs was children’s furniture, which won its category and was awarded the show’s overall prize as Denmark’s next classic.

Facts: Møbelsnedkeri Kjeldtoft will exhibit three works at Kunsthal Charlottenborg at the 3daysofdesign event in Copenhagen on 23-25 May 2019. The bench by Japanese designer Keiji Takeuchi will be exhibited at New Fiskars Village Art & Design Biennale, which combines contemporary art and design and will take place from 19 May to 15 September this year. The furniture from Danmarks næste klassiker will be exhibited at Design Museum Denmark from 5 April to 31 August. The workshop also works with private commissions, creating unique furniture for individual homes.

Web: www.kjeldtoft.com Instagram: @kjeldtoft_snedkeri

This is not the workshop’s first international project. In 2015, Kjeldtoft Cabinet

Bottom left: The children’s furniture, designed by Rikke Frost and crafted by Kjeldtoft Cabinet Makers, became the winner of DR’s recent TV show Danmarks næste klassiker (‘Denmark’s next classic’).

Issue 123 | April 2019 | 13

Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Depeche

Having worked exclusively with leather for more than a decade, DEPECHE. has built up a broad expertise and developed a number of special techniques to expand the possibilities of the material.

The strength of leather Having expanded its remarkably successful collection of leather accessories with a selection of leatherwear, Danish design company DEPECHE. is ready to take things to the next level. Behind the firm is the 2014 winner of the Young Business Leader award, mother-of-two leather enthusiast Janni Hørdum. The CEO tells Scan Magazine about her ambitions for the brand, the importance of a strong team, and her children’s support. By Signe Hansen | Photos: DEPECHE.

When it comes to leather accessories, the people behind the Horsens-located design company DEPECHE. know what they are talking about. Since 2008, the company has specialised exclusively in high-quality leather accessories such as belts and bags. But two years ago, Janni decided it was time to take on a new challenge; it was not, as some might have expected, to expand to other materials, but rather to expand with a collection of feminine yet edgy leatherwear. “In reality, I’ve had a dream of expanding the collection for a long time; it was just a question of how to do it,” says Janni. 14 | Issue 123 | April 2019

“I’ve always been the kind of person who will wear leather leggings and a biker jacket anywhere I can get away with it – in general, I have a great weakness for leather – so I thought that it’d be cool to take the expansion in that direction. Also, I like the idea of doing things differently, and compared to most companies, which start with a clothing collection and then add the bags and belts, we’re doing things the other way round. I think that’s a cool twist, and the fact that we already have the production and expertise within leather has meant that we haven’t had any of the usual start-up problems

that companies usually experience when launching new clothing collections.” When first venturing into leatherwear, DEPECHE. focused solely on leather jackets, but it was soon obvious from the response from customers that there was a demand for much more. Hence, the new collection today includes everything from leather leggings to dresses and shorts, all with the distinct raw and feminine quality which also defines the firm’s accessories.

All leather Made from cow or buff hides, and displaying a wide range of texture, feel and colour, the inspiration for Janni’s collections comes from a potpourri of trips and fashion fairs in Milan, Paris, London, Berlin and New York. This is combined with DEPECHE.’s raw and feminine DNA and a focus on quality, functionality and affordable prices. “We are very faith-

Scan Magazine | Design Profile | DEPECHE.

For more than a decade, DEPECHE. has been focusing exclusively on products in leather.

Issue 123 | April 2019 | 15

Scan Magazine | Design Profile | DEPECHE.

ful to our concept and our design DNA. Regardless of new designs, colours and qualities, it is very important to me that DEPECHE. is recognisable in its general expression,” says Janni. “DEPECHE. is like my third baby, and I have a clear vision of where I want to take my brand. I want to create an exclusive and cool brand for all women, with a focus on high quality and functionality,” she explains. It was Janni who, when she took over the company in 2008, decided to focus exclusively on leather products. Having done so for more than ten years, the company has built up a broad expertise and developed a number of special processes and methods to expand the possibilities of the material. For instance, DEPECHE. has developed its own technique for printing animal patterns on suede, allowing it to successfully adapt its collections to include the newest trends of zebra, leopard and now snake print.

Flexibility and teamwork With a long history within retail behind her, Janni uses her insight in the fashion industry combined with her gut feeling when timing her collections. Furthermore, the collections are released at the time of sale, and that means that retailers receive designs that include the very newest trends and fashions. This is possible due to the company’s flexible production and her strong and experienced team. “We have a group of employees who tackle every task together as a team, and that’s essential to a growth company. While being loyal to our DNA, we’re incredibly adaptable and quickly pick up on new trends,” says Janni. “Right from the start, it’s been very important to me to create a positive work environment, and I believe that our flat organisation and the unpretentious work atmosphere have played a great part in creating DEPECHE.’s identity and success.” Most of DEPECHE.’s belts are made in Italy, while bags and clothes are produced by highly skilled leather traders in India, where DEPECHE. employs a team 16 | Issue 123 | April 2019

Scan Magazine | Design Profile | DEPECHE.

of designers and quality inspectors. But Janni herself also regularly visits the production sites and continuously works to uphold the values that define the brand at home and abroad. “My strategy is to keep expanding in the foreign markets, but in a responsible way where all matters are taken into account in order for the resources to be positioned. It is no success just to sell according to demand and possibility if the personnel, collaborators and the physical surroundings are not equivalent,” she stresses.

‘We cheer each other on’ At the time of taking over DEPECHE. in 2008, Janni and her husband, pilot Anders Mondrup, were expecting their second child. But rather than talking of the challenges of managing family life and work, Janni says she could not have followed her dream without her husband’s support, and that her children, Caroline and Mathias, are also great supporters in her life and work. “At their age, they’re very independent, and they’ve grown up with the lifestyle of an

independent business owner – so they know that it means that you’re never really off, but they also know the advantages,” she says. On top of this, both children are deeply fascinated by fashion and eager to learn and take part in their mother’s business. At 14, Mathias has just been employed to help out in the company, and ten-yearold Caroline is looking forward to the day when she can join the team too. “The company is a big part of our life, and the topic forms a big part of the dialogue in our home,” says Janni. “Just like I’m there cheering my children on when they take part in a football match or a dance performance, they cheer me on when I get home with a success story. We celebrate it together, and to me that’s just absolutely amazing!”

DEPECHE. in short: DEPECHE. was founded in Copenhagen in 1999. In 2008, Janni Hørdum took over the company and moved it to Horsens in Jutland. In Hørdum’s hands, the company changed its strategy from previously working with accessories in a wide range of materials to focusing exclusively on leather accessories. In 2016, the company launched its first leatherwear collection. The company employs 17 people at the offices in Horsens, as well as several agents abroad and a team of designers in India. The company’s products are sold in 12 European countries. In Denmark, the brand is represented in 320 shops. DEPECHE. is expecting a 25 to 30 per cent increase in turnover as well as at least doubling its profits from last year. The collections are made up of 50 per cent ‘must-haves’, 40 per cent ‘high fashion’, and ten per cent ‘profile’ items.

In 2016, DEPECHE. launched its first leatherwear collection, which has become a huge success, and the company is expecting a 25 to 30 per cent increase in turnover from last year.

Web: depeche-denmark.com Instagram: @depecheeu Facebook: DEPECHE

Issue 123 | April 2019 | 17

Scan Magazine | Education Profile | Digitaliseringsinstituttet

Norsk Mose & Design supplies moss walls for workplaces. Here with a logo made for and installed by their Finnish partner Euroflora.

Your own piece of Norwegian nature Nature and fresh air give calmness, clarity, energy and motivation. As many of us now spend most of our time indoors, we yearn for the opportunity to feel connected to nature, and during our hectic working week, the need for inner peace increases. Norsk Mose & Design has found a way for you to have your own piece of Norwegian nature, whether that is at home or in the workplace.

products did not make them, but instead imported products made with moss that had been exported from Norway. “There are actually only two moss factories for

By Ingrid Opstad | Photos: Norsk Mose & Design

Norsk Mose & Design creates design products made with moss hand-picked from Rendalen in Østerdalen, giving you the possibility to bring nature to you wherever you might be. “When nature is not available, we make it available. It is a way for you to find tranquility and feel the harmony with your own bit of Norwegian nature,” says Heidi Foss, CEO and one of the owners. After previously running a car dealership, Foss 18 | Issue 123 | April 2019

and her good friend Ewa Råken, who ran a construction company, discovered an increasing need among enterprises for green moss walls that were lowmaintenance and cost effective. Founded in 2018, Norsk Mose & Design wanted to further develop finished Norwegian moss products in Norway. The reason for the start-up was that those who at the time sold finished

From Gullfjæren Awards 2019. Photo: Vibeke S. Myren

Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Norsk Mose & Design AS

reindeer moss in the world, and we are proud that one of these is located here in Rendalen, a shareholder in our company. So all of our products are 100 per cent made in Norway,” Foss explains.

Reindeer moss from Østerdalen Reindeer moss grows freely throughout Østerdalen. The moss is harvested by hand, and the fields are maintained with great focus on the environment and sustainability. Harvesting takes place during four hectic months in the summer, so there is plenty of raw material for production all year round. “After treatment at the factory, the moss is sent to our workshops, where we design and produce finished products for sale,” Foss explains. The moss is available in a variety of colours to suit every style and need, with the natural and green shades being the most popular.

A stylish addition to your home or workplace After a secret treatment and dyeing at the factory, the moss is no longer alive and does not grow. It therefore requires no maintenance after being installed and is not dependent on sunlight. “It is great to have in an office space, because it helps clean the air and has an energising effect. Moreover, the acoustics of the room are enhanced by the sound absorption, contributing to a sense of calm and harmony,” says Foss.

Wall with logo made for TopTemp.

The production is classified and certified through ISO 9001 and 14001. The moss has a natural ability to clean the air as well as an energising effect, and neither dust nor insects are attracted to it. “We have conducted tests at SINTEF in order to guarantee a fire-proof product that is safe. In addition, the moss retains its shape, colour and texture for many years, and is a stylish addition to your home or workplace,” Foss adds.

Helping make Oslo a greener city Norsk Mose & Design is collaborating with KLP on a new project close to Oslo Central Station this April. The aim of this impressive wall made of moss is to inform the public about the sustainable construction project, as well as to welcome visitors to the Environmental Capital of Europe 2019. “We are pleased to be able to help promote such a visible and sustainable project in the heart of Oslo. The area is characterised by a lot of grey concrete and brown metal surfaces, so our green moss will create a contrast. Surrounding ourselves with nature brings a sense of calm, harmony and something that is real,” says Foss. “It is a 100-square-metre outdoor wall – our biggest job so far! We have produced a total of 160 modules of different sizes, and are very excited about this new, green lung, which will be beneficial for those who pass this area every day,” she says proudly.

Benefits: Eco-friendly: the moss is picked by hand with respect to the environment and sustainability. Only 100 per cent natural and biodegradable materials are used in the products. Cleaner air and better acoustics: the moss cleans the air of toxins and improves the acoustics of the room by absorbing high frequencies. Maintenance-free: the moss does not grow or change shape, and requires no maintenance or water. Free of toxins and allergy-friendly: tested for fire safety at SINTEF with top results.

Web: www.norskmosedesign.no Facebook: norskmosedesign Instagram: @norskmosedesign

Framed moss available in different sizes, shapes and colours is a natural and stylish way to bring a bit of Norwegian nature into your home.

Moss wall in the showroom of the sustainable clothing brand Envelope1976 at the eco.logic head office in Oslo. Photo: Celine Aagaard

Issue 123 | April 2019 | 19

Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Meediagrupi OÜ

Photo: Sadu Triste Juurikas

Smart solutions, happy customers They say that first impressions last, and that is arguably never more true than when it comes to retail. From bespoke displays to innovative installations, Meediagrupi OÜ are experts in designing and supplying attractive and effective store furnishings to improve the customer experience.

production, regulatory requirements and installation. And that means that we can design and develop products and displays that are perfectly tailored to our customers’ needs.”

By Liz Longden | Photos: Meediagrupi OÜ

“Store furnishings are like a business card,” explains Evelyn Lume, marketing manager at Meediagrupi OÜ. “Wellselected furniture solutions, materials, colours and themes reinforce brand image and send out a clear message to a customer from the moment they step through the door.”

impression. But it’s also about making it easier for customers, directing them more easily towards what they may be looking for. There are so many products available today, and so many alternatives for every product, that companies need to be smart and find solutions to make sure that their products stand out.”

Based in Estonia, and this year celebrating its 25th anniversary, Meediagrupi OÜ supplies retail accessories and bespoke commercial furniture not only to the local market, but also to markets in Latvia, Lithuania, Finland and Scandinavia. Although it is often an invisible art from the consumer’s perspective, Lume argues that the importance of intelligent shop design cannot be overestimated. “Partly, it’s about psychology and creating a certain

While it stocks a range of off-the-shelf retail accessories, it is in crafting bespoke solutions that Meediagrupi OÜ really comes into its own. “Sometimes our customers know what they want, but often they’re looking for a bit of advice, and sometimes they have no idea where to start. That’s where we can really help,” Lume says. “We have a very closeknit, experienced team, with expertise in everything from product design through to

20 | Issue 123 | April 2019

This expertise is one reason why Meediagrupi OÜ has acquired a loyal customer base, with clients ranging from small, single-outlet traders to global brands. Examples include long-standing collaborations with Japanese power tools manufacturer Makita, as well as with ferry operator Tallink and Finnish cosmetics brand Lumene. Already active in Finland and Sweden, the company is, Lume explains, now looking to further expand its Nordic presence. “We have had quite a bit of success working with customers in Finland and the Scandinavian countries, and we’re looking forward to expanding further into those markets.” Web: www.meediagrupi.ee

Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Difficult by P.

Patrick Ekwall.

Difficult sneakers — designed in Sweden, handmade in Venice Sports journalist and entrepreneur Patrick Ekwall has had an interest in fashion ever since he started working in TV. “I wanted to look good, and none of my colleagues seemed to make an effort. I guess that’s where I started to stand out,” says Patrick Ekwall. This interest developed and led to what has now become the sneakers brand Difficult by P. By Hanna Andersson | Photos: Difficult by P.

“The name, Difficult by P., is a reference to my writing. I used the word difficult a lot,” Ekwall says, and laughs. “I didn’t want the brand to be called Ekwall – it felt too boring.” Difficult by P. has been around for a long time, but did not take on the world for real until recently. “I started this brand because I like doing this; it is fun. It started as a hobby in 2012 – something I did because I wanted to bring a bit of style to my industry. But ten months ago, after a successful crowdfunding effort, it became more of a full-time job. I still create all the designs from scratch. I sketch, and when I’m happy with my design, I send it to the factory in Venice where a family-owned business makes the shoes by hand. I visit the factory four or five times a year and have a very good relationship with them. My favourite thing

about our products is that they are of the highest quality. Our shoes are made in the same factory as Louis Vuitton and Dior, so no one can say our quality is bad. I also want this brand to be independent, that no one will think that I just put my name on a shoe, because it’s much more than that. I am genuinely interested in the industry,” says Ekwall. Ekwall is an outsider in this industry and feels that he can bring something new into it. “I find inspiration from, I don’t know, everywhere,” he continues. “I design stuff that I think is cool, but I also look at what’s out there and what other brands are creating. But mostly it’s just a feeling. I discuss my designs with the factory, and they have had to stop me a few times because my ideas can be a bit too crazy. They’ve got the experience, so I listen to them, but it’s important that it has my touch.”

So, who can wear Difficult by P.? “I want our sneakers to be shoes you can wear in the office, but also instead of heels on a night out. You can get married in them, or simply wear them in your everyday life. I have most of my designs at home, and wear them for every occasion. My favourite shoe, although I love all of them – they are like my children – is the velvet Madison. It’s smart, simple, but not ordinary. However, the one shoe that sells the best is the White Madison, which is a bit sad when you spend all these nights coming up with exciting designs,” Ekwall smiles. Moving forward, Ekwall wants his sneakers to be acknowledged and worn by many. “This industry is tricky,” he ponders. “We are still not accepted as a brand, and people might not take us seriously. I’d say the future looks bright, but I also know that we will have to work hard to really make it.”

Web: difficultbyp.com Facebook: DifficultByP Instagram: @difficultbyp

Issue 123 | April 2019 | 21

Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Edblad

Edblad’s sleek design incorporates signature stainless steel materials and soft lines.

Edblad creates accessories that empower women and encourage a sense of self-expression.

The new accessory line encourages creativity and multi-use to express each woman’s individuality.

The new handbags and bag charms let you personalise your accessory wardrobe.

Accessible accessories that enhance you For 15 years, Edblad has been synonymous with clean-cut, elegant Swedish jewellery design made of signature stainless steel from hand-drawn sketches. Adding a brandnew line of handbags, scarves and accessory details in 2019, the brand is breaking new territory – all while encouraging and empowering women to be themselves. By Julie Linden | Photos: Edblad

Founded on the vision of providing all women with accessible everyday luxury, Cathrine and Hans Edblad founded their eponymous brand in the northern archipelago of Stockholm in 2006. Succeeding in marrying their unmistakably sleek design with an affordable price point, they have gone on to build an accessory brand steeped in beauty, durability and wearability. Today, Edblad is a cross-generational favourite among Swedish women. “Our brand appeals widely and suits many, which shows in our customer base. Mothers, 15-yearold daughters and older women all appreciate Edblad with the same affinity, which is a rarity in the market,” says marketing director Sara Althini. Throughout the design process and across collections, Edblad finds inspiration in strong women. “With this sum22 | Issue 123 | April 2019

mer’s collections, we want to encourage our customers to dare to be themselves and project confidence with their look,” says Edblad co-founder and head designer Cathrine Edblad. “We want our jewellery and accessories to be a way to enhance one’s personality,” she says. Beyond this ambition, each season of Edblad’s products will feature a piece of the designation Helping Hands – a selection of jewellery intended to help those in need. The 2019 piece, the Me Bangle, will support Roks – the national organisation for women’s shelters and young women’s shelters in Sweden. Expanding their core portfolio with a line of handbags, silk scarves and novel bag accessories such as changeable straps and charms, Edblad is manifesting itself as a versatile quality accessory designer in the Swedish design market.

“Jewellery and accessories serve a similar purpose,” says Althini, highlighting that each piece is made with unique, hand-drawn patterns and designs, in tune with Edblad’s design DNA. “This line is launched in response to strong customer demand, and I think that’s what makes it so special. We’ve answered a call for an expanded range, and now there are new ways for our customers to enhance their personal style. That’s exactly what we want to accomplish as a brand.” Cathrine Edblad, co-founder, designs all jewellery and accessory patterns by hand.

Web: www.edblad.com Facebook: Edbladcom Instagram: @Edbladofficial

Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Kerber

Marielle Kerber.

Timeless fashion with soul Swedish prêt-à-porter brand Kerber stands for quality, continuity and care. This is stylish, sustainable fashion with plenty of good karma attached to it. By Malin Norman | Photos: Kerber

Acclaimed fashion designer Marielle Kerber first started her career in the mid ‘90s. In 1999, she won the prestigious Guldknappen Fashion Award for her made-to-measure collections. The prêtà-porter brand Kerber was eventually introduced in 2012 with a timeless collection of well-tailored, flattering garments of the highest quality. These stylish clothes are easy to wear and certainly define a more sustainable approach to fashion. “The brand Kerber is a lot about colours and silhouettes. We use materials that are flattering and easy to combine,” explains the designer and elaborates further on the importance of timeless clothes. “There are no strict boundaries between the Kerber collections. For instance, the designs from 1999 would work equally well today. It means that our customers can continue to build on and care for their wardrobe instead of swapping it according to what’s currently in season.”

Quality, continuity and care

In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Guldknappen Fashion Award, Kerber is releasing a limited-edition collection. Work has also commenced on a men’s collection, which will hopefully be ready for launch next spring.

The five core values for Kerber are genuine care for people and local communities, appreciation for culture and traditional craftsmanship, careful selection of fabrics and high-quality tailoring, timeless and elegant design with consideration to detail, and, finally, a long-term commitment to a sustainable environment. Kerber is proud of the ethical and environmentally friendly production, which is based in the village of Hoi An in Vietnam, with skilled tailors working to the highestquality standards. The mission is to help individuals the designer has met on her journey as a volunteer in the country, by forming close partnerships with the skilled tailors. “The human aspect is incredibly important. At Kerber, we want to take care of the people around us, both in Sweden and in Vietnam. Therefore, we ensure favourable working conditions and a secure platform for our partners.”

Web: www.kerber.se Facebook: atelierkerber Instagram: @atelierkerber

Issue 123 | April 2019 | 23

Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Swims

SWIMS recently opened its first-ever brand store in Oslo’s fashion district.

Classics reinvented SWIMS was born during a rain storm, in the moment a Norwegian student was strolling the rainy streets of Manhattan wearing grandpa’s old galoshes and decided it was time to breathe new life into the almost-forgotten galosh. Ever since, SWIMS has been helping the typical urban, style-conscious person to look sleek with a touch of cheekiness, comfort and ultimate functionality by wearing their reinvented old classics. And the fashion brand’s love of water makes its products relevant in almost every part of the world, on the way to the office or when heading to the beach in the summer.

sion of the galosh, which ended up in many premium boutiques, offering classic men’s fashion both in Europe and the US. “It meant that men could finally express more individuality in the form of new addons represented by, for instance, the galosh, whether that was in terms of a more elegant, black version or a more colour-

By Ingrid Opstad | Photos: SWIMS

SWIMS is known for reinventing classics that are smart, elegant, weather-friendly and infused with utility. The brand was founded in 2006, after the founder Johan Ringdal saw potential in bringing back the traditional galosh, which he had grown fond of since receiving a pair from his grandfather. “Galoshes were a bit outdated and not cool, but Ringdal made them his trademark by putting them on on top of his Converse shoes,” says co-founder Alexander Eskeland. He met the young 24 | Issue 123 | April 2019

designer in New York, where Eskeland worked for Norwegian water brand Voss. One year after Ringdal moved back to Norway to pursue this new adventure of reinventing the galosh, Eskeland decided to move back to join the adventure. While Ringdal used his creativity to focus on functionality, quality and design, Eskeland took care of the commercial side of the business. The duo managed to develop their own modern, trendy ver-

Co-founder Alexander Eskeland.

Scan Magazine | Design Profile | SWIMS

ful style, such as our trademark orange,” he says.

Marrying true functionality with timeless design The philosophy of marrying true functionality with timeless design is the foundation of SWIMS and what originally gave birth to the classic galosh. As the brand evolved, so too did the need for creating more innovative products, including outerwear, apparel and more accessories. “The galosh is quite a season-based item, and we needed products that could sell during summer too. With our new take on the classic loafer, the ultimate men’s fashion staple, we became relevant all year round. This breakthrough resulted in the opportunity to open distribution all over the world. I believe the only continent where we haven’t had retailers offering our loafer is actually Antarctica,” Eskeland smiles. “Interestingly enough, the Middle East has become one of our biggest markets, with eight SWIMS brand boutiques across the region.”

One of the largest fashion brands in Norway Staying true to the weather concept, SWIMS used its knowledge of technology and innovative materials to enhance water resistance, breathability, traction, and comfort in loafers as well as all of their other products. Designing items that ap-

With the revitalised Classic Galosh, SWIMS took a purely utilitarian product and transformed it into an indispensable, global style statement, proving that you can look great while protecting your favourite pair of shoes from the rain.

The Breeze Tennis Knit sneakers infuse SWIMS’ signature Breeze technology into a timeless form. Light, flexible, breathable and durable – perfect for summertime.

peal to style-conscious consumers who are after something practical yet elegant, the brand keeps evolving to remain at the forefront of practical trends, while paying homage to its Nordic roots. Now, as one of the largest fashion brands in Norway, the company that started small by solving a problem, has grown into a big, global lifestyle name, with distribution in more than 800 shops across the globe. “For us, it is important to represent the Scandinavian lifestyle while providing essential, smart pieces for your wardrobe,” says Eskeland. “In terms of sustainability, which is also something we value, our versatile products mean that you can live with less.” He continues: “We want to be interesting and fun when it comes to design and colours, but also in the way we express ourselves. During the development process of new projects, we humorously often use the phrase, ‘to SWIMSify’, when talking about applying our unique spin to these classic items.”

Wherever you go, move forward With its new SS19 collection, Made to Move, SWIMS invites the world to explore true mobility and versatility combined with an elegant touch. Inspired by geometric structures and vibrant palettes of Nordic ports and sailboats, the collection represents the active lifestyle found here. “Scandinavians are famously known for their love of the great outdoors and fearlessly adapting to the ever-changing weather, so versatility and functionality are key for us. Our brand needs to meet these needs and make sure people are equipped for different weather conditions they face, wherever they may be,” Eskeland explains. “In Norway, we have a saying that goes, ‘there is no bad weather, only bad clothing’ – and that is always relevant in everything we do.”

Web: www.swims.com Facebook: Swimsofficial Instagram: @swimsofficial

The SS19 collection, Made to Move, consists of colourful, contemporary classics and standout accessories.

Issue 123 | April 2019 | 25

Scan Magazine | Design Profiles | Jeanerica and Pillowtalk

Sustainability, beauty and democratic thought in a pair of jeans “One might say that our items have a city feel about them, but in the end, it’s more about mindset than location or social affiliation when it comes to the customer we aspire to attract,” says Jonas Clason, who, together with Lena Patriksson Keller, co-founded the Swedish jeans brand Jeanerica, which launched in Copenhagen in October 2017.

duction. With a limited number of styles, Jeanerica’s focus is to create beautiful, high-quality jeans that can be the pillar of your wardrobe every single day.

By Nina Johansson | Photos: Jeanerica

As a brand, Jeanerica plays on the classic Scandinavian design features: minimalism and clean lines – but with its very own twist. The aim is to create your favourite pair of jeans in a modern yet timeless style, embracing the notion that one perfect pair is all you really need in order to shine every day. The concept of sustainability runs through the entire brand image, all the way to the production line. All the designs and the fabrics used are original Jeanerica creations, and more than 95 per cent of the items are created using organic and recycled fabrics, making the end

product much more than merely a simple fashion statement. Jeanerica’s Scandinavian roots run deep, giving a brand inspired by the idea of creating a feeling of inclusivity and warmth throughout. It was always a priority to conceptualise Jeanerica as a brand that had a democratic feel to it – lovingly crafted, perfect pieces of clothing for the many, rather than the few. Likewise, in the truest sense of sustainability, Jeanerica leaves short-lasting fashion fads to other players on the market, while establishing long-term validity in both design and pro-

Web: jeanerica.com Facebook: jeanericajeans Instagram: @jeanerica_jeans

Fashion and bed linen for everyday luxury Pillowtalk is an exclusive brand that makes bed linen out of the finest Egyptian cotton and clothes out of beautiful cashmere. “We want our products to be a part of your everyday luxury,” say founders Karin Ramberg and Filippa Johansson. By Hanna Andersson | Photos: Jockum Klenell

Ramberg and Johansson established Pillowtalk in 2014 and have since built a brand that offers high-quality cotton and cashmere products that are affordable, becoming a big part of your life. “You use the clothes you feel comfortable in, and we believe that it’s worth paying for good quality. We are almost always wearing our products, which have become essentials in our wardrobes,” say the founders. “We believe that it is possible to create sustainable fashion, and we want our clothes to be timeless garments, in basic colours and shapes, that you can wear your whole life. We do, of course, experiment and follow trends – but we always have our basic collection of everyday fashion.” 26 | Issue 123 | April 2019

The brand only works with the finest cotton from Egypt and cashmere from China and Mongolia, which have been tested by experts. “Quality is extremely important to us. Twice a year, we go to see the factory that produces our products in China, and we’re grateful to have a good relationship with

them. We only have ourselves to rely on, and we go through every detail of the process.” Pillowtalk does not yet have an international website, but that does not mean that you cannot buy their exclusive products. “We are happy to deliver abroad! Just email us and we can arrange it. However, we are working on expanding our web shop to offer an easier way to buy our products.”

Web: www.pillowtalk.se Instagram: @pillowtalk

Scan Magazine | Sustainable Design Profile | Massimo Copenhagen

Sustainable, handmade rugs made from precious materials Massimo Copenhagen’s range of hand-knotted, hand-woven, high-quality rugs showcases the company’s use of sustainable materials and close attention to craftsmanship. By Jane Graham | Photos: Massimo Copenhagen

A good rug should act as an integrated element in an overall interior rather than steal the attention from everything else in the room.” This is Mads Frandsen's belief. He is the CEO of Massimo Copenhagen, a company specialising in high-quality, hand-woven, hand-knotted rugs combining sustainable materials with centuries-old craftsmanship and design tradition. Massimo Copenhagen started in 2001, importing furniture from Italy. But soon, thanks to the expertise of Frandsen’s wife, whose background is in fashion and textiles, they discovered the potential in rugs. Over the past 15 years, the company has grown steadily, and it now exports its top-quality rugs globally. About five years ago, the company took the innovative decision to try to use

bamboo as a manufacturing material, and Massimo Copenhagen can be considered a forerunner to the many sustainable interior design offers available today. Frandsen mentions some of the great properties of bamboo: “Bamboo gives a luxurious feeling due to its unique softness and shiny surface. In addition, bamboo fibres have strong durability, stability and tenacity, and peeling is minimised to almost nothing.” If you add sustainability to this – as bamboo thrives without any pesticides and is biodegradable – then it is little wonder that bamboo is now being used to replace a lot of the less green materials in many different products. Frandsen also points out a lesser-known quality of bamboo: the way it reflects the light. “Bamboo has the same feel-

ing and shine as velvet,” he explains. Massimo Copenhagen’s latest collection exploits this quality to create optical illusions, as one colour tone wraps into the next and reflections change depending on the light. Furthermore, the rugs Moon Night, Copper Moon and Space Surface also reference the traditional Scandinavian colour palette and very Nordic approach of making each element part of a unified whole. The company will be exhibiting at Milan Furniture Fair this April, an occasion which Frandsen very much looks forward to: “In terms of crafts and design, Milan Furniture Fair is the most important date in the calendar. Competition is tough to get a stand there, and I’m proud that we can be part of it.”

Massimo Copenhagen rugs can be ordered from the web shop.

Web: www.massimocopenhagen.dk

Issue 123 | April 2019 | 27

Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Putinki Oy

Artwork by Tove Jansson

The Putinki shop in Ullanlinna.

Artwork by Mira Mallius

Pretty and practical paper products Despite the world going more and more digital – or perhaps because of it – people crave aesthetic sensations and tangible things in their everyday lives. This is exactly what you will find in Putinki shops. By Mari Koskinen | Photos: Putinki

It is a very pleasant experience to step into one of the Putinki shops and to enjoy both the pretty and the practical products on display. “We have a hand-picked selection of paper products in our shops, which includes both our own products and a wide selection of imported brands,” says shop manager Laura Rasanen. “Nothing can replace the feeling you get from stroking the cover of a pretty planner or scribbling down notes in a carefully chosen notebook. I enjoy working in the shops – it is great to hear customers’ content sighs from between the shelves when they find something they like.” The three corner shops are located in the old neighbourhoods of Helsinki: in Ullanlinna, Töölö, and the newest addition in Kallio. They are all situated near the city centre, making them perfect destinations for tourists and locals alike. “There is something for everyone, and we listen 28 | Issue 123 | April 2019

to our customers’ wishes carefully and can cater to their specific needs,” says Rasanen. Putinki is also a major manufacturer and importer of paper products. “We produce postcards, notebooks, calendars and planners as well as an assortment of gift wraps,” Rasanen explains. “We make our postcards here in Helsinki. Our Heidelberg letterpress printing machines lend an elegant, handmade feel to our collection of beautifully letterpressed greeting cards, postcards and bookmarks.” She continues: “We work together with famous Finnish illustrators like Mira Mallius and Henna Adel. We have also partnered with interior design company, Pentik®, to produce a weekly planner, postcards and notebooks with their prints. Many tourists recognise our Moomin cards and posters. We use Tove Jansson’s original illustra-

tions and colour scheme, which many Moomin fans really appreciate.” Putinki imports several international brands to Finland and distributes both their own productions and the imported merchandise to shops all over Finland. “We also have some products that we import just for our own shops. In addition to our own productions, we also sell office supplies, puzzle books and jigsaw puzzles in our shops,” Rasanen adds. “Many of our products are easy to send by post, or to take with you even if you are travelling. Our cards can also be found in other shops, for example in the Moomin Shop in London.” Putinki will take part in the PG Live exhibition, the international greeting card show for retailers, on 4-5 June 2019 in London.

Web: www.putinki.fi Facebook: paperikauppaputinki Instagram: @paperikauppaputinki (Putinki shops) and @putinkihelsinki (Putinki manufacturing and importing)

Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Engelbrechts

Designing atmosphere Timeless, sustainable and functional, while creating an inviting atmosphere – design house Engelbrechts aims to create furniture that lasts and brings a pleasant feeling to its environment. By Nicolai Lisberg | Photos: Engelbrechts

It is rather simple: the better the material and design, the better the product. For Engelbrechts, it is all about designing furniture that, with its quality and timeless design, can last for decades. “We aim to distance ourselves from the throwaway culture that we see in today’s society, and one way to do so is to design furniture that lasts for a long time – furniture you want to keep because of its everlasting design and because of the quality of the material,” says Christina Østergaard Nielsen, marketing manager at Engelbrechts. The company was founded in 1989 by Morten Engelbrecht. In the beginning, he sold a variety of high-end products from around the world, before he decided to expand the business concept to include furniture developed by Engelbrechts. This led him to convert Engelbrechts from a Danish furniture retailer into an international design house selling furniture through an exclusive dealer network. “We

work closely with our designers, and we try to modernise classic designs. Since 2008, we have collaborated with architect Jørgen Rasmussen, who is well-known for the KEVI office chair that, with its classic design, has been an international success since it was created back in 1958,” says Østergaard Nielsen.

been sitting on this chair at some point in our life, and the new version fits into many kinds of environments. No matter if it’s in a big conference hall, a design office or your own home, the chair simply creates a nice atmosphere, which is what it’s all about – a timeless design you want to keep, and furniture that ages with you,” says Østergaard Nielsen.

The chair we all know In many ways, the KEVI office chair is a good example of what Engelbrechts are capable of. It is iconic with its simple minimalist appearance yet detail-orientated design, and it has been used all over the world. In fact, many schools and universities in Denmark still use the chair. A few years ago, Engelbrechts and Jørgen Rasmussen renewed the chair by making it four-legged, and this year, they launched a four-legged lounge chair, but with the same recognisable design as the original model. “We have probably all

Web: www.engelbrechts.com Facebook: engelbrechtsfurniture Instagram: @engelbrechtsfurniture

Issue 123 | April 2019 | 29

Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Galleri Skogøy

Liten pike.

Piece by Galleri Skogøy

Liv laga.

Kristin Skogøy.

Celebrating life through clay Having worked as a physician in Bodø’s maternity ward for 23 years, Kristin Skogøy’s clay art has long been inspired by the female body and the creation of new life. When establishing her own studio – Galleri Skogøy – two years ago, the human and often feminine shapes became her celebrated trademark. By Julie Linden | Photos: Kristin Skogøy.

“I am absolutely in love with clay – it’s an incredible material,” she muses. “Many see it as something of yesteryear; an older type of material that isn’t modern, or cannot accommodate the modern. However, it is an organic material that can be molded into new shapes and fixed in new forms – nothing comes close to it.” Skogøy had always dreamt of expressing herself in artistic ways, but went on to pursue a career as a doctor from an early age. Still a physician at the maternity ward, creating art in her studio between her sets of shifts, she thanks the duality of her work for her constant inspiration. “I believe we often create from what fills our minds, and what we see most of. For me, that is very much the lived truth. I also think our mind benefits from seeking shapes in several dimensions – as the world grows more digitised and we spend 30 | Issue 123 | April 2019

working with organic materials such as clay, taking inspiration from everyday life. “The art comes to me along the way… I was never formally educated at the start of my career. My artistic expression is taking shape as I go. In some ways, it’s more exciting that way,” she concludes.

more time interacting with 2D, we need that interaction with 3D as well. That is what my craft has come to mean to me,” she says. She is not a pottery maker, she adamantly explains. Instead, her art often comes with intricate detail and impeccably crafted lines, making for one-of-a-kind pieces. “Luckily, clay art is generally a very responsive discipline – it doesn’t take nine months to produce,” she laughs, alluding to the duality of her career. “The material is of course very conducive to uniqueness. Production quantities are smaller, but each piece is made with lots of love, particularity and attention,” she says. Since graduating from Nordland Art and Film School in 2013, Skogøy has exhibited her work in group exhibitions, solo exhibitions and at markets. She aims to keep

Tvillinger.

Web: www.kristinskogoy.com Email: kskogy@gmail.com

Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Me and my homies

Unique clothes for you and your homies In 2016, Dwayne Antonio Edmondson and his friends started their own fashion brand, called Me and my homies: a brand that captures the importance of friendship and the people close to you, with unique designs that make you stand out. “The brand started as a group of friends, a group of homies, trying to portray the idea of friendship within clothes. Friends are so important – they have stood by your side through thick and thin,” says Edmondson. “It is hard to find clothes that convey that message.” In addition to Edmondson, the brand consists of Swedish hip-hop artist Robin Nyström, known as Mwuana, and contemporary art student Vicente Mollestad. The clothes are made from high-quality materials, and with bright colours and bold design: they would capture anyone’s eye. Their newest design is tie-dye, for which Edmondson got the idea during one of his many trips to New York, where he is from. After passing a tie-dye shop in Brooklyn, he became inspired and started collaborating with the shop’s owner.

“These days, you have to be so brave just to leave your apartment and go outside. We thought that wearing this one-of-akind tee could give people enough confidence to do that,” he says. “The tees are individually hand-dyed, and we feel that they bring out people’s individuality and hopefully give them the courage to face this new world.” Their newest projects include a wide range of clothes for all occasions, whether you are at the office or the local skate park. The brand’s future will bring more tie-dye, shirts, a bag and more. “We’re not just a Swedish brand; we’re a global brand, trying to capture the importance of friendships. We want to create clothes for homies in all cultures, from raves to hiphop to boards of directors – they are all homies.”

By Synne Johnsson Photo: Me and my homies

Web: www.meandmyhomies.com Facebook: meandmyhomiesofficial Instagram: @meandmyhomies

Issue 123 | April 2019 | 31

e: VE | Special Theme | The Best Creative Agencies in Scandinavia – Norway m e Scan Magazine TI h

EA N R I T C IES VIA S S A BE ENC DIN E G TH A CAN S lT

c pe

A new type of interference from Norway ANTI stands for A New Type of Interference, and this is precisely their vision: to always deliver interference in their work, in the way they are with their clients and how they run the company. In 2008, two Norwegians, Kenneth Pedersen and Kjetil Wold, established the popular multi-disciplinary agency, and to this day, they are firmly convinced that everything can be challenged and done differently – in a better way. By Ingrid Opstad | Photos: ANTI

The ambition from the beginning was clear. They wanted to start a small design agency with a focus on having fun, working internationally and building an agency that was seen as an independent 32 | Issue 123 | April 2019

brand. “It was especially crucial for us to challenge the established design profession while also challenging our customers to think differently,” says Pedersen, CEO and founding partner. “ANTI’s vision

is still as relevant today as it was when we started ten years ago. We will continue to challenge how we work with both customers and employees. We now have almost 100 employees who come to work every day with a desire to challenge their profession, and we will continue to motivate and facilitate this in times to come.”

The desire to be like a punk band “When we started out, the foundation of the whole idea was to be an alternative agency, different to everyone else. We wanted to be like a little punk band that

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | The Best Creative Agencies in Scandinavia – Norway

did cool jobs internationally. We went through many names, including Michael Jackson, which we thought could be a fun one, but it said nothing about thinking differently. We quickly became fond of the word interference and ANTI, which again refers to the punk culture we like so much,” says Pedersen. Soon, a new name for the growing agency was settled on: ANTI – A New Type of Interference. “This has become the cornerstone of everything we do, and all major decisions are made on the basis of interference.” It quickly became clear to the two Norwegians that one of the most important parts of creating quality design work is telling interesting stories. “We recognised that the best design always depends on a strong and well-workedout strategy and concept – it has to tell a relevant story. This is something we focus on a lot at ANTI,” Pedersen explains. They work in three stages: insight, interference, and impact. “Insight is the research phase: the gathering of information, workshops with our clients, market analysis, and competitor studies and so on. Insight must be the foundation of any strategy. Without insight, it’s impossible to know exactly where to aim and how to create interference,” he says. “Impact relates to both the end result and any documented benefit for our clients. It’s

ANTI received the Gold award at Gullblyanten 2019 for the identity created for Henie Onstad Kunstsenter.

a cumulative effect of design excellence, production values, technical details, social impact and adjusted strategies. The impact of our work is ultimately what we will be judged on by our clients and our peers alike. As Carl Jung put it: you are what you do, not what you say you’ll do.” Not long after starting up, the young company managed to retain its first in-

ANTI won Grand Prix for their identity created for Festspillene in Bergen at Cannes.

ternational job for Pepsi Co. in the US, which at the same time resulted in more jobs for Norwegian clients. With the big demand, ANTI understood that they had to grow, but instead of focusing on developing their Oslo branch, they opened a new office in Bergen along with Endre Berentzen and Robert Dalen. “Because we always wanted to stay small, we had a fear of having too many employees. Our initial aim was to be like a small punk band, and everyone knows that punk bands never have more than five members,” Pedersen recalls. But, eventually, the employees needed more help. There were too many jobs for them to handle on their own, and suddenly ANTI became a big band of 13 people in Oslo and five in Bergen.

Being a brand and arranging Yai-Day An important part of ANTI’s culture is built on exploring new business and product ideas, which often results in creating new, exciting facets of the company. By doing this, they can learn a lot about the needs and challenges that face their clients. “Our first ANTI project was making our own jeans brand called ANTI Denim. Our first jeans model was named ANTI SWEDEN. We had our own fashion week, which we named Fashion Week in Issue 123 | April 2019 | 33

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | The Best Creative Agencies in Scandinavia – Norway

HELL. Hell is a village close to Trondheim in Norway, and suddenly we had distribution and fans all over the world. We learnt a lot from this process, about production, distribution and quality control – to name just a few things,” says Pedersen. After ANTI Denim, the company started its own magazine, writing about Norwegian creativity. After 13 issues, it was distributed in more than 20 countries, and the editor was voted as one of the top ten editors in the world. Today, the growing company is working on two ANTI projects: FARA Cycling, which retails high-end racing bikes for tarmac and gravel, as well as a music initiative called nstrumental. ANTI nstrumental is a film series that showcases the most exciting, current music artists. Each episode is comprised of two key elements: a documentary, and a live concert. “As a result of these projects, we recognised that our employees were highly motivated to create business solutions that are not always the result of the needs of a pre-existing client. In response to this, we have made the last Friday of each month into something that we call Yai-Day. All of our employees get the day off to explore something they think is interesting. They can work on a new ANTI project, learn something new, go to the museum or something else they find inspiring. At the moment, we are working on our skateboard brand, developing a city garden on our roof, brewing beer and a lot of other projects,” says Pedersen, adding: “Opportunities exist everywhere.”

Ten-year anniversary and a new identity In the autumn of 2018, ANTI counted its ten-year anniversary, something that was celebrated both with a trip to Barcelona for all the employees and by developing a new brand identity. “Our identity is an ANTI identity, which rather than exist on top of or as a signature below content, is found in the hidden or unsaid of content itself. It does not try to steal the attention away from the content itself, but rather, is placed in the subconscious, through the lack of initials, as a 34 | Issue 123 | April 2019

Jeg mot meg, a TV series developed from idea to production for the Norwegian channel NRK.

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | The Best Creative Agencies in Scandinavia – Norway

quality signature and important part of what we do, our products and our content,” Pedersen explains.

Fara, ANTI’s own bicycle brand.

ANTI began with a strong focus on design, and over the years it has grown into a multi-disciplinary agency, offering a range of services in design, strategy, advertising, communication, content services, TV productions, digital services, PR and influencers. Today, ANTI has offices in Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim and Hamar, as well as a small team in the USA. Having multiple offices makes it possible to work with both local and international clients, while giving access to the widest talent pool possible. Asked if the agency has a quintessential design expression, the CEO does not believe they do. “In the early years, we were probably quite dark. Today, we are not guided by a style, but instead we begin by developing the right strategic starting point for achieving the goals of our clients. We are very concerned with distilling their insight so that it results in the right effect. In addition, we always want to challenge and deliver solutions that will stand out from the crowd,” Pedersen further explains.

New shoe launch for Nike.

International ambitions with emphasis on Norway ANTI works with clients from all over the world, so they certainly have international ambitions. That said, their main emphasis is on Norway. “A common thread for all of our clients is that that they come to us to be challenged and really look at their problem again. We have had the opportunity to work with a wide variety of brands, such as the New York Times, Nike, Hyper Loop, Coop, Posten / Bring, Telenor Global, Kari Traa, Kunstnernes Hus, Hennig Olsen Is, and many, many more. We also work with start-up companies and small projects that need to push a specific expression or style to challenge their target audience,” says Pedersen.

Identity created for Barcode in Oslo.

Web: www.anti.as Facebook: anewtypeofinterference Instagram: @anti_inc

Issue 123 | April 2019 | 35

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | The Best Creative Agencies in Scandinavia – Norway

Ludens is passionate about creating great learning experiences.

Your 360 delivery of flexible, effective digital solutions Operating as an innovative in-house communications agency, with e-learning among its diverse software portfolio offering, Ludens Reklamebyrå AS centres its services on providing a 360 delivery of effective digital, creative and communication services. Leveraging an exceptional combination of skills and competencies in the field, Ludens provides your business with a comprehensive solution tailored to your specific needs. By Julie Linden | Photos: Ludens Reklamebyrå

With nearly 30 employees competent in coding, software development, design, digital marketing and content production, among other fields, Oslo-based Ludens has been a favoured all-in-one communications agency since 2002. Add the focus on a personal, transparent and continuously evolving development process, and this bureau offers what the competition often does not: one single process, with all components needed for successful implementation of your digital project. “We’re not your traditional agency,” says CEO Kjerstin Tollefsrød. “Our focus on 360 delivery combines the creative, communicative and digital, with our own software creations and smart web solutions, so we really do have all expertise needed, within our four walls. Not hav36 | Issue 123 | April 2019

ing to join forces with external agencies aids our efficiency.”

Revolutionising e-learning processes With special competency in software development, also targeting the e-learning segment by launching their own learning management system and tools for elevation of learning, Ludens is passionate about engaging and motivating learning. “We strive to make our systems user-friendly, relevant and a few steps ahead, anticipating challenges before they emerge,” says Tollefsrød. “Instead of purchasing expensive, onesize-fits-all systems externally, clients who choose to work with our solution platforms can tailor their e-learning systems to accommodate individual needs of the business, its sector and employees.”

Flexibility and adaptability are other keywords for Ludens, which uses a multipleuser development approach. “To us, this means that if we develop a good functionality for one of our clients, other clients who can benefit from that specific function will be asked if they’d like to implement it – all to improve their current features,” explains Tollefsrød. With clients such as ELKO and Stingray Marine Solutions, among others, Ludens has been able to transform e-learning platforms to accommodate the increasing digitisation of several industries, making sure that no employees are left behind.

A new portal to effortless software solutions Ludens’ operations portal is one of the software solutions developed over the past few years, with successful use

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | The Best Creative Agencies in Scandinavia – Norway

amongst engineers, contractors and residential developers. The goal of the portal is to simplify the ordering process for the home buyer, while reducing the margin of error and improving the customer experience. “The portal allows for a streamlined, thorough process – making all options visible, available and tailored to each client. This process covers everything from purchase to inspection, ensuring that all data that matters is collected in one place – without needing to transfer or upload data,” explains Tollefsrød. The system seamlessly handles and transfers data to Boligmappen (the ‘home folder’), where the administrator can easily communicate with subcontractors and the home buyer. The system also offers big data and analyses

that are easily extracted, including purchase frequency and complaint data. “We always think in terms of universality and specificity all at once – including all, while tailoring each solution to fit the specific client. That’s what we do best,” concludes Tollefsrød. Ludens’ software solutions: - E-learning - Operations portal - Websites - CRM

Ludens creates smart solutions tailored to each business.

Web: ludensreklame.no Facebook: ludensreklame

Ludens’ operation portal is used by engineers, contractors and residential developers.

Issue 123 | April 2019 | 37

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | The Best Creative Agencies in Scandinavia – Finland

Poster for Sveps, a youth workshop organisation.

Branding for Taidetöölö Music School.

Visualising your ideas An important first step of any project is having a plan. However, with regards to a building, a new interior or the design of a room, it can often be difficult to visualise how it will look when it is done. OlaDesign gives life to ideas through 3D designs and now also virtual reality (VR). By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photos: OlaDesign

“We can build anything in VR,” says Julio Orduña Sánchez, co-owner of OlaDesign alongside Emma Grönholm and Matías Celayes. “Over the years, as the technology has developed and become more popular, we have received more requests for builds to be made in VR.” OlaDesign is one of the top companies in Finland who create virtual reality designs. “A normal build in VR directly from a plan takes from three to four days, so it’s quite quick. What’s really good about it, is that we can then continue the design and exploratory phase within the VR en-

vironment, so that when a client, designer or architect changes something, the client can soon thereafter see how that change might affect the look and feel of the place,” explains Orduña Sánchez.

Bringing spaces to life OlaDesign brings their own VR goggles with them and draws on the varying expertise of the three owners, where Orduña Sánchez is a 3D artist and landscape architect, Grönholm is a graphic designer and Celayes a 3D artist and industrial designer, to ensure the build is comprehensive and takes into account

the many elements involved in making a good design. “We all bring something different to the table, but when you are a designer, you think in a particular way, which makes it easier for us to translate the idea into something visual and comprehensive,” says Orduña Sánchez. Outside of VR, OlaDesign also offers everything from branding and web design to 3D visualisation. They have, alongside their clients, won numerous international design and architecture awards. Their broad range of specialities makes them a great partner, with many of their clients choosing to return to them for their next project.

Exhibition room - Oladesign Ltd.

Visualisation for Playa Architects Ltd Kuninkaantammi housing.

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Visualisation for L-Architects Ltd, Europa 14 Architectural competition, second prize.

Web: www.oladesign.fi Facebook: oladesignfi Instagram: @oladesignfi LinkedIn: oladesign-fi

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | The Best Creative Agencies in Scandinavia – Finland

Tulips triptych.

Finding beauty in the rugged simplicity of nature 25 years ago, Tea Kuikko set up her own graphic design studio, Kuviopaja. Alongside her day job, Kuikko is also an art photographer and pattern designer. Her work is inspired by the simplicity and beauty found in natural forms, and her passion for her craft shines through in her pieces. By Ndéla Faye | Photos: Kuviopaja

Based in Lappeenranta, south-eastern Finland, Kuikko has a deep passion for photographing undisturbed flowers in their true form: living and slowly wilting. Her interest in flowers stems from her childhood, when flowers featured as the main characters in role play with her friend. “The flowers would have personas: they would be kings and queens, and have lives of their own. They would live and then die, and we would bury them in a box in the ground, and hold a funeral for them. A few weeks later, we

would dig the box out and look at how the flowers had decayed. It seems a little morbid now, but it goes to show how the curiosity of children is never-ending. Perhaps this is why I still have an interest in the life cycle of plants,” Kuikko laughs. Kuikko’s triptych of tulips – photographed over four days as they stood, untouched, in a vase – portrays her style and ability to capture delicate moments perfectly: finding simple, rugged beauty in nature. “I wanted to show off the tulips’ natu-

ral beauty; it was almost as if they were dancing. I thought they were dead, but I left them, and they continued moving as they wilted. The natural light made the flowers glow, making the photographs almost look like paintings,” she explains. Her photographs will be displayed at an exhibition in Arradon, in Brittany, France, from 6 May to 12 May 2019. However, Kuikko’s work focuses not only on dying flowers, although her pattern designs follow a similar line of interest, with flowers and nature featuring heavily in the designs. “Somehow, I always tend to gravitate towards nature and flowers, even in my pattern designs. There’s a powerful life force flowing through all plants, and I find it fascinating,” she smiles.

Web: www.kuviopaja.fi and www.teakuikko.com

Issue 123 | April 2019 | 39

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | The Best Creative Agencies in Scandinavia – Finland

Experiences beyond imagination With its headquarters in the Finnish tech city of Oulu, SPARK is a creative studio that focuses on audiovisual storytelling and creating unforgettable experiences for brands and businesses. Scan Magazine spoke to CEO Marius Timmer about the ideology behind the company and their latest innovative concept, the Domehall. By Maria Pirkkalainen | Photos: SPARK Audiovisual Architects

No day is truly the same in a company that spends its time crafting creative audiovisual solutions, all aiming to make your brand or business stand out. With the company’s roots going back over three decades, SPARK prides itself on extensive experience in both designing audiovisual technology architecture and creating captivating artistic content. “There are many companies that are still too modest when it comes to showcasing their own DNA,” Timmer explains. “We want to help our customers make their work environments look and breathe like the company they truly are.” While there are other companies that offer such technological solutions, what makes SPARK special is their focus on the creative aspect. “We add an extra artistic layer to the experience by creating video compositions and beautiful music,” Timmer continues. “For us, technology is the platform to tell our customers’ stories.” 40 | Issue 123 | April 2019

After acquiring SPARK three years ago, creating inviting environments has been the direction Timmer has steered the company in, alongside business partner and artist, chief visionary officer Ilmari Mäenpää. You can currently find SPARK’s work in a variety of places, from immersive visitor centres to office spaces, schools and museums.

An unforgettable event space This past winter, SPARK also launched its new concept, Domehall – an archi-

tecturally impressive event space that has been a popular northern lightsthemed destination near Kemi SnowCastle in Lapland. The best thing about it? The moveable Domehall can be set up nearly anywhere in the world as a unique, temporary venue, and its structure can be used for a company’s storytelling both inside and out. At the end of the day, what SPARK works towards is to inspire more companies to feel brave about showing who they are and what they can do. “If you make your story come alive, people will love it,” Timmer concludes. “This is what SPARK is here to help you with.” Marius Timmer.

lmari Mäenpää.

Web: www.spark-audiovisual.com Facebook: domehall

Issue 123 | April 2019 | 41

Scan Magazine | Museum Feature | Vigeland-museet

From the exhibition Parallels. Gustav Vigeland and his Contemporaries at the Vigeland Museum 2019. Photo: Ivar Kvaal, Vigeland-museet

The visionary legacy of Gustav Vigeland — 150 years after his birth A century and a half after his birth, Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland is still one of the country’s most noted artists, with an eponymous museum and monumental sculpture park to his name. To mark this year’s anniversary, the Vigeland Museum and its partners are shedding light on this remarkable visionary’s life and legacy, revealing a man of a somewhat reticent nature, who left artistic footprints far beyond his nation’s borders. By Julie Linden

“He was an artist who rarely exhibited his work abroad, despite being asked to do so quite often,” says Jarle Strømodden, museum director at the Vigeland Museum, about the lesserknown aspects of Vigeland’s exceptional career. “He was an avid commentator of contemporary issues, he really saw his surroundings and created art out of those moments. For this, he holds an impressive place among the artists of the late 1800s – across nationalities.” 42 | Issue 123 | April 2019

A jubilee graced by the contemporaries Inaugurating a jubilee exhibition on the day of Vigeland’s birth, 11 April, the museum is approaching the anniversary with a dynamic touch and desire to both educate and inspire. The core jubilee exhibition will consist of works by Vigeland’s French and Belgian contemporary colleagues, including Rodin, Maillol, Meunier, Bourdelle and Barye. “These are artists Vigeland learnt from and was inspired by, so there is an

interesting creative arc that seems to bind their careers together,” comments Strømodden, adding that works for the exhibition have been borrowed from museums in Paris and Copenhagen. “We aim to show the early period of his artistic life, convened with the works of distinctive sculptors in the rest of Europe at the time, with emphasis on form, expression and style. Vigeland’s works were most certain-

Art historian Jarle Strømodden, museum director and exhibition curator of the Vigeland Anniversary Exhibition: Parallels. Gustav Vigeland and his Contemporaries. Photo: Unni Irmelin Kvam, Vigeland-museet

Scan Magazine | Museum Feature | Vigeland-museet

ly on par with the best of his time, and this exhibition will hopefully show just that.”

The Monolith Hall, the Vigeland Museum. Photo: Ivar Kvaal, Vigeland-museet

An introverted master of his time A son of craftsmen who exhibited his first work before the age of 20, the ambitious Vigeland was determined to become a sculptor from a young age. A frequent traveller during his time, with destinations ranging from Copenhagen to Florence, the young artist was indeed able to learn from some of the very best – including Auguste Rodin, on location at his Paris workshop. His first personal exhibitions took place in Norway in the mid 1890s, while a 1904 exhibition in Vienna is one of relatively few examples of his exhibitions abroad. “At that particular showing, he was the only Norwegian to be represented; there wasn’t really anyone else like him,” explains Strømodden, adding that he discovered several new sides to Vigeland while working on the jubilee exhibition. “It does seem like he was a shy artist, to some extent. Had he been more of an extrovert in the communication of his artistry, he might have had a larger place in European artistic awareness today. And yet, he had valuable international connections and a status of immense competency among his peers – I don’t think that’s necessarily known. This is why we think it’s important to show his works alongside other great artists – it can be a challenge to display the full extent of his greatness when all the art in the museum is his own.”

From the exhibition Parallels. Gustav Vigeland and his Contemporaries at the Vigeland Museum 2019. Photo: Vigeland-museet

Inner tensions, emotions, and SKAM Beyond the jubilee exhibition, there will be a touring exhibition put on in collaboration between the Norwegian National Museum and the Vigeland Museum. Named Gustav Vigeland. Angsten står i sofaen (‘Gustav Vigeland. Anxiety is in the sofa’), the exhibition shows his most important work from the 1890s, as well as a small selection of sculptures from later decades. The exhibition is aimed at adolescents aged 16 to 23, and deals with difficult themes such as alienation, exclusion and loneliness, inspired by the Norwegian hit TV series SKAM. “This exhibition uses Vigeland's work to try to visualise attitudes and moods of today, asking ‘in what way can established, classical art forms help us understand issues that today’s youth is concerned about?’” says Strømodden. He adds that

many of these topics are intriguing as they transcend periods of time. “Relationships, inner tensions, emotions; all these are themes Vigeland was famous for occupying himself with, time and time again. These are deeply human issues that inform unique works of art – but also the everyday operations of most humans, perhaps especially young people,” says Strømodden. “Vigeland’s strength is in his universal applicability, which defies any intimidation that could come from the enormity of his artistry. From the impressive, accessible park in Oslo to the museum and its exhibitions, we believe Vigeland can be enjoyed by all.”

Web: vigeland.museum.no Facebook: VigelandMuseum Instagram: @VigelandMuseum

The Vigeland Park, Oslo. Photo: Vigeland-museet

Issue 123 | April 2019 | 43

Scan Magazine | Education Feature | Friskolernas Hus

Denmark’s diverse free schools Since the middle of the 19th century, Denmark has been home to free schools. Today, there are more than 550 free schools all over Denmark, whose foundations are based on various pedogeological, religious or ideological values. Most importantly, the schools all have community and freedom at the heart of what they do. By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photos: Charlotte Dahl

In Denmark, there is no compulsory schooling, but instead, compulsory education. Therefore, Danish parents are free to choose whether they send their child to a state school or to one of the various types of free schools. There are guidelines to follow, to ensure that all students reach the same level at the end of their primary and secondary education, but how they get to that end point is essentially up to their parents and the school.

All-encompassing learning environments

“The free schools see the parents as a resource. In contrast to state schools, the free schools are often set up by parents who want their children to grow up with particular values, and parents are often actively involved in the school. In general, staff, parents and school administration work closely together for the common good and to ensure the best possible development for each individual child as well as the school as a whole,” explains Maren Skotte, head of communication at Friskolernes Hus.

“Today, 18 per cent of all children at primary school level from pre-school to tenth grade, attend free schools. All free schools are subsidised by the state, they are non-profit institutions and run by a board of parents and other governors,” says Skotte.

44 | Issue 123 | April 2019

The focus and foundations of the schools span widely. There are some that are rooted in the democratic principles founded by N. F. S. Grundtvig and Christen Kold. Others have a special focus on creativity, while some are based on the Sustainable Development Goals as their foundation, to give just a few examples.

FRISKOLERNE is an organisation that represents 330 of the free schools, and the secretariat Friskolernes Hus provides them with guidance. It is also the go-to point for school administrators,

parents or people who simply want to find out more about the Danish free schools. “We’ve seen an increase in the number of free schools. This is both due to the fact that smaller, local state schools have been closed or merged over recent decades, but also the fact that parents tend to value the strong relationship between school and home. All in all, the Danish school system provides parents with really good opportunities to find a school – state or free – that fits their values,” concludes Skotte.

Web: www.friskolerne.dk Facebook: danskfriskoleforening Twitter: @friskolerne

Scan Magazine | Education Feature | Explorius

Explorius offers young adults aged 14 to 18 the chance to go for a year abroad. They currently offer 13 destinations across the world.

Opening a door to the world The idea of moving to a new country can seem daunting at first, but the experience that comes with it proves to be invaluable. Explorius offers young adults aged 14 to 18 the chance to set-off for a year abroad. Anne-Cathrine Christensen spent a year in the USA, and she has no doubt she would do it all over again.

the summer of 2017. “I was a different person, in a good way. I had missed home, but it was heart-breaking to leave my best friends not knowing when we would see each other again,” she remembers.

By Emilie Kristensen-McLachlan | Photos: Explorius

Christensen had always been the shy girl at the back of her class. She struggled to break out of her shell. “I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and do something nobody would expect of me,” explains Christensen. She decided to go to America for a year abroad.

so many memories,” she says. Her and her team even got to perform during a halftime show, because the school’s boys’ basketball team made it to the state championships. “They won! It was broadcasted online, so my family at home could watch it,” she says.

In 2016, she left Denmark for an exchange programme at a high school. “I think one of the main challenges for me was starting from scratch. I was dependent on my family and friends at home, but over there I had to make new friends and create my own network,” she says. She struggled with the new language at first but quickly felt a lot more confident in English. “For some reason, the Americans could tell I was not one of them and did not laugh at my clumsiness with the language,” she recalls.

After a year abroad, it was with mixed emotions that she arrived back home in

Team spirit One of the ways Christensen made new friends was through sport. “I joined the cheerleading team, and it was by far one of the best decisions I made. We made

She has no doubt it was one of the best experiences of her life: “I would recommend everyone to go for a year abroad. You will create friendships across the world and make memories that you will cherish for a lifetime.”

Explorius: Explorius offers exchanges in 13 destinations across the world. Explorius also arranges exchanges to the Nordic countries.

Web: www.explorius.dk

Issue 123 | April 2019 | 45

Scan Magazine | Education Feature | Brønderslev Forfatterskole

Reveal your inner writer Every year, Brønderslev Bibliotek hosts a week-long writing school for 13 to 20-yearold aspiring wordsmiths. Each group is taught intensively by successful authors from a variety of fields, allowing students to explore the style of writing that they want to pursue. Following the stay, the students’ texts are published in an anthology sent out to classrooms across Denmark – but that is just the start of the benefits of Brønderslev Forfatterskole. By Louise Older Steffensen | Photos: Peter Søholm Simonsen, Brønderslev Forfatterskole

The summer school is held at the wellequipped Nordjyllands Idrætsskole. Thanks to funds and donations, students only pay 2,000 DKK (around 230 GBP) each, and for that, they get a network of opportunities and a supportive writing community that can benefit them for years to come. “We’ll meet up annually at national gatherings like Aalborg’s Ordkraft festival and the Bogforum in Copenhagen,” programme coordinator Louise Eltved Krogsgård explains, “and alumni have come back to do public presentations, readings or teaching coordinated by us here in the local community.” Students also continue their journey on

a buzzing online forum, where they exchange ideas and provide critical reviews of each other’s work – some alumni now in their early 30s are still active members. “We also see a lot of students return to try their hand at different genres,” Krogsgård continues. “And speaking of returns – our essaywriting teacher this year is a well-established children’s book writer, Zakiya Ajmi. She also happens to be a former student of ours. It’s wonderful to see this come full-circle.” Other teachers this year include fantasy writer Cecilie Eken and Sanne Munk Jensen, who will take on novel writing for older students. Throughout the week, traditional

classroom teaching gradually gives way to independent writing, with the teacher providing individual help and feedback, which continues up until the anthology publication months later. “The week itself always ends with a massive battle between the poetry slam students – I’m blown away every time,” Krogsgård concludes.

Website: www.bronderslevbib.dk/ forfatterskolen Facebook: bronderslevFS

Scan Magazine | Culinary Feature | STIM

Exquisite seafood in a cosy setting A fish and seafood grill may be a new concept for Stockholmers, but with its homely atmosphere, welcoming staff and exceptional food, there is no doubt that STIM has got the locals hooked. By Liz Longden | Photos: Fredrik Rollman

As you would expect for a city located by an archipelago, Stockholm has its fair share of fish restaurants. However, STIM is the capital’s first fish and seafood grill — and since its opening in December 2017, the Östermalm bistro-grill has quickly established itself as one of the city’s most popular new small restaurants. A range of the highest-quality fresh fish and seafood is a given, of course, with popular dishes including lobster and turbot, both grilled to perfection over open coals. With a menu that is regularly updated according to seasonal availability, however, there is always something new to try, and the grill also caters to those who would rather not choose at all. ‘Köket väljer’ (‘The kitchen chooses’) — a fourcourse set meal, prepared from the best ingredients of the day — is one of the restaurant’s most popular orders. “The idea is to offer something where guests can

simply relax and trust the chefs’ expertise and knowledge of the ingredients,” explains head waitress Mikaela Österlund. The site of the restaurant was previously a 1940s-era café, and STIM has retained much of the original décor. The judicious addition of a few modern details makes for a classic, yet welcoming feel. In fact, along with the quality of the food, the warmth and friendliness of the staff is a recurring theme in both professional reviews and those on the TripAdvisor website. “It’s really important for us that our

guests feel welcome, and that, for example, we’re able to chat with them throughout the evening,” Österlund says. “We have quite a few regulars who come back again and again precisely for that warm, personal atmosphere.” Such is the popularity of STIM, that guests are advised to book a table in advance of a visit. However, in addition to the main restaurant, the grill also has a bar and an outdoor seating area, where guests are welcome on a drop-in basis. “We have a real mix of guests,” Österlund says, “so it’s nice to have that possibility for people to just come by and take a table if it’s free.”

Web: www.stimgrill.se

Issue 123 | April 2019 | 47

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Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Mads Mikkelsen

Mads Mikkelsen

‘The toughest thing I’ve ever done’ In Arctic, Mads Mikkelsen, the Danish actor best known for playing villainous roles in big-budget Hollywood films like Casino Royale and the popular TV series Hannibal, tackles a truly heroic everyman character who discovers over the course of his journey what it means to be human. We spoke to him about a film that centres almost exclusively on his character, a plane-crash survivor named Overgard, and about the experience of making it under gruelling weather conditions.

you get there, to the set, at the point where you are going to actually shoot it, you realise this is going to take a toll, and it did every single day.”

By Suzy Maloy, The Interview People | Photo: Laurent Koffel

Mikkelsen: “There were a few information lines that he came up with, talking to himself, which we cut out. We were both in love with the fact that he talked to himself, but we agreed that it should be rational, what he said, and we didn’t want it to contain information. We wanted it to be a way for him to stay sane. So, whatever information we needed in the film, we knew we had to put in in a different way.”

In the survival drama Arctic, Mikkelsen plays a man stranded near the North Pole following a small plane crash. Alone for weeks, he fights daily against the unforgiving elements and a lurking polar bear. His precarious situation, in which he is both physically and emotionally challenged awaiting a rescue that may never come, is further complicated when another human enters the picture. The film was shot on location in Iceland over 30 days, occasionally interrupted by blizzards, by Brazilian musician/director Joe Penna (Turning Point, Beyond), who co-wrote the screenplay with frequent collaborator Ryan Morrison. What was the appeal to you? The title, Arctic, kind of gave it away, right?

Mikkelsen: “Yeah, I had a hunch. Initially, it was the story but, later on, it was Joe. I loved everything I read on that page, and then when I turned it, I loved

the next page, and so on. I thought it was pure and honest. It avoided falling into the traps of going down memory lane and flashbacks that, to me, would have ruined the experience. So, I thought it was a pure, beautiful and emotional journey. When I heard what Joe wanted to do with it I was sold, and I said ‘yes’ right away on the phone.” You filmed this on location in Iceland. It was a 30-day shoot, in which you had 19 actual shooting days. When you were there, was there a moment of ‘The next film I do is going to be on a beach?’

Mikkelsen: “It wasn’t one moment – it was the entire time. It was extremely brutal. There were plenty of situations where I wished either that I was 22 years old or that I was back home. But it’s often like that when you write a script, come up with a great idea, and you’re high-fiving each other – and then when

There is so little dialogue. What did the script look like?

What did you learn from speaking with the survivalists?

Mikkelsen: “Joe did all the talking when he was developing the story with Ryan. We deliberately just wanted me to be dumped up there in the Arctic, not having a clue what to do about surviving, because that’s basically what happens to the character. He doesn’t have this plan; he’s just on his way home for a nice cup of coffee, and he ends up there. So, we wanted me to go through that same journey, and be as smart as I Issue 123 | April 2019 | 49

Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Mads Mikkelsen

Photo: Shutterstock

could. Joe, obviously, knew a little more about survival, but my character didn’t need to know. He would have to learn as he was going.” Overgard is not a MacGyver, where he can build a functioning plane out of spare parts, but he is able to salvage some materials to make makeshift tools, like the fishing alert device.

Mikkelsen: “I’ve never been a boy scout or ever camped, but I probably would do the exact same thing my character does. If there was a lake and I had some kind of wire, I would definitely try to make a fishing line. He’s capable, but I don’t think he’s more capable than you or I. That was the whole idea. We didn’t want the audience to scream at him, ‘Amateur! Do this instead’, but we didn’t want him to be too smart either. He did the basic things to survive that you or I would do. What was the most difficult day of the shoot?

Mikkelsen: “I use the word ‘difficult’ when something’s not working — when 50 | Issue 123 | April 2019

there’s a scene you can’t crack or dialogue you don’t like, and you can’t figure out how to solve it. For me, that’s difficult. I didn’t feel that way at any point in this film. I felt it was tough. It may have been the toughest thing I’ve ever done in my life, which is a different thing. The end scene was incredibly tough. We had all come to the end of the road. There was nothing left in the tank from any of us. We were completely exhausted. It was just very tough emotionally and physically to do that end scene. I love it when I watch it but I remember thinking at the time, ‘Thank God, it’s the last day’.” The scene where you are trying to pull the sled with the injured woman, played by Maria Thelma Smaradottir, up the snowy mountain face and it keeps sliding backwards, is a visceral one for the audience.

Mikkelsen: “If you’re a parent, you can sort of relate. It’s like when you’re all dressed in your winter clothes and your kid has to go to the toilet, and you’re sweating and he’s kicking, and you’re

using all your strength. That scene was like that times 1,000, trying to pull her up. I was like, ‘Please, please, take this scene out of the film’.” Speaking of Maria, how was it working with her?

Mikkelsen: “It was the best day of shooting when she entered the film because, finally, I had someone to bounce off, someone to communicate with. Whether or not she was communicating a lot, it was still someone. I wasn’t throwing the ball out in the open space. It was coming back. For me, that was the best day of the shooting.” What is your main take-away from this film?

Mikkelsen: “What we’re trying to say is there is an enormous difference between surviving and being alive. Overgard starts coming back to life when the woman enters the film. He’s always telling her, ‘It’s OK, you’re not alone’. That’s the mantra of the film. It’s very difficult to be human and be alone.”

xxx www.

: eScan Magazine | Special Theme | A Taste of Denmark

TE RK S A TA A ENM D F O

m he

The owners of Den Bornholmske Spritfabrik, Niels and Erna Frost Jensen, have revived the tradition of aquavit production on Bornholm.

An old aquavit with a youthful spirit While Denmark is buzzing with micro distilleries driven by young, ambitious entrepreneurs, at Den Bornholmske Spritfabrik, Niels and Erna Frost Jensen, a couple in their mid-50s, have proven that taking risks and pursuing new ideas are not just for the 20-somethings. Successfully producing a range of traditional aquavits based on recipes from the island, the company earned Børsen’s Gazelle nomination last year.

Indeed, the couple has been remarkably successful in doing so, and Den Bornholmske Spritfabrik continues to increase turnover, invest in new facilities, and expand its private label production.

By Signe Hansen | Photos: Den Bornholmske Spritfabrik

Based on the revived methods and recipes of Bornholm’s old Hasle Dampbrænderi, Den Bornholmske Spritfabrik today produces a range of four Bornholmer aquavits as well as four seasonal aquavits. All the spirits are inspired by the old methods and traditions of the island and, as is the tradition on Bornholm, sweetened with honey. “What distinguishes our own products is that we have preserved the traditional methods from Hasle Dampbrænderi, resulting in a different, more well-rounded aquavit,” says

In 2004, the then 41-year-old Niels Frost Jensen was hired to take care of the general maintenance of Den Bornholmske Spritfabrik. Later the same year, he and his wife Erna took over the distillery. Neither had any experience making aquavits, but they had open minds, a strong network, and a number of resurfaced traditional recipes to rely on. However, when the company was nominated as a Gazelle company by the national daily Børsen last year (a nomination given to a number of 52 | Issue 123 | April 2019

companies that have doubled – or more – their turnover over the last four years), it was really the result of sheer necessity, jokes Niels Frost Jensen. “When we decided to do it, we re-mortgaged the house, got a loan of one million DKK (115,000 GBP), and then we just went for it. We put everything on the line, and as – at least that’s the way I usually put it – we didn’t have enough money to invest in a colour printer, we had to ensure we only had black numbers on the bottom line.”

A bottle from Bornholm

Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | A Taste of Denmark

Jensen. “We’re not interested in trying to copy what someone else is making; our aim is to make something that’s rooted in the traditions of the island.” The company’s most recent addition to its assortment is the Sevablødda, a dram based on a 100-year-old recipe. The name literally means soap softener, revealing the origin of the drink. “Back then, workers would use soap-covered planks to haul boats up on land. But in the winter, the soap would freeze and turn hard, and then workers would get a canister of alcohol of which they would use half to soften the soap and the other half to make a sweet spirit called Sevablødda,” explains Jensen. “It’s a sweet, 40 per cent dram and has been really well received. Actually, it’s our second-biggest seller today, and that’s without us doing any advertising for it.”

Listen to the young people While Den Bornholmske Spritfabrik has been remarkably successful with its range of traditional aquavits, the company has also helped develop a number of not-so-traditional private labels. Among one of the best-known com-

Left: Sevablødda, a newly recreated dram based on a 100-year-old recipe, has become one of Den Bornholmske Spritfabrik’s most popular products.

panies to have come to Jensen for his assistance is Snaps Bornholm, a group of young guys from Copenhagen with a bunch of original ideas. But they are not the only ones to have come to Jensen, who enjoys working with new ideas and is, with the new expansion of the factory, hoping to expand even further into this area. “We listen to what the young people have got to say, and we’re not afraid to try something new – no matter how crazy it sounds,” he stresses, and rounds off: “If we think it sounds interesting and people are passionate about it, we’re willing to give it a go.”

History: From 1855 to 1920, Hasle on Bornholm was home to a steam distillery, producing, among other things, a number of popular aquavits. In 1994, ten investors from the rest of Denmark decided to try to revive the old distillery. However, after just five years, internal conflict caused the group to split up, with one investor moving the factory to Nexø, where in 2004, Niels and Erna Frost Jensen took over the company.

Web: www.bornholmersnaps.dk

Den Bornholmske Spritfabrik uses its newly expanded facilities to produce not just its own aquavits, but also a number of private labels.

Issue 123 | April 2019 | 53

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | A Taste of Denmark

Food lovers travel from near and far to enjoy the gorgeous seafood, a beautiful waterside location and the friendly atmosphere at Rudolf Mathis in Kerteminde.

Serious about seafood Closing in on its 35th anniversary, Rudolf Mathis, an award-winning seafood restaurant in Kerteminde, has long been one of Denmark’s best-loved seafood restaurants. The owner, founder and chef, Puk Larsen, tells Scan Magazine how he, despite fierce competition due to Denmark’s booming restaurant scene, has continued to attract guests from near and far. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Rudolf Mathis

With its towering, white-washed walls and terrace perched over the water, Rudolf Mathis is practically made for a seafood lunch in the sun. And, as a matter of fact, it was the restaurant’s location that, back in the ‘80s, led to it becoming a seafood restaurant. “I’ve always preferred working with fish, but the fact that we ended up an actual seafood restaurant had a lot to do with the location. It took a long time to get planning permission and then construct the restaurant, and even before we were finished, people and the media had begun referring to it as ‘the seafood restaurant’, 54 | Issue 123 | April 2019

and that has just stuck,” Larsen explains. With Kerteminde harbour on its doorstep, it is natural that Rudolf Mathis sources most of its seafood from the surrounding waters. As the menu changes according to seasons, this means that guests visiting during spring and summer are likely to find lots of shellfish platters as well as plaice, fresh in from Kerteminde harbour, on the menu.

Staying on course A native Kerteminder, Puk Larsen started Rudolf Mathis after eight years gath-

ering experience at one of Denmark’s best restaurants, Kong Hans Kælder in Copenhagen. When returning to Kerteminde, the lack of quality restaurants in the beautiful area convinced him to set up Rudolf Mathis. “I never imagined that it would be as successful as it has

Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | A Taste of Denmark

eventually become, or that we would achieve the kind of gastronomic level that we have today,” says Larsen. “Though we’ve always aimed to make high-quality food, we’ve developed a lot over the years. But there are some key elements that don’t change – it’s about quality. A lot of new trends have popped up recently, and some of them we include in our kitchen, but there are also many that we don’t go anywhere near.”

A life of seafood Rudolf Mathis’ undisputable reputation

as one of Denmark’s best seafood restaurants is, however, not exclusively down to the consistent gastronomic level, but also the friendly atmosphere created by Larsen’s wife, Ursula Plato, and her team of service-minded waiters. “We love it when new people try our restaurant, but we make our living from people who come back,” says Larsen. That’s why we aim for the best possible service, and we have regulars coming in all the time – we’ve hosted Christenings, confirmations and weddings for the same guests!”

Next year, when Rudolf Mathis celebrates its 35-year anniversary, Larsen is planning on a celebratory 35-course menu. Surely, if you have not been to Rudolf Mathis yet, and are in need of a reason – or 35 – to go, that would be it! Rudolf Mathis is open for lunch and dinner Monday to Saturday (closed in January and February).

Web: www.rudolf-mathis.dk

Issue 123 | April 2019 | 55

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | A Taste of Denmark

Restaurant Le Port’s recipes have spread far and wide: Jette Jantzen’s special organic anise and fennel bread loaf has become so popular that the secret flour mixture is now even for sale at Torvehallerne in Copenhagen.

Wine and dine with a wonderful view In the middle of the Baltic Sea lies the idyllic Danish island of Bornholm, known as ‘the Sunshine Island’ for its mild weather and summer popularity. In the little village of Vang, on the eastern coast of the island, Restaurant Le Port offers its guests what is undoubtedly one of the most flawless views in Denmark and an ever-changing menu to match. By Louise Older Steffensen | Photos: Restaurant Le Port

Restaurant Le Port has been run by wife-and-husband team Gabriela and Kim Jantzen since 2012. “It’s hard work, but the best bit about owning our own restaurant is the freedom that we get to have it be exactly the place that we want,” Gabriela says. Since taking over the restaurant from Kim’s mother Jette, who had run Le Port since 1976, the couple has certainly made it their own, with numerous events including cabarets, jazz and other concerts, and an everevolving menu that shows off the best of 56 | Issue 123 | April 2019

Bornholm and beyond. “Bornholm is certainly a summer spot, and like everywhere else on the island, we welcome most of our guests during the sunnier part of the year, so we have to be creative and give our patrons a reason to keep coming back again and again,” Gabriela adds.

Flavours and friendliness The couple is unusually well-equipped to do so. As a young man, Kim trained and worked as a chef in Copenhagen, helping his mother on Bornholm during the busy

summers. “I only came into the picture 17 years ago,” Gabriela explains, “but it all worked out rather well – I myself was taught the waitering trade at restaurants like Lauterbach and Egoisten, so we made a very well-balanced team. Kim’s very big on the quality of the food, and I do what I can to make us warm and welcoming, with the help of our team. I think that’s why we’ve managed to make a success of Restaurant Le Port without

Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | A Taste of Denmark

wanting to rip each other’s heads off: we enjoy working together, but we also have certain areas that we’re in charge of. We play to each other’s strengths, trust each other, and really believe that we have a great thing going here at the restaurant.” Others seem to agree. With consistently high praise from everything from TripAdvisor to the White Guide’s list of the Nordic region’s best restaurants, Le Port ranks highly in the hearts of locals as well as seasonal visitors to Bornholm. “Of course, we love all sorts of positive feedback, but the very best kind has to be our returning patrons, which we’re lucky enough to have a lot of,” Gabriela says. “We have regulars who come here a couple of times a week, or every summer, and we’re deeply grateful to them. They’re also the reason we can put on events at other times of the year. I think our initiatives bring something fun and different to the island outside of the season, and we can only do so because of the support of the lovely, local community.”

A feast for all the senses In order to accommodate their regulars, and to enhance their dishes with ingredients when they are at their very best, the Jantzens and their team change up the menu roughly every other week. “Doing so is fun for Kim and the kitchen staff,

who get to experiment and constantly hone their abilities. It’s a plus for the people who can expect a great and exciting restaurant experience every time they come here, and it’s a bonus for the restaurant that guests don’t get bored with us,” Gabriela explains. While the specifics on the menu change, guests can expect modern interpretations of classic French and Danish flavours. Diners choose between two and five courses from the set menu, which includes vegetarian options, or the extra fish or meat course of the day. “We’ve chosen to keep the menu fairly compact to really put our love and energy into the little details of every dish. We use local and organic ingredients as much as possible, and that’s an excellent way to show off as much of Bornholm as we can. The island does quite well for itself in that regard anyway – all our patrons have to do to be won over is glance out of the window at the sea and the Hammershus ruin.”

Location: Restaurant Le Port is situated 20 minutes north of Rønne and just ten minutes from Hammershus fortress. Opening hours: The restaurant is open during the summer season from 28 March to November and, outside the season, for large parties and special events, including during Christmas and New Year. Functions and events: The restaurant can house functions of up to 60 guests indoors and 100 on the terrace.

Web: www.leport.dk Facebook: leportvang Instagram: @restaurant_leport

Hammershus, Scandinavia’s largest medieval fortress, sitting on its nearby seaside rock, makes for a highly impressive sight from any angle, but there is no better view of it than from the terrace at Restaurant Le Port, where it is accompanied by some of Denmark’s most impressive sea sunsets every night.

Gabriela Jantzen.

Kim Jantzen.

Issue 123 | April 2019 | 57

RE U LT U C

e Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Culture – Denmark Scan

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IC D R NO

Photo: Niclas Jessen

Charming towns, harbour fun and plenty of ‘hygge’ When the World Happiness Report 2019 was published recently, Denmark was right up there in the top five yet again, ranking second only after Finland. With charming towns of cobbled streets and quality eateries, a rich maritime heritage with delicious seafood always on offer, and an ability to kick back and really enjoy the moment – the Danes sure know how to enjoy the good life. The Skagen Painters knew all about it when they captured the special light of the ebbs and flows of their native home’s beautiful coastal scenery: the sea is one of Denmark’s greatest gifts. Indeed, not only does it provide countless visually stunning settings for everything from awardwinning art museums to wildlife and nature experiences – it has also been serving the popular New Nordic Cuisine movement some delicious seafood. 58 | Issue 123 | April 2019

But in addition to unspoilt nature and beautiful sandy beaches, Denmark offers buckets of charm. Its towns boast a charming combination of heritage and innovative spirit, presenting castles and historical museums to explore alongside award-winning restaurants and fun events for all the family. Wherever you are in Denmark, you are never far away from a cool cultural hap-

pening, a food stall with delicious treats and a little bit of peace and quiet. Add that unique Danish propensity to relax, have a laugh and just be in the moment, and you can see how a holiday exploring Danish culture is sure to be a great success.

Photo: Nicolai Perjesi

Web: www.visitdenmark.com

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Culture – Denmark

Svendborg. Photo: Kim Wyon

Svendborg. Photo: Knud Mortensen

Issue 123 | April 2019 | 59

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Culture – Denmark

Photo: Mike Strøander

A spoonful of the good life with a drizzle of maritime charm With its picturesque seaside location, buzzing maritime atmosphere and quaint cobblestoned streets, it is no wonder that Svendborg is Funen’s most popular holiday destination. On top of its natural charm, a string of cultural, culinary and maritime events and activities combine into an irresistible taste of the good life. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Knud Mortensen

As the former home of no less than 1,080 shipyards, Svendborg has always been buzzing with maritime activity, and despite the closure of most of the shipyards, it still is. Today, the town is not just home to a number of impressive historic wooden ships, but also receives no less than 40,000 modern-day boating guests. But despite the many visitors, the town has maintained its quintessential relaxed atmosphere and was in 2008, as the first Danish town to do so, accepted into the global network of Cittaslow towns. “Being a Cittaslow town is about creating the 60 | Issue 123 | April 2019

time and space to enjoy life, but also about making sure that all offers are marked by quality and care,” explains event manager at VisitSvendborg, Anja Mia Haas. “That’s something that is very much represented in Svendborg, especially among our many small producers, who make the fantastic delicacies that have turned Svendborg into a culinary destination.” Svendborg is indeed known for its buzzing food scene, the biggest event of which is Culinary Southern Funen, a hugely popular food fair for food producers.

A world-class archipelago Located at the southern end of Funen, Svendborg’s harbour is not just a spectacular sight, but also the entrance to the beautiful archipelago of Southern Funen. From the harbour, regular ferries leave for several of the archipelago’s small island communities, including Skarø, Drejø and Hjortø. But with its shallow and safe waters and the short distance between the islands, it is also possible to explore the archipelago’s 55 small islands by kayak. “When kayaking in the archipelago, there’s always land somewhere – the islands are dotted along the coastline like a string of pearls, and there are plenty of accommodation options – from our new popular shelters to regular camp sites,” says Haas. “We call it a world-class archipelago, because really it does

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Culture – Denmark

match the beauty of those of greater fame in the southern hemisphere.”

as the place to go to enjoy the best sides of life.

Svendborg harbour is also the location of Ring-Andersen, one of the town’s stilloperating shipyards. Founded in 1867, the shipyard today specialises in the restoration of historic wooden ships, many of which can be seen in the harbour. For visitors who want to get closer to the historic vessels, Maritimt Center Danmark, located in one of the harbour’s historic warehouses, offers visits, tours, and cruises of its splendid historic ships. The centre also hosts an array of events throughout the year, from historic boat trips to pirate days and Svendborg Classic Regatta.

One of the town’s biggest events is Culinary Southern Funen, which is, with its 15,000 guests, estimated to be the biggest food fair of its kind in the Nordic countries. But it is not just the big events, but also the constant trickle of small events that are at the heart of Svendborg’s distinct charm. “The town has an enormous cultural scene – at one point we did a survey that showed that we have 750 live concerts each year. On top of this, there are all our festivals: the Film Festival, Angling Festival, Jazz Festival and Outdoors Festival,” says Haas, and rounds off: “Of course, the old medieval town centre, beautiful cobblestoned streets and the many specialty stores are always there, but the many events create a good reason to get together and enjoy life in Svendborg all year round.”

Buzzing with (slow) life Svendborg is also among Denmark’s most popular destinations for mountain bike enthusiasts attracted to the town by its many world-class tracks and special events such as the DAI MTB Festival. The mountain bike festival is one of many events that have helped brand Svendborg

Svendborg’s beautiful harbour is buzzing with maritime life and beautiful classic boats.

Web: www.visitsvendborg.com

About Cittaslow: Cittaslow is a network of over 230 towns, which have adopted a shared set of principles and objectives to enhance the quality of life. Six good reasons to get together and enjoy life in Svendborg: 4-5 May: The DAI MTB Festival – two action-packed days with guided rides, workshops, seminars, and fairs. 17 May: Bissen race – the town’s popular mountain bike race in the hilly greens surrounding Svendborg. 22 June: Cliff Richard concert at the stunning family-owned Valdemar’s Castle, which hosts a number of concerts throughout the summer. 29-30 June: Culinary Southern Funen – a food market filling the entire city centre with the best of slow food, organic food, and local ingredients. 24-31 August: SVEND Film Festival – Svendborg is the setting for a grand celebration of film with sneak previews, film series, debates, exhibitions, workshops, and the SVEND award show.

One of Svendborg’s biggest events is Culinary Southern Funen, which is, with its 15,000 guests, estimated to be the biggest food fair of its kind in the Nordic countries.

Full of historic charm, Svendborg’s medieval town centre is the scene of many cultural events.

Issue 123 | April 2019 | 61

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Culture – Denmark

Denmark’s long, relaxing and fun island Langeland, or long country, is a 60-kilometre-long island situated south of Fyn in Denmark. The rich history and nature of the place, its 141-kilometre-long coastline, numerous festivals, old manor houses and delightful people make it a perfect holiday spot for all interests and ages. By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photos: Langeland Tourist

Langeland’s nature encompasses an impressive variety, from bogs to beaches and wild horses to bird reservations. The horses, which are of the Exmoor variety, have been roaming free in groups of 60 horses. Through paths and sticking to the rules, it is possible to walk near the horses and experience them in their natural habitat.

they actually export the energy to other parts of Denmark. There is also a focus on sustainability and keeping the island clean and green. “Langeland is a place where there is peace and calmness, and where you can hear the birds flying and the grass growing,” says Karlsen with a smile.

Langeland’s nature lends itself to some impressive walks and bike rides, and there are numerous places to rent bikes. “There’s space for everyone here,” explains Heidi Karlsen from Langeland Tourism. “We pride ourselves on being accessible. At Langelandsfortet, you can explore more about the Cold War; we have a wheelchair accessible submarine and an original piece of the Berlin Wall. At Skovsgaard Manor, you can explore an organic farm and the traditional life in a manor house – it’s like being transported back in time!”

In the summer period, Langeland gets a lot of guests, although it never feels crowded. During week 30 (typically towards the end of July), the Langelandfestival brings a big crowd, but it is a family festival where there is space and activities for all ages. Throughout the year, there are numerous activities for families, including summer concerts, fishing festivals and the kids culture festival.

A green island Over 100 per cent of Langeland’s energy comes from wind power, so much so that 62 | Issue 123 | April 2019

“We love it when people come to visit, and we do our best to make people feel at home and as part of the community. We’re always ready with our top tips and to point people in the right direction,” concludes Karlsen.

About Langeland: Coastline: 140 kilometres Length: 60 kilometres At its widest: 10 kilometres Highest point: 46 metres Distances: Berlin: 688 kilometres Hamburg: 385 kilometres Copenhagen: 212 kilometres Oslo: 820 kilometres London: 1,313 kilometres

Web: www.langeland.dk Facebook: KomTilLangeland

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Culture – Finland

Photo: The National Museum of Finland / Päivi Kosonen

Exploring rural Finland without leaving the capital Seurasaari Open-Air Museum celebrates its 110th anniversary this year. It is one of the oldest museums in Finland, and visitors can explore the traditional, rural way of living by taking a peek in the smoke cabins, crofts and manors brought to Seurasaari from different parts of Finland.

Children’s Day, takes place on 26 May this year. Other events include Midsummer festivities that attract thousands of visitors, a farmer’s market, and daily activities for kids in July.

By Mari Koskinen

The little island of Seurasaari is dedicated to recreation and the open-air museum, and it is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. Visitors always have free access to the island, which is just a ten-minute bus ride from the city centre. “My first memory of Seurasaari is from when I was just five or six years old,” says chief curator Mikko Teräsvirta. “My parents took our foreign visitors here, and I remember the curious squirrels in particular.” The squirrels, the sea and the nature still play a big role in making Seurasaari the green sanctuary it is today. It is perfect for family outings, its paths suitable for prams and strollers, and has many picturesque waterside picnic spots. The museum buildings are open from 15 May to 15 September. The ticket price includes a guided tour through the 64 | Issue 123 | April 2019

area. “Our guides, dressed in traditional Finnish clothes, are well trained, and their colourful stories of how people lived in the old ages open up the history in a fascinating way,” says Teräsvirta. The daily guided tours in Finnish, Swedish, English and German run from 15 June to 15 August.

There isThe also a restaurant Photo: National Museum ofand a summer café on the island. Finland / Topi Leikas “Families can spend a whole day here at Seurasaari,” Teräsvirta continues. “Our museum shop is located in one of the recently restored museum buildings, an old parsonage brought from Iisalmi. The parsonage, along with its garden, is also part of the museum tour.”

“Seurasaari is a lively place with many events in the summer,” explains Teräsvirta. “The annual event, the

Photo: The National Museum of Finland / Maija Huitu

Web: www.seurasaari.fi Facebook: seurasaarenulkomuseo Instagram: @seurasaari

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Culture – Finland

Photo: Mika Huisman

A place like no other Located in the breathtaking surrounds of Northern Lapland, Sajos is the cultural and administrative centre for the Sámi people in Finland. Take a journey through the life and culture of the only indigenous people within the European Union. By Maria Pirkkalainen | Photos: The Sámi Cultural Centre Sajos

By a river, under a fell and completely surrounded by gorgeous nature: that is where you will find the Sámi Cultural Centre Sajos in the village of Inari, Lapland. “Even when you sit on our terrace, you can hear the soothing sounds of a rushing rapid,” marketing manager Katariina Guttorm describes. Inari is an ideal location for the cultural centre, because all of Finland’s three Sámi languages are still spoken in the area. The only indigenous people in Europe, there are currently around 10,000 Sámis living in Finland, with populations also in Sweden and Norway. “Sajos is the real thing. We’re a place where you can really explore and experience the Sámi culture, languages, livelihoods and traditions,” Guttorm continues. The architecturally impressive building also houses the Sámi Parliament and is the largest events venue in Northern Lapland.

Sajos offers guided tours in English every day, followed by a film screening that gives you a glimpse into modern Sámi life. Round off your day with a visit to the lovely shop and restaurant.

Ahead of your visit, make sure to take a look at the extensive event calendar, as well. If you are visiting in the summer, there will be an art exhibition as well as a music festival. In the autumn, do not miss the traditional handicrafts market, and in the winter months, stay to watch a film. At Sajos, you will get a unique experience no matter what the season.

Something for every season The café-restaurant at Sajos is worth a mention of its own. Its delightful organic treats are made from local ingredients, from herbs to fish and reindeer. “It is often said that you can find the town’s best coffee here – for example, we offer everything from chaga to bulletproof coffee,” says Guttorm.

Located near the Ivalo Airport, Sajos is only an hour’s flight away from the capital, Helsinki. There is also a great selection of accommodation options available within walking distance.

Web: www.sajos.fi Facebook: sajosculturalcentre Instagram: @sajosculturalcentre Twitter: @sajosinari

Issue 123 | April 2019 | 65

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Culture – Finland

Building for the future at Siida 60,000 visitors per year get to take a peek into Sámi culture and Arctic nature at the Sámi Museum and Nature Centre Siida. The changing exhibitions show different aspects of the Sámi lifestyle, art and nature throughout the year. “There is always something new to explore at Siida,” says Minna Väisänen, head of sales and marketing at Siida. “In addition to the permanent exhibitions, we have many concurrent temporary exhibitions, like Arctic Dreams, which introduces the audience to travelling and architecture in the Finnish north from the 1930s to the 1950s.” It is open from 17 April to 27 October 2019. “Most of our visitors are foreigners, and they are keen to see how it has been pos-

sible to live in the Arctic conditions. At our open-air museum, visitors can explore Sámi dwellings, and the indoor exhibitions show their hunting and fishing methods,” Väisänen explains. “The next few years will be exciting times for us; we are making big changes here. The National Museum of Finland will return more Sámi artefacts to the Sámi Museum in the future. The museum collection rooms are absolutely full, so we need more space.”

By Mari Koskinen | Photos: Siida

Väisänen continues: “In the first phase, which lasts until the end of the year 2020, the exhibitions stay open as usual. In the later phases, starting in 2021, we will refurbish the existing exhibition spaces and renew the exhibitions. During that period, we will have discounted ticket prices. We aim to complete the whole project for the grand opening on 6 February 2022.”

Web: www.siida.fi Facebook: siidainari Instagram: @siidainari Twitter: @siidainari

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Culture –Culture Centres in Norway

The magical sunrise concert with Eva Weel Skram at the World’s End last summer was a unique experience for the 2,600 people attending. Photo: Cato Ingebritsen.

Experience a magical sunrise concert like no other, on the edge of Norway Nøtterøy Kulturhus wants to move the audience by creating great, unique cultural experiences in Norway. With everything from a magical sunrise concert outdoors in idyllic settings and international contemporary-style circus performances to the more traditional productions on the programme, the regional culture house presents entertainment in different genres, where quality and innovation are always the focus. By Ingrid Opstad | Photos: Nøtterøy Kulturhus

This summer, Nøtterøy Kulturhus invites guests along to once again enjoy a magical sunrise concert on the edge of Norway. Located on the southern tip of Tjøme, the World’s End is a fantastic recreation area with beautiful surrounding landscapes and a view of the fjord – the perfect setting to welcome the sunrise with captivating music by one of Norway’s most beautiful voices, Ingebjørg Bratland, while being at what feels like the edge of the world. Here, by the archipelago, with the great, blue ocean right by your side, Ingebjørg Bratland will be joined by string instruments to create an extraordinary happening for the early risers. “The sunrise concert starts bright and early, at four in the morning, and I can guarantee a magical atmosphere while the sun starts to show its face about ten minutes into the concert – a unique experience and an unmissable event, which 68 | Issue 123 | April 2019

is hard to describe,” says the director at Nøtterøy Kulturhus, Einar M. Schistad. “Last year’s concert with Eva Weel Skram was the first time we arranged it, and it ended up a big success and a beautiful morning we will never forget. Now we have the pleasure of once again inviting guests to a new, spectacular happening,” he says. With 2,600 tickets sold last time, quite a few of the audience members made a night of it, sleeping under the stars in sleeping bags. “We have already sold 800 tickets this year, so we are expecting it to be yet another spectacular event. I don’t think there is any better way to wake up,” says Schistad, explaining that the artist was chosen very consciously, in order for that magic mood to be guaranteed. The strings help to reinforce this feeling and create a relaxing and tranquil setting for a wonderful morning by the fjord.

Quality and innovation in focus With the aim to be a culture house that offers something for everyone, Nøtterøy Kulturhus provides great diversity in the programme, ranging from famous artists to unknown performers and unique productions covering all the different performing arts. But the focus is, and always has been, on quality and innovation. “When Nøtterøy Kulturhus was built in 1994, the idea was to create a place for local cultural life. This is still a part of what we do, but we have developed into what I believe is one of the leading cultural centres in Norway, by working both

Director at Nøtterøy Kulturhus, Einar M. Schistad.

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Culture – Culture Centres in Norway

nationally and internationally,” Schistad says proudly. By inviting other cultural centres from around the country to participate – including Drammens Teater, Bølgen Kulturhus in Larvik, Ibsenhuset in Skien, Arendal Kulturhus, Kilden in Kristiansand, Stavanger Konserthus, and Festiviteten in Haugesund – Nøtterøy Kulturhus has actively taken a leading role in finding the performances and planning tours to the cities involved.

Celebrating 25 years on the culture scene Working with a very dedicated and skilled staff with a lot of idealism and passion, which is visible in everything they do, Schistad is thrilled about the upcoming season. “We are celebrating our 25th anniversary this year, and we have a fun-packed programme, which we think the audience will enjoy – especially the four very different and exciting productions as the highlights,” he explains. For the last six or seven years, Nøtterøy Kulturhus has paid particular attention to international productions in the field of the contemporary style of circus and physical theatre. These modern and exciting visual performances are more physical and include acrobatics to different degrees as well as elements of dance with little or no dialogue. Schistad travels around Europe on an ongoing quest to discover new, original experiences to bring home to his audience in Vestfold. The culture house has arranged everything from concerts, theatre, dance performances and new circus to standup shows and talks since its inception, and it continues to entertain people and put a smile on their faces. “We want to be a place where you feel welcome as a good old friend every time you visit,” Schistad concludes. Web: www.notteroy.kulturhus.no Facebook: NotteroyKulturhus Instagram: @nkulturhus Twitter: @nkulturhus

Cirkus Cirkör, Scandinavia’s leading performing circus company within the art form of contemporary circus, will perform its new show Epifonima. Photo: Klara G.

Issue 123 | April 2019 | 69

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Culture – Culture Centres in Norway

Charlie Chaplin’s daughter, Victoria Chaplin Thierrée, returns to Nøtterøy Kulturhus for the fourth time with her new visually stunning and surprising show, Bells & Spells. Photo: Lucie Jansch

The magical sunrise concert: Place: The World’s End is located at the southern tip of Tjøme, outside Tønsberg in Færder National park. The road to the World’s End goes through Nøtterøy and Tjøme. Date: The early hours of Sunday 7 July. Concert start: 4am, the gates open at 2am.

How to get to Nøtterøy Kulturhus: Airports: Torp Sandefjord Lufthavn or Oslo Lufthavn Gardermoen. Train: Arrive at Tønsberg station. Five minutes by car or bus 02 Hvasser/Tenvik to Borgheim stop. How to get to the World’s End: Airports: Torp Sandefjord Lufthavn or Oslo Lufthavn Gardermoen. Train: Arrive at Tønsberg station. 35 minutes by car. There will be a special bus service for the sunrise concert. Contact Nøtterøy Kulturhus for information.

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This year, Ingebjørg Bratland, the Norwegian folk singer with one of Norway’s most beautiful voices, will be performing at the magical sunrise concert.

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Culture – Culture Centres in Norway

2019 programme highlights: 7 July: Magical sunrise concert with Ingebjørg Bratland, at the World’s End 3 August: Madrugada, concert at the World’s End 10 September: Cirkus Cirkör, Epifonima, acrobatic/contemporary circus (Sweden) 21 September: Imagine – The John Lennon Songbook, concert (England) 1 October: A Life in Three Acts, a meeting with Liv Ullmann – Premiere 25 October: Emilie Nicolas, concert 27 October: The Road is Just a Surface, Anja Garbarek and Jo Strømgren Kompani, concert/dance/theatre 8 November: Analog – Finale, contemporary circus (Germany) 15 November: Victoria Chaplin Thierrée – Bells & Spells, contemporary circus (France) Finale is a dynamic show full of top-class acrobatics and rock ‘n’ roll, by the Berlin-based company Analog. Photo: Jakub Jelen

21 December: Bugge Wesseltoft – It’s Snowing On My Piano, concert

The Norwegian The Road is Just a Surface by Anja Garbarek and Jo Strømgren Kompani was last seen at the Oslo Opera House. Photo: Bjørn Opsahl

Issue 123 | April 2019 | 71

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Culture – Culture Centres in Norway

Photo: Tom Atle Bordevik

Photo: Hedvig Andersson

From a bustling factory to a delicate mix of culture and nature In the mood to experience art, history, food and nature? Fossekleiva Kultursenter (Fossekleiva Arts Centre) and Berger Museum tick all those boxes. Housed in the buildings of the old Fossekleven Fabrik, a disused textile factory from 1889, Fossekleiva Arts Centre and Berger Museum are characterised by the rich history of the premises, spiced up with some modern twists. By Åsa Hedvig Aaberge

The arts centre and museum are situated in the village of Berger, one of Norway’s best-kept industrial communities. Today, the area is a living hamlet of fruit production, art and beautiful nature – it even has something as seldom seen as a red beach. “Hop on the bus, in the car or on the bike if you wish, and after a short drive from Drammen or Sande, you will find yourself in Berger. The journey here is a sight in itself – a beautiful ocean drive with beaches, fruit farms and scenic nature along the way,” says Franzisca Aarflot, managing director at Fossekleiva Arts Centre. This summer, Fossekleiva Arts Centre showcases an exhibition called Mønster. ‘Mønster’ means pattern in Norwegian, and the exhibition has close ties to 72 | Issue 123 | April 2019

the textile history of the place. Berger Museum is home to an impressive archive of more than 3,000 pattern and textile designs. “The summer exhibition, Mønster, has interactive elements that suit all ages. Visitors can make their own patterns and explore how patterns occur, slide into each other and become new patterns. Patterns exist in nature, culture, psychology, daily life – simply everywhere,” says Aarflot. Textile artist Margrethe Ulvik and artist Pippip Ferner have made a series of work based on the patterns archive of the Berger Museum, exclusively for the exhibition. The art scene in Berger is vibrant and diverse. Several artists have open ateliers at Fossekleiva Arts Centre, such as sculptor Marit Wiklund, potter Ingrid Rauer, and artists Kikki Hovland and Helle Bingen.

Fossekleiva Arts Centre is open all week; however, weekends are especially eventful. Every Saturday, it is concert time at Berger with music ranging from jazz to world music, funk and Norwegian folk. “On Sundays, we arrange art workshops for kids with professional artists as tutors. This season, the workshops focus on patterns, in line with the theme from the Mønster exhibition,” says Aarflot. If you get hungry after taking in all the art, nature and culture, do not worry. Café Jebsen is open daily, except for Mondays, offering a broad variety of cold and hot dishes. Maybe just a cold glass of wine or a cup of coffee with a slice of freshly baked cake is what you will need? Whatever it is, you will find it right there. Summer exhibition Mønster: 15 June to 18 August, Tuesday to Sunday. Café Jebsen: open all year, Tuesday to Sunday.

Web: www.fossekleiva.no and www.bergermuseum.no

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Culture – Culture Centres in Norway

The highly recognised Sami visual artist Josef Halse exhibiting at Sisa gallery.

Linda and Aisha with locally produced foods at Kaffekjellern.

Hadima at Tulip massage centre demonstrates Clec.

Sisa — welcome in Kulturhuset Sisa is an important multicultural meeting place established in Alta municipality in Finnmark, at the very top of Norway. Here, you are welcome in to not only discover beautiful scenery and friendly people, but also to find local art, get help establishing your business or experience festivals, concerts and happenings all year round. By Ingrid Opstad | Photos: Claus Jørstad

“The word ‘sisa’ is actually taken from the Sami language and means ‘in’. We use the word in that sense to say ‘welcome in to us’, but also to welcome the diversity that characterises our community and reflect on how we feel inside,” says manager John-Tore Martinsen. Kulturhuset Sisa was established 11 years ago with help from Extra Stiftelsen, the Norwegian Council for Mental Health, the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration, and Alta municipality. Today, Kulturhuset Sisa is so much more than just a normal cultural centre. “We have also become the base for people who want to establish their own businesses, and we help with job training for anyone who needs qualifications for the workplace,” says Martinsen. A place for innovation, it was here at the culture house

that Norwegian Karl Helge Vannebo Senior came up with the idea for Clec. “Clec is a tool designed for people with back pain, who need assistance when putting on footwear, and anyone else who needs help. We are proud that he invented this in our facilities and now sells them to hotels, shoe stores, and hospitals in Norway and several other countries,” Martinsen explains. There is a strong focus on the local community and its nature, expressed through art and food. “Not only are we inspired by the beautiful nature around us, as evident in our gallery and craft shop, but we also engage the city through school classes and retirement groups to harvest local herbs and spices that are then used in the food served in our cosy cafe Kaffekjellern,” the manager says.

Kulturhuset Sisa is also proud to support Bossekop cultural trail, a fun and unique way to get to know Alta’s history though 26 different stops. “The cultural path is made by different artists from Norway and Russia and led by Linda Zina Aslaksen, who lives here and has her studio in the cultural centre. Bossekop has great potential to spread to other municipalities and become a new tourist attraction in Finnmark. We are happy to help others who wish to participate,” Martinsen smiles.

Linda Zina Aslaksen in front of lvebåten at the Bossekop cultural path.

Web: www.sisa.no Facebook: sisahuset Instagram: @sisakultursenter

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H IS S D E W AND cia S e R S Sp EST B ICK B N E HIO R P H T AS OU F – em

h lT

Brandon Wen, CTF Award. Photo: Shaun James Cox Photography

Educating and innovating for a sustainable fashion future In the past seven years, the Swedish fashion industry has grown by 60 per cent overall, and exports are up a whopping 90 per cent. The Swedish fashion industry now has an annual turnover of more than 300 billion SEK (about 25 billion GBP), making it a significant, important player for Sweden in terms of business, sustainability and innovation. With a new government-funded initiative, Textile & Fashion 2030, aiming to accelerate change towards a sustainable textile and fashion future, it is clear that the Swedish fashion industry is about so much more than style. By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Swedish Fashion Council

As a crucial player on this scene, the Swedish Fashion Council, a selfsustained organisation founded in 1979, works to promote, educate and innovate the industry to boost competitiveness and sustainability in all areas. The council does so by, among other things, driving research efforts, supporting emerging talent, working closely with 74 | Issue 123 | April 2019

national as well as international fashion schools, and supporting a wide range of Swedish brands. “As an industry, we’re facing a big challenge right now – there’s a paradigm shift happening,” says Jennie Rosén, CEO of the Swedish Fashion Council. “There’s the reality of digitalisation on

Jennie Rosén. Photo: Elisabeth Toll

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | The Best Swedish Fashion Brands – Our Picks

a big scale, a new kind of consumerism, and, of course, the issues of sustainability and transparency. We need to change how we do things, find new business models where consumers are seen as users rather than buyers – and for us, educating the industry and the schools to bring them into this new era is a big focus right now.”

Talents of the future As it happens, education has been a key strand of the Swedish Fashion Council’s work for a number of years now, and one that has been visible from the outside to a great extent. Since 2005, the incubator programme Swedish Fashion Talents has worked with 86 different brands, coaching them to help them find sustainable business and growth. As of last year, the Council also runs CTF Awards, which sees gifted fashion students from all over the world explore ways of working across sectors to realise a new kind of fashion ethos, with sustainability integral to its very existence. “We’re working with some of the best talents in the world, from the best fashion schools in the world, inspiring them and exploring options for a sustainable future,” Rosén explains. “But similarly, with Swedish Fashion Talents, we’ve worked with some hugely successful brands, some of whom are pioneers in terms of sustainable business thinking.” Among them, Rosén mentions Per Götesson as a real super talent and Rave Review, whose circular business model with fully recycled textiles is ground-breaking and has been a huge success globally.

Per Götesson. Photo: Mathias Nordgren

Web: www.swedishfashioncouncil.se Instagram: @swedishfashioncouncil

Per Götesson. Photo: Mathias Nordgren

The mission of the Swedish Fashion Council is to promote Swedish fashion designers and brands globally, and to work for a sustainable fashion industry through innovation and education as a global industry leader. There are three key strands to its work:

CTF Award. Photo: Sequoia Ziff

Promote: help the industry to reach an international audience. Educate: work closely with fashion schools to educate and research. Innovate: drive the industry by helping to develop new business models.

Another of the Swedish Fashion Council’s recent initiatives is the Fashion Innovation Center, an accelerator to support innovation and digitalisation in the fashion industry. Yet again, under this banner the council supports brands in their development of next-generation fashion experiences, and in finding new models and revenue streams in everything from traceability to rental.

Rave Review. Photo: Mathias Nordgren

Issue 123 | April 2019 | 75

Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Top 10 Swedish Fashion Brands

Filippa K — slow simplicity with Swedish design As sustainability shoots up the agenda and ‘capsule wardrobe’ are the words on everyone’s lips, a Swedish fashion veteran offers a simple solution: stylish, top-quality wardrobe staples with an unmistakably Scandinavian touch. Widely celebrated in her home country for more than two and a half decades now, Filippa K is going global. By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Filippa K

The story of Filippa K started at a kitchen table in Stockholm in 1993. There, Filippa Knutsson and her then husband, Patrik Kihlborg, founded the fashion brand that would quickly grow into one of the brightest shining stars on the Swedish fashion sky. Inspired by her own needs and the real challenges of modern women and men, Knutsson started designing 76 | Issue 123 | April 2019

stylish, comfortable clothes clearly echoing much of the minimalist quality that Scandinavian design has become known and loved for – and since then, the brand has won numerous awards and accolades, including Gunilla Arhén’s role model prize in 2008, the business medal by the Royal Patriotic Society in 2010, and the design prize Guldknappen in

Founder and creative director Filippa Knutsson.

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | The Best Swedish Fashion Brands – Our Picks

2015. And just two years ago, Knutsson returned to the helm of the brand as creative director after a 19-year hiatus. “The original philosophy of Filippa K was to create simple, stylish clothes and accessories of long-lasting quality, and Filippa’s return brings a renewed focus on being true to those origins,” says Jodi Everding, fabric and trim manager at Filippa K. “As creative director, she has brought us even closer to those origins and their place in the modern world. She has also been involved in recruiting new designers and working with the expression of the brand.”

From fast to slow A keen advocate of what she calls “mindful consumption”, Knutsson believes that simplicity is the purest form of luxury. “To us,” Everding explains, “mindful consumption means the responsible creation of timeless, high-quality, practical fashion for a complete wardrobe that promotes a lifestyle of buying and using fewer pieces for longer, and giving them a second life after ownership. In a world of fast fashion, our goal is to create a shift in industry perspective from fast to slow, and in consumer mindset from temporary to permanent. This can inspire purchasing behaviour to move from frequent, impulse-driven buys of superficial trends to purposeful, responsibly informed investments of both need and desire-driven pieces to love for many years.”

“As far as conscious consumption is concerned, we have internal tools that help us to be mindful about our material choices, and we prioritise longlasting quality above all,” says Everding. “In our last collection, we had our two Front Runners coats, which were completely made of recycled materials — and recyclable. But we do not forsake our quality standards to use a more sustainable fibre; our garments must stand the test of time. Sustainability is part of our DNA, and we release annual sustainability reports including all of our achievements, efforts and goals.”

Web: www.filippa-k.com Facebook: filippak Instagram: @filippa_k Pinterest: Filippa K

A global perspective The focus on timeless wardrobe staples through a commitment to style, simplicity and quality goes hand in hand with the brand’s Swedish roots, and the collections are not just easily recognisable as Filippa K creations, but also unmistakably Scandinavian. That said, the brand has taken the world by storm, and Everding explains that the aim right now is to connect with customers who share the brand’s expression and values, wherever in the world they may be. By putting digital first, Filippa K is sure to expand its reach and mission even further, bringing that warm, authentic confidence and a touch of Swedish sustainable luxury to women and men all over the world.

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Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Top 10 Swedish Fashion Brands

Classic designs for every woman The beautiful designs of style icon Camilla Thulin are worn by women of all shapes and sizes, loved by celebrities and royalty, and seen in glamorous stage performances. This year’s summer collection received standing ovations at Stockholm Fashion Week.

Fashion Week 2018, receiving standing ovations. The catwalk models included several prominent women such as Sara Danius, Ewa Fröling, Dominika Peczynski and Monica Ahlberg, among others.

By Malin Norman | Photos: Camilla Thulin Design

Camilla Thulin has a long background in costume design for TV and film, opera and musicals. She is also known for creating outfits for Swedish pop group Army of Lovers, as well as Malena Ernman’s gown for the Eurovision Song Contest in 2009, and she is the author of no less than four books about style. The timeless collection includes dresses, blouses, skirts and coats in wonderful patterns and materials. The garments can be worn throughout the seasons, for everyday or special occasions, and are easy to pack for women with a busy lifestyle. For instance, celebrities such as Crown Princess Victoria and singer, model and TV host Dominika Peczynski have been seen 78 | Issue 123 | April 2019

wearing the designs. “Dominika has such a gorgeous shape, but it’s difficult for her to find clothes elsewhere,” says Thulin. “Our customers don’t want to look like everyone else; they want to dress in a feminine way, with colours and patterns that stand out but also fit their female shape,” continues the designer. “With our classic and strong feminine expression, we emphasise the person who is wearing the clothes. My goal is for all women, regardless of age or size, to feel strong and beautiful.”

The pussy-bow blouse Camilla Thulin Design was one of the most celebrated brands at Stockholm

Camilla Thulin.

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | The Best Swedish Fashion Brands – Our Picks

A highlight was the collaboration with Sara Danius, the former secretary of the Swedish Academy that awards the Nobel literature prize. As well as her academic and professional achievements, Danius is recognised for her pussy-bow blouses. Thulin created a limitededition pussy-bow blouse together with Danius, and customers were queueing for their chance to buy one of the 263 garments made. For each blouse sold, 1,000 SEK (around 83 GBP) was donated to GAPF, a Swedish acronym for Never Forget Pela and Fadime (Glöm Aldrig Pela och Fadime), a secular non-profit association working against honourrelated violence. In total, 263,000 SEK (22,000 GBP) was raised for the cause. In collaboration with Swedish actress and comedian Mia Skäringer, Thulin has designed another special blouse. Skäringer is currently breaking box office records with her praised show Avig Maria – No more fucks to give, which is described as a celebration of women owning their own bodies. Again, 1,000 SEK per blouse sold will be donated to GAPF. The No More Fucks to Give blouse is currently in production, and a total of 660 blouses will be made and ready for delivery in April. “I’m so proud and happy to be able to actually contribute by doing things like these two collaborations, instead of just complaining about the situation in society,” says Thulin.

Blouse in collaboration with Mia Skäringer.

Worn by strong women Founded in 1992, the Camilla Thulin Design studio is located in a charming courtyard at Södermalm in Stockholm. All patterns and samples are handcrafted by a dedicated cutter and tailor. Great focus is placed on detail, from defining the perfect fit to choosing the best fabrics, anything to get that exclusive look. The garments are then produced in small studio factories in Poland that are working with Europe’s most exclusive brands. Here, the working conditions are excellent, and there is strong environmental awareness in production, transportation and material selection. In addition to her collection, Thulin still creates costumes for numerous operas and musicals, including Malmö Opera

and Norrlandsoperan. In the pipeline are also costumes for the musical version of Sister Act (En Värsting till Syster) at Chinateatern, with Gladys del Pilar in the role of Deloris Van Cartier (originally played by Whoopi Goldberg in the film). Other projects include Krusenstiernska Teatern in Kalmar and, of course, preparations for spring/summer 2020. Camilla Thulin Design is available in some 50 boutiques in Sweden, Norway and Finland, as well as in the online shop with delivery worldwide.

Web: www.camillathulin.se Facebook: camillathulindesign Instagram: @camillathulindesign

Sara Danius in the pussy-bow blouse for Camilla Thulin Design.

Issue 123 | April 2019 | 79

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | The Best Swedish Fashion Brands – Our Picks Henrik Klintenberg.

The world at your feet Sweden’s most exciting lifestyle shoe brand, Henry Kole, is wowing the international crowd with its trend-driven, modern and quality-focused shoes for women on the move. By Malin Norman | Photos: Henry Kole

Up-and-coming shoe brand Henry Kole was established by e-commerce entrepreneur Henrik Klintenberg from Varberg on the Swedish west coast, also known as the shoe city, where some of the country’s most established shoe makers are based. “Even though I have never really been involved in the shoe industry as such, the heritage is part of the city’s DNA and has of course had an impact,” elaborates the founder on his background. Inspired by a visit to Elche in southern Spain, another shoe region known in particular for its hand-made products, Klintenberg eventually decided to set up his own lifestyle shoe brand. The first collection was released in 2015 and based around the concept of shoes for modern, ambitious women with a busy, urban lifestyle – women with the world at their feet. Henry Kole’s stylish shoes and ankle boots are made of high-grade materials, 80 | Issue 123 | April 2019

ensuring great quality as well as fit, at an affordable price. “In the design process, we are trying to find something that works well every day, but with an edge,” says Klintenberg. “Our customers appreciate shoes that stand out.”

Fashion, branding and IT Despite being a relatively young brand, Henry Kole has seen a strong development, both in Sweden and internationally. From the outset, and with the help of Klintenberg’s extensive e-commerce experience, the brand has had the world as its market. “In recent years, online shops have grown rapidly, and it’s now easier to both sell and buy products worldwide. With Henry Kole, we have managed to combine shoe fashion and lifestyle branding with a smooth IT solution.” In line with the increasing demand for a strong online presence, Henry Kole has developed a B2B IT solution with digital order management for wholesale clients via an online showroom. It also gives

the opportunity to sell shoes via dropshipping, which means sending products sold via e-retailers directly to the end consumers from the brand’s own warehouse. This way, e-retailers can widen their selection of Henry Kole products and increase demand at the same time as they are reducing stock. Henry Kole updates the collection with new products continuously. In March this year, the brand introduced its first stylish trainer, Silvana, which instantly became a best-seller. More trendy models are in the pipeline, as well as an exciting international design collaboration.

Web: www.henrykole.com Facebook: HenryKole Instagram: @henrykole

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | The Best Swedish Fashion Brands – Our Picks

Bringing HOPE to the world Stockholm-based HOPE has become one of the fashion scene’s most relevant labels, in more ways than one. Now, under new ownership, the brand is planning to take its cutting-edge collections and its championing of diversity to global markets. By Liz Longden | Photos: HOPE

Fashion and politics are not often seen as natural bedfellows, so shoppers passing the windows of the HOPE shop during last year’s Stockholm Fashion Week may have been surprised to be greeted by a giant collage of human faces and an unequivocally political declaration. ‘Sweden is large enough for everyone, whoever you are or wherever you come from’, the text read, urging Swedes to vote in the forthcoming general elections.

of the label’s more eye-catching practices is to label all clothing with both men’s and women’s sizing, to defy gender stereotypes. Yet the brand is much more than just a soapbox. With its pared-down aesthetic, inspired by classic menswear and utility clothing, the label has been winning plaudits for its groundbreaking design since its founding in 2001. Recent awards include Designer of The Year from both ELLE (2018) and Café (2017).

It may not have been a typical window display, but then HOPE is not a typical fashion label. “HOPE is a company that is very strongly driven by values, and we aim to use our platforms to promote important issues,” explains creative director Frida Bard. It is a stance that has, unsurprisingly, attracted attention; one

Now, the label is embarking on an exciting new phase of development. Following on from the appointment of Bard as head of design in 2015, HOPE was last year acquired by the newly started company Gotoga, which also owns the Whyred label. While the two brands will remain distinct, Gotoga hopes to exploit

their shared resources and synergy effects to grow HOPE in global markets. “With the combination of updated design under Frida’s leadership, and our new owner set-up, we’re looking to the future with a strong focus on expansion in international markets, including China, and a complete digital transformation of the whole brand,” explains Lili Assefa, co-owner and chairman of Gotoga. While the expansion will help to increase HOPE’s global presence, the essence of the label will remain unchanged. “We will continue to work with an aesthetic that fuses a tailored look with utility, while developing collections that challenge old gender-based norms,” Bard explains. “Style has no gender.”

HOPE Flagship Shop: Smålandsgatan 14, Stockholm

Web: www.hope-sthlm.com

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Scandinavian design to last a lifetime A combination of clean Scandinavian design, Italian craftsmanship and a philosophy of no compromise are at the heart of Nude of Scandinavia, a premium footwear brand designed to look great today, tomorrow and for generations to come. By Liz Longden | Photos: Patrik Lindén

The brand is the creation of Swedish husband-and-wife team Stefan and Angelique Thunholm, who together bring many years’ experience in the art of looking good. While Stefan is an experienced salesman and started his career in 1987 in a shoe factory in Italy, Angelique’s background is in the clothing fashion industry, giving her valuable insight into trends and markets, and a fresh perspective on the craft of designing shoes. With their complementary skillsets, the couple have developed footwear together for a number of years, but Nude of Scandinavia is their first own brand. A true labour of love, the label is born from a desire to make superior products without cutting corners, Angelique explains. “We have worked on collections with another brand, but be82 | Issue 123 | April 2019

cause the brand owner wanted the products to sell in several different markets, and since these can vary quite a bit from country to country, we ended up having to make a lot of compromises, which was obviously frustrating,” she says. “Instead, we wanted to create a highquality, well-designed product, which is comfortable, made in a socially responsible way, without compromise and without costing a fortune.” In 2010, therefore, Nude of Scandinavia was born. The name was inspired by a philosophy of pared-back shoe design, eschewing unnecessary details and focusing instead on a return to the essential – a ‘naked’ shoe, without unnecessary embellishment. The brand is therefore characterised by clean lines, simple elements and a bold use of col-

our, which together give a striking and distinctly Scandinavian aesthetic. The brand also distinguishes itself from the crowd with an innovative approach to designing footwear collections. “When we create a collection, we always think first about the whole picture, taking into account style, lifestyle and climate, for example. From that starting point, we then add products we have created, but without altering the design – if a product doesn’t fit with the concept we have in mind, then it isn’t included. And from there, we use colours and materials to build up different groups within the collection,” Angelique explains. “When we started out, this was quite an unusual approach, but with our different backgrounds, for us it was a very natural way of working.”

Sustainable craftsmanship The fact that design is not tied so closely to seasonal trends, but is instead more independent-minded, is one reason why Nude of Scandinavia’s shoes continue

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to look great many years down the line. The other is an emphasis on the highest standards of manufacturing. Only carefully selected premium leather is used, all linings are made of skin or fur, and Angelique and Stefan entrust all their production to a small number of carefully selected shoemakers in the Marche region of Italy. “There is a long tradition of shoe making in Italy, which goes back generations, and this means that they have an incredible level of knowledge and a degree of craftsmanship that can’t be found elsewhere,” Angelique says. “If you look at the end product and compare it with other producers, you can see the difference.”

Angelique also points out that, by basing production in Italy, she and Stefan can be sure that those making their products have fair working conditions and a safe working environment, while the geographical proximity also means that the couple are able to visit their producers on a regular basis and work closely with them. The result is a product for which the quality can be guaranteed throughout the whole production process, from drawing board to delivery. “Our products are designed and made to last generations,” says Angelique. “If you look after them, they will last years,

or even decades. And if something does happen to break, then it can be fixed.” She adds: “There is a lot of talk right now about sustainability and about trying to change our throw-away culture, but for us it has always been natural to take that approach. We want to create things that are designed well, made well and made to last. And seeing our shoes out and about in town, being very well used, is proof to us that people like them, and that we’ve succeeded in what we wanted to do.” Web: www.nudeofscandinavia.com

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Bet your boots Mix some effortless cool with high-quality materials and finish with a sprinkle of entrepreneurial spirit, and you have got yourself a pair of Everyday Hero boots. The motto of this evocative company is: ‘we don’t create a sensation; we bring one back to life’. A very apt slogan indeed.

of the occasion, as suitable for a night out on the town as when you meet your mother-in-law for the first time. An Everyday Hero,” John concludes.

By Pia Petersson | Photos: Jisusisback & Andreas Jacobsson

“There’s no reason to reinvent the wheel, but there’s always room for improvement and refinement and to make a classic design a bit more up-to-date, which will also allow for the next generation to discover it,” begins John B, founder of Everyday Hero. There is no doubt about where the inspiration behind these boots that ooze cool comes from. In the county of Småland, and to the soundtrack of Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan, John grew up in his dad’s atelier, watching him make custom-made leatherwear. “I hardly realised at the time how important this part of my childhood would become,” he says. 20 years later, John was looking for the perfect shoes to wear on tour with his rock band, but the search was in vain. He soon came to the realisation that if he were to ever find the boots, he would 84 | Issue 123 | April 2019

probably have to make them himself. And so Everyday Hero was born. John contacted one of his dad’s old connections, a shoemaker, who was willing to help him create those boots. “Soon, a shoe mould was carved out, and the first pair of Zimmerman Zip Boots were made – a homage to both Bob Dylan and my own background. In a way, it feels like things have come full circle, but this is just the beginning – the look is timeless, and rock ‘n’ roll will never die,” John underlines. And the story behind the name? “In life, we all have our heroes, whether in music or films, or individuals who inspire us. Heroes are also found in items that embellish our everyday lives and transform our existence, such as a perfect pair of boots – boots that fit regardless

Web: www.everydayhero.se Instagram: @everydayheroshoes

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Edgy, elegant and sustainable Known for its simple, enduring aesthetics and alternative use of diamonds, Baumgarten Di Marco makes precious jewellery using leftover pieces from the diamond-cutting process. This way, the duo behind the brand has found a way of utilising the entire stone, breathing new life and value into what would otherwise have been regarded as waste. By Pia Petersson | Photos: Sandra Myrberg Odalisque

“Our philosophy is to conceptualise diamonds in a new way. We offer timeless and sustainable jewellery that celebrates the unique and artisanal traditions. We love the beauty of the raw-cut diamonds in this new composition, design and structure,” begins Lisa von Baumgarten. She is one of the two co-founders of this sustainable jewellery brand, the other being Jenny Kask.

Clearly, for those who like modern yet classic jewellery and are conscious of environmentally friendly materials and production methods, Baumgarten Di Marco provides a very good option. “We want our jewellery to last for many years, and to be part of the sustainable values that we believe in. We aim for the simple beauty of nature – raw, unmodified, and pure – to complement the natural beauty

of our clients. We focus on being longterm, classic and timeless – we don’t do wear and tear,” Lisa von Baumgarten underlines. As regards the jewellery design process, Lisa von Baumgarten describes it as dynamic and constantly on-going. “The creative process is based on insights that emerge from a chaos of different ideas,” she explains. There are many brilliant aspects of jewellery. How about the way in which a bold necklace has the ability to completely transform and lighten up an otherwise dull outfit? Perhaps above all, well-made jewellery can have seriously long-lasting properties. Many of us wear rings, necklaces and earrings that once belonged to our grandmothers and grandfathers. Hence, it is no wonder that a traditional yet adaptable brand like Baumgarten Di Marco has such a wide appeal. “We’re positively surprised to have a broad clientele – anyone from strong and mature women to young, stylish men. Everyone can find their favourite item in our collections,” Lisa von Baumgarten concludes. Web: www.baumgartendimarco.com

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Naim Josefi Gangs collection SS19.

Cutting-edge fashion for the future He has designed 3D-printed shoes for Lady Gaga and created a steel gown for the Oscars: but Swedish designer and technophile Naim Josefi’s driving force comes not from the celebrity limelight but from a desire to help make the fashion industry more sustainable – and he is hoping to show the way with his latest denim collection. By Liz Longden | Photos: Naim Josefi

“I like the future. I want to be a part of its development and to help create a better future, and I think technology can help us do that,” says Naim Josefi. Since the launch of his debut collection in 2010, Josefi has become one of the bestknown names on the Swedish fashion scene, in part for his passion for combining the art of tailoring with cutting-edge technology. Perhaps most famously, in 2011, in collaboration with the industrial designer Souzan Yusouf, he pioneered a 86 | Issue 123 | April 2019

3D-printed couture shoe, based on individual computer scans of the wearer’s foot, which took the term ‘bespoke’ to a whole new level. The shoe received critical plaudits, including a nomination from the British Design Museum for Designer of the Year, and a place in an exhibit at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Josefi’s motivation for designing the shoe was not only to create a striking visual appeal, but also to make a product with

minimal waste and which could be easily recycled, and which was also more comfortable than its traditional counterparts. It was, in other words, a perfect coming

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together of aesthetics, functionality and sustainability. The same philosophy characterises Josefi’s Gangs line, which was awarded the Sustainable Denim Award at the Copenhagen Fashion Summit in 2017, and which he has since continued to develop to further improve its eco credentials. Not only are the garments created with organic cotton, independently certified free of dangerous chemicals, and made in a process that aims to reduce waste by recycling off-cuts, but they are also finished with an innovative laserprinting process that eliminates the need for bleaching. The result is an astonishing reduction in water use of up to 80 litres per pair of jeans. While this in itself would seem reason enough to celebrate, the benefits are not only environmental. “With our laserprocessed jeans, you get this incredible new touch to the design, and we’re able to create different nuances within the denim fabric. So the same technology that can make a process more sustainable can also give a boost to design,” Josefi says. “In everything we do, my team and I want to try to challenge the fashion industry to use new technology to do things better.”

A fusion of craftwork and technology It is this quest for better solutions that is also behind Josefi’s interest in ex-

ploiting new and sometimes unorthodox materials. One area of his work that has received significant media attention is his work with steel, and above all, his steel dresses. Utilising ultra-thin steel sequins, as thin as one sixth of a hair breadth, which are then hand-sewn onto silk, Josefi has crafted striking couture dresses that have seduced celebrities from Clara Henry to Lady Gaga. One even graced the Oscars red carpet when Swedish actress Bahar Pars opted for a Josefi steel creation at the 2017 awards ceremony.

fashion revolution, heralding a new era of more locally-produced clothes, created by independent, innovative designers – and even the rise of 3D-printed home fashion. “I think the infrastructure of the fashion industry is going to change, that it’s going to gradually move away from mass-produced brands and more towards local, independent production,” he says. “And for me, that’s really exciting, in terms of both creativity and sustainability.” Web: www.naimjosefi.com

This philosophy of using new materials, made possible by emerging technology, and combining them with classic tailoring is perhaps the essence of the Naim Josefi brand. And it is a characteristic that will be seen once again in Josefi’s autumn denim collection, which will feature a completely new thread, made from steel, which will be woven in with the cotton. “I’m a tailor, ultimately, so classic tailoring has always been very close to my heart. And the craft of tailoring has developed in an organic way throughout human history,” Josefi explains. “So for me, technology and new materials are a natural part of that organic development, and I want to use them in a good way.” Josefi believes that this development will ultimately lead us to a technology-led Issue 123 | April 2019 | 87

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Countryside couture with personality Swedish design brand Ewa i Walla has something quite special about it. The creative designs have plenty of attitude with innovative details, are made of highquality materials, and can be combined endlessly. By Malin Norman | Photos: Ewa i Walla

Artist and designer Ewa Iwalla created her fashion brand in the village of Walla outside Söderhamn back in 2002. Working with natural materials, she makes clothes that are inspired by how people would dress in the old days in Hälsingland, where Walla is located, but with an updated look and unexpected combinations. It is feminine countryside couture with beautiful details, like works of art.

many generations, at flea markets and in vintage boutiques. “I love exciting, old fabrics and things with a story, and often use them as a foundation for new creations,” ponders the designer. “I’m also greatly inspired by jewellery, accessories and interiors. And it’s fun to watch people on the street, to look at what they are wearing and think about what kind of stories they could tell. It gives me great inspiration!”

Ewa found inspiration in old crafts and fabrics found in the attic of the house in Walla, which has been in the family for

Portraits of women

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Slow fashion is key, and the clothes have to last over time. “Our hallmark is

the quality,” says Ewa. “We use natural materials such as linen, silk, wool and cotton, and strive for a soft flow in the garments. When we have found the right cut, we add small details such as buttons and embroidery. It becomes timeless haute couture with personality.”

Ewa Iwalla.

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Ewa i Walla presents two collections per year. The spring and summer release this year is called Portraits of Women and is described as a celebration of all strong, feminine and creative women who want to express themselves and reflect their personality with their outfits, each in their own unique way. The new collection comes with a variety of stripes and checks, more flowers than ever, and beautiful lace and embroidery. Colours such as ice blue, key lime and rose go in perfect harmony with the variations of patterns and flowers. The combinations are endless and give the opportunity for a unique, individual styling and to create your own portrait.

Building your dream wardrobe In her designs, Ewa works according to a classic design process by sketching all garments on paper, adding details and measurements, and creating prints with colours. Everything is made in the studio, not far from where it all started in Walla. There is a certain sense of authenticity, and the garments feel already lived-in, as they are made with pre-washed, natural materials. Christofer Clasaeus, sales and marketing manager, elaborates further on the timeless collections: “There is an all-year-round feeling to our collections,” he says. “Ewa doesn’t look at what is currently on trend. For instance,

when everyone was doing dark colours for autumn, she infused her designs with colour. Many customers still have clothes from the very first collection. It’s a bit like building your dream wardrobe, where you add new pieces little by little.” The designs are available in Ewa i Walla’s own boutique in Gamla Stan, Stockholm, as well as at retailers in Europe, the US and Russia, and in the online shop.

Web: www.ewaiwalla.se Facebook: ewaiwalla Instagram: @ewaiwallaartdesign

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Autumn/Winter 2018 collection. Photo: Anton Olin and Frans Nilsson.

Spring/Summer 2019 collection. Photo: Frans Nilsson.

A ‘30s to ‘50s-inspired clothing brand for every woman Retro fashion, especially retro clothes you can wear every day, is hard to find. Most vintage boutiques feature fancy and delicate dresses while trousers and warmer clothes are rare. This is what inspired Emmy Nilsson of Emmy Design to start her business: a 1930s to ‘50s-inspired clothing brand for every type of weather, and all body shapes.

are very active on social media, especially Instagram. We reply to our customers and repost their pictures of our clothes,” says Nilsson. “It is very nice to see how they wear them.”

By Hanna Andersson

Emmy Design was established in 2010 after Nilsson graduated from Copenhagen Academy of Fashion Design in 2008. After struggling to find a job and noticing a real lack of businesses offering high-quality retro clothes for all sizes, she decided to take care of it herself. “I realised how limited the selection was. There’s a lot of vintage dresses, but no clothes for colder weather, and if you live in Sweden you cannot wear dresses all year round. I saw a gap in the market and went for it,” says Nilsson, founder and CEO. Emmy Design focuses on the clothes you wear every day, and clothes that fit everyone. “It is hard to make clothes that fit everyone, but we are doing our best. Our trousers leave room for the hips, and our dresses complement all body types. We are also proud to offer a wide size range, from XS to 3XL, which is rare. We have realised that it is the everyday garments, the clothes building a wardrobe, that people want to spend money on. But what essentially inspires me is how the 1930s to the 1950s brought out the female body 90 | Issue 123 | April 2019

in a way today’s fashion doesn’t, and with this brand I want to take a step back from mass production and produce clothes that are timeless and flattering.” Emmy Design’s naming of clothes is one of many things that make the brand special. The bestselling cardigan is called The Ice Skater cardigan, but the brand also features garments like The No Shit Sherlock coat. “We want the names to be memorable. Sometimes, when designing a product, the name feels like a given. But sometimes we sit for hours trying to come up with clever names, which is fun.”

So, what does Emmy Design want for the future, more than to continue producing timeless designs for everyone? “Since we are only two people running this business, it would be nice to add another person or two. It would also be great to have a physical shop to meet our lovely customers. But it is difficult these days, with everyone shopping online; you can’t just open a shop and say, ‘come and buy stuff’. We are grateful that we have such a well-functioning web shop and that we have awesome boutiques, all across Europe, selling our clothes for us,” the founder concludes.

Nilsson started the business by herself but has since then added someone to share the workload with: her sister Lisa. “Together, we form the best team of design skill and business mind and, above all, we love working together!” Customer service is very important for the company, and Nilsson is grateful for the response they are receiving. “We love to stay in touch with our customers and

Web: emmydesign.se Instagram: @emmydesignsweden Facebook: Emmy

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Look good, feel good, do good When Linn Frisinger and Nadja Forsberg watched a documentary outlining how products are made to break in order to stimulate consumption, they dropped everything. “It was an epiphany for us, and it tends to be an epiphany for our customers now,” says Frisinger, founder and CEO of Swedish Stockings, the brand that designs and manufactures stylish, comfortable pantyhose that last. By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Swedish Stockings

Back in the 1950s, pantyhose were a luxury garment you would bring in for repair in order to make them last. Fast-forward to today, and they are up there among the most disposable throw-away garments around. “Most people don’t think about it, but they’re a petroleum product – it’s just as bad as throwing away a plastic bottle,” explains Frisinger. “We felt that there was a lot that we could do – from an environmental point of view, certainly, but also in terms of design and packaging. It felt like a part of fashion where not much had happened; it was quite stale and sexist.” Today, Swedish Stockings is the only brand in the world to produce pantyhose from recycled materials and with sustainability as a central USP. The goal was ambitious from the start – to change the entire industry for the better, using transparency and innovation – but they just keep raising the bar. “The goal now is to create a product that is completely

biodegradable – a product that actually disappears,” says Frisinger.

Innovation by Swedish Stockings Recently, the brand launched the new Innovation by Swedish Stockings. Under this banner, they will launch new innovations with the aim of driving research forward, including the recent pantyhose with recycled elastane – an achievement deemed impossible until Swedish Stockings found a solution. Produced in Italy by the world’s best pantyhose manufacturers, the garments are of the very best quality, fit and comfort because, as Frisinger puts it, “you can’t sell something that isn’t comfortable – and quality is a crucial aspect of sustainability”. At a time when almost everything we own is in our phones, she ponders, fashion has become the last expression of who we are. “We don’t buy products – we buy stories. Our customers want to display social in-

telligence. They want to look good, feel good, do good. For us, that means a combination of intellectual innovation and flair for design – it can’t be one or the other.” This shows – not least in awards as well as high-profile collaborations including one with Filippa K in 2016, with SAS as their in-flight business-class stockings, and soon with the renowned Ganni. “We’re working hard to further establish Swedish Stockings as a trusted brand globally, especially online,” says Frisinger. “It’s no secret what we’re doing – we want other brands to produce the way we do.”

Web: swedishstockings.com Facebook: swedishstockings Instagram: @swedishstockings

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High-end fashion with a DIY touch An artist by nature, told by a fashion tutor to leave the classroom and stroll the streets with a scrap book, Emeli Mårtensson founded 5PREVIEW almost by accident in a move to reject Italian bling. Today, her fashion brand is available in 500 shops globally – but her passion for DIY remains intact.

the unwritten rules for how to work with sales periods and agents. Tired of Italy, she headed for New York, and eventually she landed back in her native Sweden.

By Linnea Dunne | Photos: 5PREVIEW, Styling: Francesca Cefis

Transparency and sustainability

“It was all very punk – lying on the floor printing T-shirts with loud music on in the background,” says Emeli Mårtensson, founder and creative director of 5PREVIEW. She is reminiscing about the start of her fashion brand, just over ten years ago now, which has since grown into a very healthy, respected business on the Swedish fashion scene. “But that hands-on, DIY vibe is still very much a part of the brand DNA,” she adds.

she says. At the same time, she had a monthly trend column in an Italian teenage magazine, and, one day, she decided to produce a DIY guide on how to print your own T-shirt. “This was at the very early days of social media, so in a way, advertising was being democratised, if temporarily. I made a T-shirt inspired by Chanel’s logotype, wore it on MySpace, and people started asking where you could buy it.”

Back then, in 2008, she was living in Italy and working as a print designer and illustrator for one of the big fashion brands – but she was getting tired of being told what to do. “It was all bling-bling and rhinestone embellishments. I wanted to make minimalist Scandinavian designs,”

Things happened quickly. With five simple, black-and-white T-shirt designs, her new brand, 5PREVIEW, was suddenly in great demand, selling at quality fashion boutiques at premium prices. And she may not have had a plan – but after five years in the industry, she had picked up

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“A lot happens in ten years,” she smiles. She has just been on the phone to Hong Kong, where a potential partner is keen to open up a 5PREVIEW branded boutique. “When I returned to Sweden, things were getting very real: we had to find a studio, set up a business, get an accountant. The challenges are very different today, with things like sustainability on the agenda.” The latter is a challenge 5PREVIEW has embraced with gusto, and many of the designs are made of LYOCELL and TENCEL®, materials made from cellulose fibre from the pulp of fast-growing trees. But 5PREVIEW’s sustainability policy goes further: sustainability is integral to the entire culture at the studio headquarters. “Do we really have to go to Japan, or could we just as well have a Skype

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meeting? Perhaps we can get the train to that trade fair in Copenhagen? These are questions we ask ourselves on a daily basis,” says Mårtensson. “But equally, we’re a small business with short decision paths, complete transparency and smallscale production. We work with small factories whom we’re in constant dialogue with, and we produce nothing but what’s already been bought by our wholesale customers. We don’t keep stock; we have an empty warehouse. To be clear, that’s us producing about 80,000 garments a year, compared to about 500 million for a big high-street chain. There is no waste – leftover garments go to sample sales and charity projects for women in need.”

Playful high-end fashion with a street feel But despite the up-scaling and international success, Mårtensson’s punk atti-

tude has remained intact. “Whenever I feel bored, I go back to that core – I get the fabrics and work with my hands,” she says. And that is exactly what she did when the SS20 collection was born, subsequently named Just-Do-ItYourself, complete with instructions for how to create your own garments. This summer’s collection, meanwhile – the first developed alongside designer Josephine Norris – uses that same playfulness to respond to what Mårtensson describes as a move away from black simplicity. “It got so warm last summer, and that impacts on material choices. We’re using a lot of natural materials and bigger, more interesting volumes,” she explains. “When Josephine joined us as head designer, our collections became more feminine – like two women designing clothes for other women.”

She describes the 5PREVIEW style as “high-end fashion with a street feel”, and the typical customer as “a conscious person who walks her own way”. A bit like the designer herself, perhaps – an artist who refuses to get caught up in commercial strategising. Her motivation for wanting to open up branded 5PREVIEW boutiques makes sense, thus: “It’s taken a while to build up a strong team and distribution network, but we’re ready to grow. Our own shops would allow us to display the collections together, in full.” Like a body of work, you can almost hear her say.

Web: www.5preview.com Facebook: 5preview.collection Instagram: @5preview_official

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Dazzle with diamonds Stockholm-based A.P. Shaps is a family-owned business with a sparkle. Exquisite diamonds, beautiful bespoke jewellery and a personal service – you are in good hands when making any big decision. By Malin Norman | Photos: A.P. Shaps

When Alexander Shaps travelled in Botswana a few years ago, he learnt about the art of diamonds and instantly fell in love with it. On his return to Sweden, Shaps set up his own company with a goal of sellwing diamonds to consumers and retailers. In just two years, he has built his successful diamond business. Today, A.P. Shaps has a modern diamond laboratory and the largest diamond warehouse in the Nordic countries, which means that the shop can offer the same quality as the large diamond houses, but for a more humane price. Instead of buying in diamonds on demand, there 94 | Issue 123 | April 2019

is always a varied supply available. “But what sets us apart more than anything, is the personal service,” says the company’s CEO, Nathalie Haugeberg. “Our core values are trust, respect and honesty. And we really care about our customers, something that might be forgotten about in these times of e-commerce. When making an important decision, such as proposing marriage, many people appreciate genuine information and a personal touch.”

necklaces. The jewellery is designed in Stockholm and later manufactured by a skilled goldsmith in Antwerp in close collaboration with Haugeberg, who is head designer. “We make jewellery that you can wear for a long time. The style is feminine and classic but with a modern touch,” says Haugeberg. She also explains that there are indeed trends in diamonds. “The round diamond is still the most popu-

Classic jewellery with a modern edge The company sells loose diamonds and also makes bespoke jewellery with the gems, such as rings, earrings and

Madeleine Shaps, Nathalie Haugeberg, Alexander Shaps.

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lar shape, and has been for decades, but there is also high demand for socalled fancy shapes, such as square and emerald cut. And we also feel that the heart-shaped and oval-shaped diamonds are up and coming.” There are four permanent collections, but with variations on diamonds and types of gold. "Some customers also want to design their own models, in which case we're more than happy to support and advise them. People are wearing more diamonds now and in different shapes and colours. Women especially tend to treat themselves with beautiful pieces of jewellery with diamonds.”

A quick guide to diamonds: Shape: Diamonds come in many different shapes, usually defined as round brilliant cut and fancy shapes, which includes everything apart from the classic round shape.

Cut: Important as it decides how much light the diamond will reflect. A well-cut diamond will return light beautifully, while a poorer cut makes it seem dark and lifeless.

Carat: Describes the diamond’s weight. One carat is equivalent to 0.2 grammes. Depending on the cut and shape, different diamonds of the same weight may seem of different size.

Polish: How well the facets are polished, which affects the brilliance. The polish is reflected in the cut grade and goes from excellent to poor.

Colour: A colourless diamond has higher grading than one with hues of colour. The standard colour scale goes from D to Z, where D represents the most rare colourless diamonds. Clarity: To what degree the diamond is free from inclusions and blemishes.

Symmetry: Grades the diamond’s symmetry, for instance if the table and culet are centred. Fluorescence: When diamonds are exposed to ultraviolet light, they transmit fluorescence, sometimes in different colours.

Diamond laboratory and quality control Buying diamonds and jewellery is an investment, and high quality is crucial. A.P. Shaps takes great care in guaranteeing that the diamonds are genuine. For instance, founder Alexander and his sister Madeleine Shaps are both GIA Diamond Graduates, and the company’s modern diamond laboratory with equipment from DeBeers and GIA can screen diamonds to see if they are real or synthetic. “Our customers take a great interest in learning more about diamonds. Some already know a lot, and with others, we start from the beginning,” Haugeberg explains. “Regardless, it’s important that everyone who buys jewellery and diamonds knows what they buy, and that they are happy with their purchase.” For more information about diamonds and bespoke jewellery, get in touch with A.P. Shaps. Web: www.apshaps.se Facebook: apshapssverige Instagram: @a.p.shaps

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The art of looking cool Three years ago, childhood friends Gustav Peterson and Emrik Olausson were driving around from shop to shop with their collection of T-shirts in the boot of their car. Today, their label Limitato, which fuses contemporary art with clothing, is a rising star of the fashion industry.

that there has to be something unique about an artist’s work, which makes them stand out from the crowd. With a big sprinkle of rock ‘n’ roll.”

By Liz Longden | Photos: Elisabeth Ågren

Peterson and Olausson are currently working on an accessories range and on further developing the brand, which is now sold in 250 shops across 25 different countries, including in luxury department stores such as Harrods and Luisa Via Roma. “A lot of the other brands that we’re competing with depend on hype from celebrity endorsements,” Olausson says. “That’s not the case with us. We just have a genuine product that people really like. And that’s pretty cool.”

The name is inspired by the concept of ‘limited edition’ and aptly sums up the brand’s unique concept – that an item of clothing can become a piece of wearable art. By creating garments with high-quality prints of graphic and photographic art, Peterson and Olausson aim to make art more accessible, while also creating some seriously cool clothes, with a unique aesthetic. The idea was conceived by Peterson and Olausson when they were still students. When their early work caught the eye of photographer Terry O’Neill, who was keen to collaborate, they had an inkling they were on to something. However, it was not until the pair made their first appearance at the fashion event Pitti Uomo in June 2017 that they realised just how much they had hit the zeitgeist. “It was 96 | Issue 123 | April 2019

completely crazy,” Olausson recalls. “There were so many people. We’d had no idea. We were just in shock.” Their success at Pitti Uomo helped to launch the brand onto the international fashion scene. Over one season, the label went from being stocked in five shops to 150, and by the time its 2018 spring/ summer collection had been released, Limitato had become a bona fide fashion icon. The label works exclusively with a range of artists and photographers – around 15 for the forthcoming collection – whose work ranges from iconic portraits to abstract graphic art. “They don’t have to be really well known. The most important thing we look for is authenticity,” Peterson explains. “By that, we mean

Gustav Peterson and Emrik Olausson.

Web: limitato.shop

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | The Best Swedish Fashion Brands – Our Picks

Impeccable detailing makes the garments stand out.

Philip Lundqvist, CEO of NEUW Europe.

Bringing high-quality jeans to 21st-century creatives Founded as a Swedish-Australian jeans brand with roots in Belgium, NEUW challenges the binary norms of global denim design and production. Scan Magazine spoke to Filip Lundqvist, CEO of NEUW Europe, to explore the brand’s fresh, new, sustainable take on your favourite wardrobe staple. By Julie Linden | Photos: NEUW

Inspired by Neuwlandstraat, the Belgian location where the brand was founded, NEUW was started by friends Par Lundqvist, Stephen Little and Rich Bell, who all had a background in denim design, production and marketing. “We wanted to do something different, and break ground in a new area of denim design,” Lundqvist explains. “We figured that there are two general strands of denim design on the global market today: heritage brands that originated among workers, and fashion jeans that incorporate trends that swiftly change, thereby advocating over-consumption. We placed ourselves outside both strands.” NEUW represents the design philosophy Vintage Revision, which is inspired by the past, while embracing the future. “We bring high-quality jeans from the history books to the modern and aware 21st-century creatives. Our FORM products, available in store today, interpret

these values into tangible items. They are inspired by the craftsmanship, detailing and gorgeous fabrics from the heydays of durable denim work wear, transformed into modern and highly comfortable jeans for our 21st-century creatives,” comments Lundqvist. With democratic price points and wearable, durable and comfortable designs, NEUW challenges modern denim culture with new interpretations. Behind the core philosophy is an immense dedication to quality and craftsmanship, creating items that are proven to stand the test of time. The brand mainly designs for artists and creatives, centring on the modern client – regardless of gender and age. “We wanted to steer away from traditional binaries and focus on interests. I guess this philosophy is one of the main reasons why we were crowned the best denim brand in Scandinavia by the well-reputed fashion trade magazine HABIT,” says Lundqvist.

He is enthusiastic about environmental consciousness and challenging the socalled ‘green washing’ culture. “It’s not about creating green company policies just for the sake of it, but looking at steps of improvement. Our motto, ‘Progress Everyday’, leads the way in everything we do – from innovating production processes and improving waste management to minimising carbon footprint. We thus maintain and develop the modern brand that is NEUW. A good example of this is the ZERO waste products that are now delivered to shops and neuwdenim.eu under the capsule name ZERO.”

NEUW designs are inspired by the past, with a look to the future.

Web: neuwdenim.eu Facebook: neuwdenimeu Instagram: @neuwdenim

Issue 123 | April 2019 | 97

Scan : Magazine | Mini Theme | Visit Norway – Arendal

AY W i OR M N T SI I V m he

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Heimdal Chokolade — when the quality is genuine If you are after tasty, traditional, quality chocolate, you should pay a visit to Heimdal Chokolade on Torvgaten in Arendal, Norway. Here, in this charming sweet shop, visitors can purchase delicious, homemade treats while also experiencing a real chocolate factory from the inside to see how it is all done – a true paradise for all chocoholics. By Ingrid Opstad | Photos: Hugo Lande

Heimdal Chokolade retail shop and factory is run by Morten Arnesen, an experienced chocolate maker and artist with a big love and passion for the sweet life. “I grew up working alongside my dad in his little sweet shop, Tommeliten Kakepynt in Oslo, so you can say that it was in my blood to go down this path,” says Arnesen. He later graduated from the famous chocolate school Callebaut College in Belgium and is always on the hunt for inspiration travelling around different countries to research new flavours, ingredients and products. 98 | Issue 123 | April 2019

Norwegian chocolate with Danish heritage Although Heimdal Chokolade is now a business located in Norway, the story actually began in Denmark, where the former owner searched for someone to take over his chocolate factory after his retirement. It was the adventurous Arnesen from Oslo who replied to the advert, and after going to Denmark with his family to work and learn in the factory for four years, he ended up bringing the knowledge and name back with him to Norway.

Heimdal Chokolade started in Tromøy on the ground floor of Arnesen’s own house in 1990 and later moved to Arendal centre, to its current premises on Torvgaten

Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Visit Norway – Arendal

in 2000. Known for using the most exclusive ingredients, Arnesen still uses the good, old recipes that were passed down to him during his time in Denmark, but has brought along his own new and modern influences. “We have grown considerably since the start. Our premises are probably double the size they were when we first started almost 20 years ago,” he says. “Every year, we have seen a steady increase when it comes to sales, so it says a lot about people’s love of chocolate.”

Handmade with a focus on quality and knowledge The philosophy is as simple today as it was when the Norwegian chocolate maker took over Heimdal; everything is made by hand, with a focus on quality and knowledge. “The good taste has become a trademark for us. We focus on giving our customers a wide variety of flavours and shapes to enjoy, and our aim from the start was to be an open place where you are welcome to see the chocolate being made, to learn and, of course, to have a taste,” says Arnesen. With the production facilities under the

same roof as the shop, Arnesen and his colleagues create exclusive and homemade confectionery for all occasions. “Easter and Christmas are both busy times for us. We create a lot of custom designs each season, so you will always find something new alongside our trusted classics,” he says. Irresistible, rich and tasty, dark and mysterious, soft and magical, light and airy – Arnesen has something for everyone’s taste in his chocolate shop. You can find chilli, mild strawberry cream and real cognac; flavours of cranberries, lime, raspberries and nuts. Or what about soft nougat, truffles, marzipan, mint spots and pastel plates? “Our delicious and sweet Norwegian strawberries dipped in white chocolate are a popular choice, especially in the summer months. They are big with the tourists,” says Arnesen.

One of the first in Norway to sell red Ruby chocolate The light-red-coloured Ruby chocolate is a fourth type of chocolate, which is based on a different cocoa bean than the three most popular and well-known types:

dark, white and milk. Introduced in 2017 by Barry Callebaut, a Belgian-Swiss cocoa company, this new chocolate has an intense fruitiness with fresh, sour notes. “It offers a completely unique and new taste that is neither too sweet nor too bitter. It is quite different from normal chocolate, and still unknown to most people. I recommend coming by to taste it for yourself, as we are one of the first in Norway to sell it,” says Arnesen. “We pride ourselves on providing chocolate only of the highest quality, and on always being at the forefront when it comes to new trends in the world of chocolate.” He concludes: “Chocolate has many qualities and is available in many forms, but it is always best when it is homemade using the finest ingredients. And that is how we make all our chocolates. We don’t use almond or cognac essence, for instance, but real almonds and real brandy. The quality is genuine.” Web: www.heimdalchokolade.no Facebook: heimdalchokolade Contact: morten@heimdalchokolade.no

Photo: Heimdal Chokolade

Issue 123 | April 2019 | 99

Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Visit Norway – Arendal

Photo: Golfklubben

Photo: Styrkar Braathen

Photo: Knut Aall

Experience industrial history Located in the lush green surroundings of Tvedestrand on the southern coast of Norway, Næs Ironworks Museum gives visitors a unique glimpse into the country’s technical industrial history. By Alyssa Nilsen | Photos: Næs Jernverksmuseum

Established in 1665, Nes Verk was the second largest, and among the longest running, ironworks in Norway. Using ore from nearby mines, the employees would produce iron that was used for beautiful cast-iron furnaces, forged steel cannons and high-quality steel, and on site, there were foundries, steel mills, rolling mills, a forge, a mechanical workshop and factories. In addition, the works engaged in farming and forestry, mills, wood processing, shipping and trade.

The works were preserved as a technical cultural heritage site in 1967 and converted into a museum in 1992. These days, it is a popular destination for tourists, cruise guests, schools, companies and pensioners alike, and offers the opportunity to see the old water wheels and bellows in action. In addition, there is the chance to visit the old mines, go on guided tours, and watch old authentic film recordings showing the production of iron and steel way back when.

“Even though the works closed down for good in 1959, very little has changed over the last 170 years,” Director Knut Aall explains. “The buildings still stand, the farming area has been converted into a golf course, and the river, which previously powered the mill, provides fishing opportunities.”

Knowledge and leisure side by side

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And while in the area, why not visit one of Norway’s most frequented golf courses? The course caters to all levels and has an 18-hole course and a 9-hole pay&play. The golf club arranges annual regional and national championships and is immensely popular.

The nearby river is organised and facilitated for the public to be able to fish for salmon and sea trout. Fishing licences can be bought online, and August and September are the recommended months to do it in. Næs Ironworks Museum is open daily from mid-May through to September, but groups can book guided tours independent of season and opening times.

Several events take place throughout the year, among them: Viking market in the park: 8-9 June Smith fair by the museum: 29-30 June Children’s ironworks day: 7 July Track 1 fair (model railway): 24-25 August Autumn market: 22 September

Web: www.jernverksmuseet.no and www.arendalgk.no Facebook: jernverksmuseet Instagram: @jernverksmuseet

Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Visit Norway – Arendal

Decorative fish on the wall.

Art exhibition.

A historic and cultural gem Staubø Kultursenter seamlessly combines old with new, displaying historic maritime artefacts belonging to the local area, while also supporting the very best of southern Norwegian contemporary art and music. By Sunniva Davies-Rommetveit | Photos: Staubø Kultursenter

The historic building on the seafront of the Staubø fjord, taken over by Eldrup Hansen in 1985, is nestled in a fjord in Norway’s southernmost region of Sørlandet. In taking it over, Hansen wanted to transform its 100-year history into a place where visitors could not only learn about its nautical past, but also experience contemporary concerts and art exhibitions – making a ‘living cultural centre’. “The Staubø Kultursenter building was constructed in 1880 as shipping offices. It has been a bakery, pastry shop, and much more over the years,” explains Hansen. “For us, it’s important to showcase the centre’s rich history to locals and summer guests alike. We also have art exhibitions all summer at our gallery, and concerts throughout July – so there really is something for everyone.” With Staubø easily accessible by boat and road, visitors can immerse themselves in

the beautiful art on display, or get transported back in time by the many interesting artefacts from sailors in the area. “We are aiming to work with the Maritime Association in Staubø to bring the history of the area to life even more,” Hansen adds. After experiencing both the history of the area and contemporary art and music, visitors to the centre can make the most of the Norwegian summer months by sit-

ting on the centre’s terrace, right by the sea. “We have coffee, tea and beer brewed locally from the Knoppetangen Brewery. We also serve Norwegian classics – like creamy fish soup and waffles fresh from the waffle iron. On a nice day, people buy ice cream and enjoy it with their legs dipping into the sea.” This idyllic setting makes Staubø Kultursenter a must-see for anyone in the area. “We really love sharing this cultural treasure with visitors from near and far,” Hansen says. “Everyone is welcome, and we have lots on offer this year that we’re really looking forward to sharing with our guests.” Staubø Kultursenter is available for company meetings, gatherings and courses upon request. Opening hours: Thursday to Sunday from 21 June, 12-7pm (please see website for specific concert times).

A view towards Staubø Kultursenter.

Contact Eldrup Hansen on: +47 988 23 271 Email: eldrup.hansen@online.no Web: www.staubokultursenter.no Facebook: staubokultursenter.no

Issue 123 | April 2019 | 101

Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Visit Norway – Arendal Bracelet designed by Ditte Alstad.

Earrings designed by Kaja Gjedebo.

The gallery building still has the same wood as when it was built in 1805. Photo: Marit Kvaale

Jewellery from the fairy-tale woods of Norway In 1965, Borghild and Eivind Hillestad started making jewellery at their family farm in Norway. Now, over 50 years later, their children are keeping their legacy alive, selling Norwegian-made jewellery all over the country, and even across the Atlantic Ocean in the United States. By Synne Johnsson | Photos: Anne Lise Norheim

In addition to the jewellery production, Hillestad AS also runs a gallery with up to 13,000 visitors a year, and a holiday resort consisting of six luxury cabins. The company is now run by three of Borghild and Eivind’s children: Gunnar, Barbro and Inga Hillestad. They are the sixth generation on the farm, which is located in the fairytale-like woods in Tovdal, Norway. “Our parents were very young when they took over the farm – they were only 21 and 23 years of age. My father’s parents had passed away, so they had no one above them to limit their dreams and ideas,” Barbro Hillestad says. “They had The luxury cabins all have a swimming pool and are refurbished each year. Photo: Marit Kvaale

the idea to start making jewellery. My father designed it and my mother made it. It created jobs for the women in the village; there were many farms around, and many of the farmers’ wives needed work, which my parents created with their jewellery production.” The jewellery is still produced on the farm and designed in different places in Norway. The newest collection is a modern silver collection based on the idea that jewellery is art and supposed to be personal – something you can wear and love for a long time. They also produce more traditional jewellery, which goes with the traditional clothing in Norway. Inga Hillestad is in charge of the jewellery production.

However, Hillestad is about more than its jewellery production. They also run a holiday resort with six luxury cabins, each with a swimming pool, and with a gallery located in a very special building. “The gallery building actually has the same wood now as when it was built in 1805. Here, visitors can see and buy unique art by Norwegian artists. Since we opened in 1985, we have had work by several famous Norwegian artists displayed here,” says Barbro. “We also sell the best pastry. My mother still makes the best pastries in the world.” Hillestad is surrounded by beautiful, authentic nature, but is not too far from Kristiansand and Arendal. From the cabins, you have a beautiful view over the river, Tovdalselva, and the spectacular mountains. “Tovdal, and by extension, Hillestad, is such an amazing place. I have had a really fun childhood here. Even though this is a tiny village with only 100 citizens, there is a lot going on. I think it is an exceptional experience to come here and see our country in such a genuine way, away from the tourist traps,” Barbro smiles. Web: www.hillestad.no Facebook: hillestadsmykker Instagram: @gallerihillestadsmykker

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Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Visit Norway – Lillehammer

The little mountain lodge with the big heart Breathtaking views, great opportunities for activities all year round, delicious, traditional Norwegian food, comfortable beds and pleasant hosts – the small mountain lodge Strand Fjellstue will charm you and make you want to come back again. By Ingrid Opstad | Photos: Strand Fjellstue

Strand Fjellstue is located in Espedalen in Lillehammer, a peaceful place surrounded by towering mountains, idyllic lakes and captivating Norwegian nature. This small mountain lodge with a big heart is run by Tom and Kari Anne Sukkerstad. With its charm and history dating back to before the war, the couple decided to turn it into a modern lodge in 2017 and has since focused on giving their guests delicious homemade food, great service and wonderful adventures. “We renovated the lodge but wanted to keep its traditional feel and characteristic look. When you step inside, you get to experience a piece of Norwegian history,” says Kari Anne. Today, the lodge has 18 homely rooms, each with their unique interior and antique furniture, a restaurant and large dining room for social gatherings, and an intimate lounge with a fireplace where you can unwind. “Our aim is to provide a 104 | Issue 123 | April 2019

cosy yet sociable place. Somewhere you can feel at home and relax,” she says. On the menu in the restaurant, you will find homemade, traditional Norwegian dishes with a modern twist, based on locally sourced ingredients as often as possible. The meat is provided by a local hunting team and the fish is fresh from the lake nearby. “We use a lot of moose meat in our delicious burgers, but also in other dishes – it’s our signature ingredient,” says Kari Anne. Every Sunday, a large buffet is served with hot and cold dishes as well as dessert. Espedalen is a great place to visit all year round, whether you are after a funpacked, adventurous time or more of a quiet, relaxing break. Not only is Strand Fjellstue a fantastic starting point for spectacular mountain hikes, bike rides, kayaking and other summer activities outdoors; the area is also known for its

ski trails and great opportunities during the winter months. Offering everything from historic sights to wildlife, there is something for everyone of all ages to enjoy. “I recommend a visit to northern Europe’s largest potholes in Helvete Nature Park, which is close by,” Kari Anne suggests. “We also have moose walking around quite regularly, so you might see a few while you are here, which is truly a unique and typically Norwegian experience, if you ask me.”

Facebook: StrandFjellstueiEspedalen

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Scan Business Keynote 105 | Business Column 108 | Business Calendar 108

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How many contacts can we handle? By Simone Andersen

Research into relationships shows that, on average, we can handle about 150 to 230 contacts*. On average, according to the same piece of research, we meet between 200 and 1,000 new people a year. So, our total number of contacts is not limited by our failure to meet new people, but by our brains, which cannot cope with so many relationships. It is inherently logical that people with enormous networks have fewer close relationships, while people with limited networks have fewer, but deeper, relationships.

That is why you should choose your relationships with care. You should be able to handle and maintain your contacts – otherwise they will fade away. Do not hesitate to replace contacts in your network. It is natural to set new targets and change approaches to one’s challenges – other people do the same. However, remember that contacts who do not bring benefits at any given time might still be useful in your network. Anyone can be affected temporarily by unemployment, illness or stress that means they are unable to give anything back. Periods like that are times you find that maybe a contact needs your help the most. Exercise: 1. If you have more than 150 to 230 close relationships, it is time to decide whether you can handle so many contacts. Do you spend a fair proportion of your time on each of them?

*Dunbar, University of Cambridge. Social cognition on the Internet: Testing constraints on social network size, The Royal Society, 25 June 2012. http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/367/1599/2192

2. We often stick with our contacts because we do not have the heart to replace them. However, there should be a fair balance between their relevance to your network, the effort you put into retaining the relationship and the benefits they bring.

Simone Andersen is a journalist with a master’s degree in media science. She worked for many years at the Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR) as an editor and talk show host and is an expert in business networking and building relationships. She is also a speaker and author of the bestseller The Networking Book, 50 ways to develop strategic relationships. This column is from her book, which is now published in English as well as Danish and available to buy in online shops.

sla@strategisk.dk www.thenetworkercompany.com

Issue 123 | April 2019 | 105

Scan Magazine | Åland Special | Visit Åland

Seek out the cosy island pace Are you dreaming of a relaxing and stress-free weekend getaway? Åland Islands is the perfect place to go on your own, with a friend, with your partner or the whole family. Breathe in the fresh air, unwind, go hiking in the surrounding archipelago nature, and stroll around the many islands in this hidden gem. By Ingrid Opstad | Photos: Visit Åland

“Åland is like a miniature Scandinavia all in one place. It is harmonious, cosy and very relaxing, with beautiful nature with an interesting history and culture – one of those places not so many people have heard about before and they get surprised by,” says Riitta-Lea Värelä from Visit Åland. Situated in the heart of Scandinavia, midway between Stockholm and Helsinki, this idyllic place consists of 6,700 named islands and a total of 20,000 islands and islets waiting to be discovered. “We have many activities on the islands, so you can have an action-packed holiday while discovering the genuine islander lifestyle, strong maritime culture and the many great culinary experiences,” Värelä explains. “Here, it is so easy to just dive into the Scandinavian way of life.” The unique archipelago offers spectacular 106 | Issue 123 | April 2019

ways to experience the pristine nature, through everything from cycling, fishing, golf, hiking or kayaking. Värelä suggests going island hopping, a great way to see as much as possible at once and visit the small, charming communities around the different areas.

island pace many of us dream about,” says Värelä. Even though Åland is an archipelago, it is easily accessible by air and is well connected from Sweden, Finland and Estonia by boat. “We are the best hidden secret that we hope you come to visit and see for yourself,” Värelä smiles.

Rent your own private island When visiting the charming Åland Islands, you have a variety of accommodation options available in Mariehamn, in the countryside and on the different islands: everything from a luxury hotel to a simple overnight cabin, from a homely B&B to a campsite close to nature or a well-equipped cottage. Or why not come and find your own oasis by the sea on your own private island? “We highly recommend visitors to experience renting their own island. It is a unique, authentic and tranquil way to find that cosy

Description: Autonomous, demilitarised, Swedish-speaking province of Finland. Population: 30,000 Currency: Euro

Web: www.visitaland.com Contact: info@visitaland.com Facebook: VisitAland Instagram: @visit_aland

Scan Magazine | Åland Special | Åland Grönskar and Sjökvarteret

A festival for spring The first blooms of spring are around the corner, and for the third year in a row, Åland Spring Fair celebrates the season of brighter and warmer days with local festivities in the island’s countryside. By Hanna Stjernström | Photos: Skördefestens Vänner

The last weekend in May is the first weekend for the seasonal asparagus and the peak of apple blossom. On 25 to 26 May, Åland invites visitors to experience activities where locally produced food and crafts are in focus. With 34 participating restaurants and cafés, farms and producers, the island welcomes visitors to enjoy the spring’s primeurs. Having started in 2017, the spring fair continues to flourish. “A new addition this year is the asparagus tour, where seven restaurants each serve a sample of an asparagus-based dish,” says Anita Lundin, project manager at Åland Grönskar. Despite the fair being relatively young, the concept is not new. The Harvest Festival takes place during the autumn, celebrat-

ing the season’s harvest. Hence, the idea of a spring fair grew and became like a little sister. Today, all seeds planted in the spring are harvested during the Harvest Festival. Returning from last year is the Ålandic championships, where locals compete in

Åland Spring Fair: 25-26 May Åland Harvest Festival: 20-22 Sep

Web: www.alandgronskar.ax

A tribute to tradition Even after 25 years, Sjökvarteret in Mariehamn still continues to flourish today. With summer approaching, the area invites visitors to events that celebrate the Ålandic marine history and the craftsmanship that built its traditions. In 1988, the ship Albanus was launched into the bay of Slemmern during the Tall Ships Race, after being constructed in Mariehamn’s eastern port. The ship was built with Ålandic wood and used local knowledge to replicate a ship from 1904 by the same name. Six years later, Sjökvarteret was created in the same port, with the purpose of honouring the local heritage. “We want to recognise the culture of boat building in a prosperous area built upon the marine traditions on Åland,” says Janna Johansson, CEO of Sjökvarteret. Sjökvarteret has come a long way since its founding in 1994. In addition to guided tours and a museum dedicated to the history of boat building, the area has seen the opening of two shops and a restaurant that focus on local ingredients. The latest initiative is the EU project SEASTOP, which

creating the best burger from local raw ingredients. Filled with local activities and experiences, the two-day event offers something for visitors of all ages. “We want to capture the feeling of Åland during the spring and invite people to celebrate with us,” concludes Lundin.

will work on expanding the port’s berths and surroundings to increase availability to visitors. The marine tradition stands in the centre as one of Åland’s biggest events, Åland Sea Days, takes place at Sjökvarteret on 17 to 21 July, turning the area into a meeting point for over 20,000 visitors. The five-day event celebrates the marine culture of traditional ships, craftsmen and musicians, and is now an annual festival. “Our

The area has a small marina for wooden boats. Photo: Visit Åland

By Hanna Stjernström

vision is to preserve Ålandic culture, while at the same time continuously developing Sjökvarteret towards a sustainable future,” Johansson concludes. Sjökvarteret offers berths for visiting guests. Photo: Sjökvarteret

Web: www.sjokvarteret.ax

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Scan Magazine | Business | Column/Calendar

Make soft power work for you Joseph S. Nye Junior is an expert on power. In his book, The Future of Power, he demonstrates how governments can no longer simply exercise hard power to achieve their aims, but need to combine this with soft power – the ability to “control the narrative that influences people” – to maintain and enhance their position in the world. It is not just politicians who need to understand the nature of power. Managers too must understand how a changing business environment requires them to adapt the way they wield power and exert influence. One training activity to teach this is to get groups of five or six people to choose a candidate for a job, while observers note and then give feedback on which group members were more or less successful in influencing the final decision and why. The next stage is where one representative from each group makes a pitch to all the participants as to which is the best candidate. Everyone then votes on who made the best pitch, followed by a debrief. I did this once with an assortment of 40

factory managers from across the globe: there were six presentations, all by nonnative speakers of English. I was really impressed by one of them in particular – a self-confident, high-octane sell from a Brazilian who had done an MBA in the States. And yet he did not get the most votes. The winner was a low-key, distinctly unflamboyant German who gave a structured and detailed set of reasons for his recommendation. Initially I was amazed, until I realised that this was the style embraced by the majority of the group, the one they trusted more. Consciously or unconsciously, the German had succeeded in influencing the outcome by having the right style of communication for that audience.

By Steve Flinders

Knowing about your style and its impact and understanding audience expectations are important aspects of how managers exercise power and influence effectively.

Steve Flinders is a freelance trainer, writer and coach, based in Malta, who helps people develop their communication and leadership skills for working internationally: steveflind@aol.com.

Business Calendar

By Sanne Wass

Scandinavian business events you do not want to miss this month Business Breakfast: Facebook in the Nordics Facebook’s expansion in the Nordic region is picking up pace. Leading the project is Martin Ingemansson, managing director for the Nordics at Facebook, who will speak at this breakfast briefing organised by the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK and hosted by DNB Bank. Ingemansson is Facebook’s first employee in the Nordics and has been the driving force behind the mounting use of the platform among the region’s biggest brands. Date: 25 April 2019, 8-10am Venue: DNB Bank, The Walbrook Building, 25 Walbrook, London EC4N 8AF, UK www.scc.org.uk

Investing and Fintech Financial technology – or simply ‘fintech’ – is changing the way financial services are offered today, and the disruption only looks set to continue over the coming years. Organised by the Finnish-British Chamber of Commerce and Danske Bank, this event will give 108 | Issue 123 | April 2019

you all the latest concerning fintech and investing. A panel, which will include investors as well as fintech entrepreneurs, will discuss everything from raising capital to investor expectations and networking opportunities. Date: 2 May 2019, 6.30-9pm Venue: Womble Bond Dickinson, 4 More London Riverside, London SE1 2A, UK www.fbcc.co.uk

Discussion with Johan Lundgren, CEO of easyJet This evening event will give you a unique chance to meet Johan Lundgren, the CEO of easyJet. With more than 30 years of experience in the travel industry, Lundgren joined easyJet in December 2017, and has since implemented a series of initiatives to grow the airline’s customer base and revenue, including the investment in new technology such as AI. The discussion will be chaired by Nik Gowing, director of Think Unthink and former news anchor for BBC World News. Date: 7 May, 6.30-9pm

Venue: Aquavit, 1 Carlton St, St. James’s, London SW1Y 4QQ, UK www.scc.org.uk

DKUK Charity Golf Day The Danish-UK Association is hosting its first ever Charity Golf Day, taking place at the Burhill Golf Club in Surrey. Whether you are a seasoned or wannabe golfer, the event will offer a high-level networking opportunity for UK, Danish and Nordic business professionals. The programme includes golf followed by a dinner and charity auction supporting cancer research. Date: 9 May 2019, 11.30am-9.30pm Venue: Burhill Golf Club Burwood Road, Walton on Thames, Surrey, KT12 4BX, UK www.dkuk.org

Scan Magazine | Venue of the Month | Denmark

Thomas Munk.

Venue of the Month, Denmark

A gastronomical getaway Aulbjerghus offers an extraordinary gourmet experience in a cosy ambiance suited for private dinners, parties and conferences.

because the individually designed experience means that the client can have all of Aulbjerghus for themselves,” says Munk.

By Nicolai Lisberg | Photos: Aulbjerghus

There are idyllic surroundings and there is Aulbjerghus: a thatched-roof house serving as a restaurant located in the most picturesque scenery imaginable. Inside, you will find romantic rooms and halls with visible wood beams and an open fireplace. From here, there is direct access to the flower-rich garden and terrace, where the guests can enjoy the peaceful surroundings. Since 2016, Thomas Munk has been the one in charge of Aulbjerghus, and he has given the restaurant an elegant luxury touch with his ideas. “Originally, I’m educated in French cuisine, but in the last couple of years I’ve become fond of Nordic cuisine after working in Greenland and at various restaurants in Denmark. At Aulbjerghus, we use local raw materials from Funen to make the experience as authentic as possible. Everything here 110 | Issue 123 | April 2019

is homemade, from the remoulade to the pickles, and we only use well-known suppliers who truly care about taste and quality,” says Munk.

More than a restaurant The scenic landscape and the gourmet experience make Aulbjerghus ideal for larger parties, such as birthdays and weddings, as it can host up to 64 guests. It is located close to the highway from both Zealand and Jutland, just 15 minutes from Assens by car, which, in combination with the tranquilising scenery, makes Aulbjerghus a great spot for hosting courses and conferences for small and medium-sized companies. “We have everything needed when it comes to audiovisual-equipment, and we can host about 30 people at once. However, we only host one company at a time,

Aulbjerghus has different package solutions that allow you to tailor-make your own company away day.

Thomas Munk is the head chef and runs Aulbjerghus. He has previously been at the helm at Restaurant Marie Louise and Resturant Klitgaard in Odense, the latter of which was awarded Best Restaurant on Funen in 2007. Munk took over at Aulbjerghus in 2016. In 2006, the magazine Smag & Behag chose Thomas Munk as Talent of the Year. Aulbjerghus can host courses and conferences for companies with up to 30 employees, or 64 guests if it is for a party.

Web: www.aulbjerghus.dk Facebook: aulbjerghus

Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Sweden

Restaurant of the Month, Sweden

Brace yourselves — spring is coming Is there a better way to welcome the first rays of sun than on a well-placed terrace in the middle of Stockholm, sipping on a pisco sour and enjoying the sweet tunes of live jazz? According to Carina Degen Örn, one of the founders of restaurant Artilleriet, there simply is not. By Nina Bressler | Photos: Artilleriet

Even the most long-time residents of Östermalm can agree to just how difficult it is to find your way to restaurant Artilleriet, nestled behind the grand courtyard of Armémuseum. However, once there, most visitors agree they have found their spot.

for all – even dogs are allowed in, with their own menu on offer – offering a daily lunch menu as well as à la carte dining during the evening. No matter the hour of the day, their focus is on quality food and fresh produce with influences from southern Europe and the Swedish kitchen.

Artilleriet opened its doors in May 2018, founded by three experienced restaurateurs: Carina Degen Örn, Mattias Örn and Andreas Tillborg. Having met while working together at Nationalmuseum in Stockholm, they have since managed to create a unique space in the heart of Stockholm, a venue that aims to welcome every guest with a relaxed ambiance, open

“We want people to come inside and feel like they can chill out with us,” Degen Örn says, and laughs. With space for 100 guests inside and an additional 80 on the terrace, they take every step to implement this: the interior is made up of a mix of high and low marble tables, brass details and retro-style fabrics, and with a DJ playing every Friday evening alongside Cava

priced at 60 SEK, this makes for the ideal after-work hangout as well as a perfect spot for evening dining. Every Tuesday, they host a jazz evening where they, on initiative of Degen Örn herself, together with Gustav Lundberg, arrange sessions with local musicians as well as those from Brazil, France, the US and beyond – an event that Degen Örn has been longing to run for a long time, and which has turned out to be a hugely appreciated weekly happening. So take a venture next time you find yourself in Östermalm, follow the sweet melodies of jazz, and you will be rewarded with one of Stockholm’s most sun-secure terraces, a warm welcome, quality dining and – if you are lucky – the company of some really cute dogs. Web: www.restaurangartilleriet.se

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Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Norway

Restaurant of the Month, Norway

New comfort Comfort food brings to mind cheesy slices of pizza and double burgers. It often also finds itself accompanied by a bad conscience and a nap. At Nordic Foodprint (NOFO), comfort food has found a plant-based rebirth, making it possible to indulge without grease. By Lisa Maria Berg | Photos: NOFO

The Oslo restaurant only opened its doors in September last year, but has already caught the attention of Norwegian diners. Owner and founder Hanna Borg wants for her guests to take pleasure in more than just a good meal when visiting her place. “Dining at NOFO means not only enjoying good food; it is about being part of something bigger than yourself. By changing the way we eat, we can change the world we live in,” she says. One would think that a greasy cafe would be the place for cravings, but Borg looks 112 | Issue 123 | April 2019

at it differently. “You can come to us to indulge, and you can leave with a clean conscience. Not only have you eaten a meal that is good for you – you have also eaten a meal that is sustainable, and therefore good for others.” Borg’s plate is full of ideas, but it is in something greater than ambition that she is rooting her restaurant.

Community at the core It is with the idea of building a sustainable community that Borg truly stands out amongst the plethora of restaurants

popping up all across Oslo. “We want the meal to resonate beyond the restaurant walls. By setting examples of how a locally sourced, plant-based meal can become an experience, we hope that our guests leave feeling inspired. We are not just a restaurant, but hope to be part of a bigger, global movement,” Borg says, explaining that she plans to spread the good word through knowledge of how to eat and live in a sustainable way. “As a business, we work towards a low carbon footprint. We want to share the knowl-

Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Norway

edge of how to do that with our guests – making food that can bring comfort not only to our bodies but to the planet we live on,” she explains. It seems she has not only started a restaurant, but a fullblown plant-based revolution.

Sustainability The menu at NOFO lives a life of its own, and more: it lives the life that the seasons provide. Vegetables grow at different times of the year, and as they make the foundation of the entire restaurant, the menu changes accordingly. The restaurant has teamed up with Alm Østre, a biodynamic farm not far from Oslo, which provides it with seasonal vegetables all year round. The farm is like a haven of locally-sourced produce. “Alm Østre is not only an all-organic alternative – it is a farm that shares our beliefs

in what food should be,” says Borg. “It makes us proud to be able to know that our guests are eating something grown with love.” The aim to bring knowledge out of and beyond the restaurant walls has also sparked a workshop programme. “We invite chefs from all over the world to share their love and knowledge for plant-based food. We let them take control of our kitchen, and we give them free rein,” explains Borg. Colombian, Spanish, English and Swiss cooks have already visited NOFO and brought their take on the Alm Østre vegetables. “We have had brunches, dinners and pop-ups of all different shapes and colours, and we cannot wait for our spring programme to continue,” Borg continues.

Beyond It can be overwhelming sometimes, to be surrounded by theories on what food should look like. If you can think of a diet, it probably exists. But one thing is certain: if the planet is to maintain itself, then humankind cannot keep eating the way we are eating. Perhaps the answer lies in the Scandinavian menu rooted in a season that provides whatever it provides, and people that eat according to it. “By taking care of yourself, you can take care of the planet,” Borg asserts. As winter lets go and spring emerges onto the streets of Oslo, there is a sense of summer coming sometime soon, bringing with it a wealth of nature – a comfort to indulge in. Web: www.nordicfoodprint.com

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Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Denmark

As one of only a few restaurants to do so, Restaurationen focuses on high-quality, traditional Danish food.

Restaurant of the Month, Denmark

‘We don’t cook for Instagram’ Restaurationen in Copenhagen does not serve Nordic food – it serves Danish food. However, what drives Lisbeth and Bo Jacobsen, the couple behind the brasserie, is not an urge to go against the flow, but rather to remain true to what they have been doing for the last 28 years. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Restaurationen

Talking to 61-year-old Bo Jacobsen, there is no doubt that this is a man who does things the way he wants to. From the choice to have real porcelain instead of what he calls “noisy” stoneware on the tables, to his reverence for the traditional Danish cuisine and his weariness with “menus of 15 bite-sized courses made for Instagram”, Jacobsen knows what he likes and does not like. “We have our own style and opinion, and it does not matter what the current trends might have to say about that,” he states. “The Danish kitchen has a huge and very rich history but, unfortunately, it’s very much gone to waste lately – I haven’t seen a new restaurant with traditional Danish cuisine in Copenhagen for the last 15 years.” 114 | Issue 123 | April 2019

Despite the two owners’ choice not to jump heedlessly onto new food trends, Bo and Lisbeth Jacobsen have in recent years found that some of their longrevered principles have come back into fashion. Since its foundation in 1991, Restaurationen has been centred on traditional values of sustainability, including the use of local, seasonal and, when feasible, organic products. Besides, the menu includes around 70 per cent seafood. But despite sharing these characteristics

Husband and wife Bo and Lisbeth Jacobsen have been running Restaurationen together for 28 years.

with much of the New Nordic cuisine, Restaurationen is not, and never will be, a New Nordic restaurant. “The New Nordic kitchen is great, but it’s not Danish. It’s a construction that includes half of Europe – but Stavanger is far away from us,” says Jacobsen. “It’s funny, really, because by sticking to doing what we’ve always done, we’ve suddenly become the ones who are doing something different. But we are very lucky too that our guests have always been very happy with what they get.” Restaurationen is located in Møntergade in central Copenhagen The restaurant’s private dining room has a capacity of up to 45 guests. Restaurationen’s menus include a seasonal à la carte menu (with main courses at 285 DKK (around 33 GBP) and a light two-course late dinner and wine menu (495 DKK, 57 GBP) served after 9pm.

Web: www.restaurationen.dk

Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Denmark

Hotel of the Month, Denmark

Relaxing on Tåsinge Situated just south of Fyn in Denmark is the island of Tåsinge, a perfect holiday spot close to the bustling town of Svendborg and the numerous activities on Langeland. A stay in the region is made comfortable and relaxing at Hotel Troense, a family-owned hotel with views over the sea and exquisite food. By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photos: Hotel Troense

The hotel was built in 1905 and has since then had numerous families, couples, celebrations and events through its doors, and continues to welcome guests with open arms. “It’s important to us that people feel that they can relax here, whether they’re here to celebrate a wedding for the afternoon and evening or they’re here for a week to explore many of the sights,” says Trine Bonde, co-owner of the hotel alongside her husband, Claus Bonde. Hotel Troense has 36 rooms and a restaurant with space for 120 guests inside

Conference room.

and 60 outside. There are many deals on offer, including mini holidays and couple’s retreats, which combine a delicious fivecourse dinner with an overnight stay and breakfast, without breaking the bank.

A touch of luxury “What we really enjoy is making people happy, and that’s true for our guests as well as our employees,” says Trine. “We care about the details and making people feel at home, while also giving them that touch of luxury that everyone deserves. For example, we put a great deal of care

into the food to make sure it’s delicious and something people wouldn’t necessarily make at home.” The hotel has a very comforting and calming environment, where the care can be felt as soon as you step across the threshold. Hotel Troense not only has space for guests in its cosy and crisp rooms, but also in the rooms downstairs, which are frequently used for celebrations and also courses and corporate events. The local area has castles, nature and beautiful views to enjoy, also providing something to discuss while relaxing in the outdoor spa after a day of exploration.

Web: www.hoteltroense.dk Facebook: Hotel Troense - Svendborg

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Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Finland

Hotel of the Month, Finland

First-class service in historic surroundings Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel is situated in a beautiful landmark building in the heart of Helsinki, right next to the railway station. It is a vibrant, award-winning business hotel with full services for high-profile meetings and events in a memorable environment. By Mari Koskinen | Photos: Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel

“I love the historical ambiance here. You can sense that these walls have witnessed many significant encounters during the past decades,” says general manager Saija Syväjärvi. Originally, the building functioned as headquarters for SOK, Finland’s leading consumer cooperative. The hotel is still affiliated with SOK and run by its subsidiary. The Plaza building represents a significant chapter in the history of commerce in Finland. The cornerstone of the building was laid on the eve of Finnish independence on 5 December 1917. The 116 | Issue 123 | April 2019

building was opened in 1921 and functioned as the headquarters of SOK for 70 years. “The Plaza Boardroom, which used to be the SOK supervisory board’s meeting room, is still a scene for many important deals and decisions. There, the guests can feel the historic flair and become part of that, while creating the future with the help of up-to-date conference technology,” says Syväjärvi. “The hall that now houses Plaza Restaurant used to be an exhibition space showcasing new products imported from all over the world, and where

co-operative members would come to select merchandise for their shops,” Syväjärvi continues. “Almost every type of consumer good – from canned meat to evening gowns – was displayed in the hall. Even the first ever Harley Davidson imported to Finland was displayed here.”

Big yet boutique-esque With 302 rooms, Radisson Blu Plaza is one of the biggest hotels in Helsinki.

Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Finland

“Despite its size, many of our guests feel like they are arriving at a boutique hotel,” says Syväjärvi. The hotel has both classic rooms, representing the historical setting of the hotel, and modern rooms located in the new section of the hotel. “There is art especially designed for this building, like the stained-glass paintings by renowned Finnish artist Juho Rissanen, and the ceiling version of Eero Aarnio’s Double Bubble lamps decorating some of the rooms. Some of our suites are decorated with Alvar Aalto’s most famous furnishings.” The hotel stands out also through its wide range of first-class services, aiming to cater to guests’ every need: concierge, piccolo, doorman, private chauffeur service, fully-equipped gym and 24-hour room service to make sure that the guest enjoys their stay. “We also have a fullyequipped business lounge to give our guests a stress-free break from the city’s hustle and bustle,” Syväjärvi adds. The Plaza Restaurant is located in a large, historical space, in the former exhibition hall. There, guests can start their day with a wide selection of delicious and nourishing options at the Super Breakfast Buffet. At other times, the restaurant offers top-level cuisine, offering Nordic flavours combined with the latest food trends, bringing the taste of the north to guests’ plates. The bar

Helsinki Wildlife by Soosseli 15 May to 30 September 2019

Photo: Ossi Saarinen

Plaza Lobby serves drinks, refreshments and light snacks, and is open 24 hours a day. The hotel works closely with its neighbouring partners, offering, for example, dinner and theatre packages with its official partner the National Theatre, accommodation offers with Casino Helsinki, and ticket packages with Helsinki City Museum.

Exclusive events Radisson Blu Plaza is also famous as one of the city’s top venues for meetings and functions. “We could even cater for 800 guests, which makes us one of the largest venues in town,” explains Syväjärvi. “We have our own concept for events:

Plaza Restaurant is proud to present the Instagram phenomenon, nature photographer Ossi Saarinen, also known as #soosseli, in this, his first exhibition. Saarinen is known for his incredible images of Finnish wildlife, mostly shot in Helsinki and nearby suburban forests.

‘the stage for your story’. It means that events are not just about function space and catering; we want to know what the client’s purpose for the event is, and what feeling they want the guests go home with. From there, we then create a unique package with a variety of services in our exceptional facilities.” Syväjärvi continues: “We also have allinclusive packages; we can create efficient meetings, wonderful weddings or, for example, an indoor summer music festival with bands, DJs, food stalls and even sunshine. Once, we arranged a collective wedding party for five couples together with the local church, and the ceremony took place here at the hotel at a pop-up altar built by the church.” Web: radissonblu.com/en/plazahotel-helsinki Facebook: Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Helsinki Instagram: @plazahotelhelsinki

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Scan Magazine | Experience of the Month | Denmark

Photo: Martin Kurzendorf

Experience of the Month, Denmark

What Danes do in the dark There are some things that you can only see in the dark. Imagine a cold winter’s night, the air is crisp in your lungs. You are standing in the middle of a mass of rolling hills left over from the last Ice Age. You know you are surrounded by four giant domes, but you cannot quite make them out. Everything is pitch black around you, but then you look up and see the stars more clearly than you ever have before. The Milky Way is displayed above you while a guide explains what you are seeing and what else to look out for. By Louise Older Steffensen | Photos: Brorfelde Observatorium

“Those are the kinds of experiences that we’re good at here. At Brorfelde Observatory, the darkness is an attraction,” says Sarah Sohl, head of communications. Since 2016, the observatory has played host to school trips, workshops and meetings, team-building overnight stays and a large array of talks and star118 | Issue 123 | April 2019

gazing events, aiming to combine learning and fun at all ages through activities as varied as firing water rockets into the sky and investigating the night through Denmark’s largest telescope. As the only place in Denmark, the observatory complex and the surrounding 40 hectares of land have been protected in order to pre-

serve the area’s deep natural darkness from any light pollution. The result is a place like no other, where the trinity of the observatory, the dark and the unspoilt wilderness provides a wealth of experiences that you cannot find anywhere else.

A search in the dark Brorfelde Observatory was built as part of the University of Copenhagen’s observatory department back in the time of the race to space. As astronomical observations were made more and more difficult due to Copenhagen’s increasingly nightlit streets and buildings, the university’s astronomers began to look for a spot outside of the city where the night sky would remain as brilliant as it ever were.

Scan Magazine | Experience of the Month | Denmark

At Brorfelde, by Holbæk, they hit upon a curious Ice Age landscape with a geology that would turn out to be extraordinary in itself. Between 1953 and 1964, the stateof-the-art observatory was built: four telescope domes, an extensive workshop, and a little village serving as the home of the numerous technicians, astronomers and assistant staff who would make up Brorfelde’s starry-eyed community, were added to the glacier-carved hills. In 2016, Brorfelde Observatory reopened as a science experience centre where you learn to really see. “We want to be a place where everyone can discover something new with the help of their eyes and a bucketful of curiosity,” Sohl explains. “You go on a journey of scientific exploration – from the Earth’s innermost core right out to the outer reaches of the galaxy.” With its unique combination of astronomical, geological, technical and natural wonders, the centre encourages its visitors to see the way the Ice Age shaped the landscape at our feet and how the climate shapes the nature surrounding us. And inside, you get to explore the people and objects that made Brorfelde Observatory an integral part of the international discovery of space.

Star findings For nearly 40 years, Brorfelde Observatory has contributed significant discoveries and tools of exploration to what we earthlings know about the rest of the universe. Data from Brorfelde’s Meridian Telescope was used to calculate the trajectory of the Apollo 11 flight, which famously enabled man’s first step on the moon in 1969. The observatory fostered a unique set of expertise, combining engineering know-how and research ability, and thanks to the instruments built by the observatory’s expert technicians, Brorfelde’s astronomers discovered a string of asteroids, resulting in celestial bodies like ‘Holbaek’, ‘Brorfelde’ and even ‘Ceciliejulie’, named after the discoverer’s daughters. “On weekends and for special events throughout the year, our visitors get to experience the magical power of attraction of these alien objects at very close hand,” Sohl says. “One of my favourites is the iron meteorite, found in Lapland, which you get to touch – there’s nothing quite like holding something from outer space.” The observatory also highlights its human stars. Seven of the old rooms have been brought back to the 1950s and

Photo: Ole Malling

Photo: Thomas D. Mørkeberg

‘60s in order to tell the story of everyone who made up the special community at Brorfelde, from the cleaning lady to the astronomers. Their massive Discovery Telescope and Dome, built on location in the 1960s, remains Denmark’s biggest telescope and one of the greatest attractions in the daytime as well as for nighttime visitors, who can arrange to sleep over in the centre’s two sleeping halls. “We can fit up to 45 overnight guests for school trips or company outings,” Sohl says. “It makes for a magical and unforgettable night to sleep among the stars.” On top of its permanent facilities and constant exhibitions, Brorfelde puts on a broad range of events and talks throughout the year, including lectures on everything from space to geology by leading scientists, Thursday stargazing nights, and tours of the observatory and landscape. “We’re hosting an asteroid hunt this Easter, and lots of astronomical summer events too – see you there!” Sohl concludes.

Web: www.brorfelde.dk Facebook: BrorfeldeObservatorium Instagram: @brorfeldeobservatorium

Photo: Claus Starup

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Scan Magazine | Summer Destination of the Month | Denmark

Gitte Loftlund.

Summer Destination of the Month, Denmark

The isles have it The archipelago south of Funen makes for one of Denmark’s most iconic areas of natural beauty. The gleaming, glittering sea gives way to little islands filled with green pastures and yellow cereal fields. To Gitte Loftlund and her family, the fresh sea breeze proved irresistible. “We’re here because of the area’s complete idyll – the birds; the old village pond; the ribbiting of over-excited frogs serenading each other in spring. Nothing beats it.”

house-cum-restaurant-cum-cocktail bar. “We like to call our menu a Nordic beach safari,” Gitte explains. “We have experience with hosting everything from weddings to businesses, so I think it’s fair to say we’re open to everyone.”

By Louise Older Steffensen | Photos: Café Sommersild

While the Loftlunds also manage the nearby well-equipped campsite, summer huts and bike and canoe rental, two of Gitte’s neighbours are in charge of showing interested visitors the rest of Skarø. Groups are picked up in Svendborg and end up at Café Sommersild before Lene the nature guide takes them on a foodie tour of the beaches and her apothecary gardens, complete with a spirit brewed from local beach herbs, after which the lovely local history buff Preben tells the stories of past and present people of Skarø. For most, the day finishes off where it started, with the sampling of one of Café Sommersild’s Skaroese delicacies.

The Loftlunds moved to the island of Skarø back in 2000, swapping out their stuffy Odense apartment for a piece of the Danish coast. With a circumference of eight kilometres and a population of just 27, Skarø is one of the smallest inhabited islands in Denmark. It is, however, a highly popular summer spot for island hopping, not least due to Gitte and her neighbours’ endeavours to welcome visitors to their little piece of paradise. “Something extraordinary happens once the ferry leaves and Skarø really turns up its charm,” Gitte says. “It’s a very special, relaxing feeling to be ‘stuck’ out here with nowhere else to be. And don’t worry, we take really good care 120 | Issue 123 | April 2019

of you.” Just 35 minutes by ferry from Svendborg and included in the weeklong island-hopping tickets, the island is easily reachable from the mainland yet remains its own little world of sandy beaches, great local food and, well, Viking sheep. Soon after moving, Gitte and her husband decided to add to Skarø’s population with the acquisition of 50 hardy wild sheep, left genetically unmodified since Viking times. Unaware of their fearful breed, the sheep and lambs roam the island quite peacefully all year round and make for the delicious, organic and barbequed star dishes at Gitte’s Café Sommersild, Skarø’s popular smoke-

Web: www.sommersild.dk

Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Sweden

Helle Knudsen and Sara Andersson.

The aftermath is a playground by Björn Camenius, one of the gallery’s artists.

Oändliga möjligheter by Amanda Karlsson, one of the Våga Se scholarship holders.

Attraction of the Month, Sweden

For the love of art With a dedication to finding beautiful art and a belief in young, talented artists, Helle Knudsen started Galleri Helle Knudsen. The gallery is home to one of Sweden’s biggest art associations and continuously works hard to make art available to everyone. By Hanna Stjernström | Photos: Galleri Helle

Since moving to Sweden in the 1980s, Danish Helle Knudsen has been an active gallery owner. In 1992, she founded Galleri Helle Knudsen with the vision of showing beautiful art and lowering the threshold to the art world. In London and Berlin, lots of art has moved outside the city centre to make it more inclusive. This inspired the gallery, and in 2017, it moved to the south of Stockholm. “We have taken many chances over the years,” says Knudsen and continues: “The important thing is that we can stand for what we are exhibiting and that we like it.” Six years ago, Knudsen was joined by Sara Andersson, associations and communications manager, and together they have continuously developed the gallery. They show around six exhibitions per year and have a history of finding artists that are up-and-coming, one of the latest being Björn Camenius, who soon exhibits at the Danish art fair North. “Our strengths

complete each other,” Andersson says. “Helle loves art and has believed in many artists who were rejected by other galleries, and she trusts her gut feeling, while I am passionate about our art association and building bridges between art and digitalisation.” The art association Våga Se is a large part of the gallery. The purpose is to support art in Sweden and make it available to everyone. August marks the beginning of a new membership period, but also an exciting art year as the association releases eight lithography prints, including work by the award-winning artist Britta Marakatt-Labba. “It is important for the association to encourage young and unestablished artists. Every year, we have two to four scholarships for new artists that are funded by membership fees,” Andersson explains. “One of our previous scholarship holders is Amanda Karlsson, who will also exhibit at North.”

After being in the art business for a while, many milestones have already been passed, but there are many more still to be realised. “It is important not to stand still and wait for things to happen,” Knudsen says, and concludes: “We want to continue believing in ideas, challenging ourselves and the art, and always trying new things.”

Efter mötet by Britta Marakatt-Labba.

Våga Se: Våga Se is one of Sweden’s biggest art associations. They work with supporting contemporary art and creating opportunities for everyone to own and experience art.

Web: www.gallerihelle.com

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Scan Magazine | Gallery of the Month | Denmark

Gallery of the Month, Denmark

An art gallery to suit all tastes When going out to find pieces of art for the home, it can often be difficult to find a good variety under one roof. The family-run Malericentralen in Denmark offers exactly this. Through many years of experience, they have gathered a wide range of paintings by current artists from Denmark and beyond. They even let people borrow the paintings to see whether they truly love them in their home. By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photos: Malericentralen

Malericentralen was set up by Vang Frederiksen when, in the 1970s, he started buying and selling art from his garage. At the ripe age of 11, his son, Jan, joined the business, having grown up watching his dad run it. Early on, Malericentralen outgrew the garage and moved to the centre of Snejbjerg, close to Herning, where it today occupies over 600 square metres.

taken home for a week and tried out. “It’s often a big decision to choose a painting, and although most of our customers do research online first, a painting can look different in different light and settings. That’s why we offer our customers the option to take a painting and try it in their own home. If they like it, they keep it, and if not, they can always bring it back.”

“We have the works of a broad selection of artists on display here in all shapes and sizes. It’s very rare for someone to leave the shop and not find anything they like,” explains Jan. “We have direct contact with the artists and the pieces we have are all one-of-a-kind.”

In addition to paintings, Malericentralen offers framing of both old and new paint-

Try it at home Malericentralen wants to make it easy for the customers, so every painting can be 122 | Issue 123 | April 2019

ings and also has decorative pieces for the home. The best place to start is the website, where they list all the paintings. If possible, a visit to the shop to see it in real life is always a good idea. Malericentralen delivers globally, so if you end up falling in love with one of the works, getting it back home will not be a problem.

Web: www.malericentralen.dk Facebook: malericentralen.dk Instagram: @malericentralen

Scan Magazine | Artist of the Month | Finland Topi Ruotsalainen in his studio.

Return of the pink cadillac, 2007, oil on canvas, 170x145cm.

King of the Hill, 2019, oil and acrylic on canvas, 199x190cm.

Artist of the Month, Finland

Figurative painting Topi Ruotsalainen is a Finnish contemporary artist whose paintings often show people in different groups or settings. However, the main topic is not the people themselves, but what is about to happen – the story between the lines.

Florence, Italy. When I saw the immortal stuffed monkeys at the museum, I felt a compelling need to paint them.”

By Mari Koskinen | Photos: Tero Ruotsalainen

At the museum, the monkeys are displayed alone on the shelves of the cabinets, but in his paintings, Ruotsalainen stages them in different postures and groups – that creates the story. “Again, the monkeys are not the main theme; my aim is to illustrate an alternative perspective, where there are both scientific, religious and mythical aspects. The greatest themes of art are eternal. A dead monkey is immortal, and in its lifeless eyes we face our own conscience.”

“I have always drawn – as long as I remember – and my subjects were almost always people,” says Topi Ruotsalainen. He has two master’s degrees in arts, and he works in his studio in Espoo. He also teaches a weekly class at the Kauniainen School of Fine Arts. “Figurative painting comes naturally to me, and for me it is about storytelling,” Ruotsalainen explains. Originally from Kuopio, he compares his indirect storytelling with the way Kuopio people talk; you need to read between the lines.

“Storytelling, what is about to happen – the interaction and communication, even tension, between the characters let the spectator create the story. I don’t aim to give answers, but I can leave hints of what my story behind the painting is. But in the end, what matters most is the spectator’s own interpretation.” The artist continues: “My next exhibition, Planet of the Apes, will take place at the Galleria Heino this spring. It shows a new theme, inspired by my visits to La Specola Zoological Museum in

Planet of the Apes 20 April to 16 May 2019 Galleria Heino, Helsinki www.galleriaheino.com Ruotsalainen will also take part in the exhibition Mind the Gap – Silence and Masculinity, which opens later this year.

Huddle, 2011, oil on canvas, 200x240cm.

Topi Ruotsalainen painting Planet of the apes. Work in progress, 2019.

Web: www.topiruotsalainen.fi Facebook: topicontemporary Instagram: @topistudio

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Scan Magazine | Humour | Columns

IS IT JUST ME…

By Mette Lisby

… who’s worried about how it affects us that everything is constantly available, accessible and possible? You can transfer money between your bank accounts NOW. Book travel NOW. Shop for anything – like, oh I don’t know, NOW! When Freddie Mercury sang “I want it all and I want it now”, it was a bold demand that evidently could not be realised. In today’s world, it sounds like a relatively reasonable request. Of course you want it all now. How could you not? Just yesterday over dinner, my husband and I were talking about getting new trainers, and two minutes after we finished eating, we had bought them. I never really liked shopping, so I guess I should be all for the time-saving online option – but I guess my reluctance is probably more about the fact that not only shopping, but also pretty much anything else can be done anytime, online. Making doctor’s appointments, dentist appointments, paying bills – even relaxing, you do with your computer or phone now. No need to browse through a real maga-

zine, paper or book – it is all accessible in your computer. You do not even have to get up to fetch it. I have always been a big advocate for getting away from the computer once in a while, but now it seems completely unnecessary to not be in front of a screen, not just for work but in every aspect of your life. Watching news, planning travels, communicating with friends, shopping for shoes, bras, kitchenware, groceries... There is never a reason to be offline anymore – you can do it all there. You need to make an active decision to NOT sit in front of your computer, because when you are there, there are emails to check, bills to pay, there is LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram – there is always something. And why wait when you can do it now? Except I think that ‘now’ becomes less significant when it is completely the same all the time and only the image on the

Doomed I am doomed. My regular cartoon slot in a Norwegian newspaper has come to an end, and so a large chunk of my income has disappeared overnight. This is the problem with working freelance – you can be hurtled back to square one at any point and with no warning. I am used to it, but the older I get, the more difficult it feels to start over. Having said that, I sometimes wonder if my move to a different country helps me deal with the upheaval. Or perhaps it contributed to me choosing this somewhat unconventional path in life in the first place? Since emigrating to England 25 years ago, I have moved a total of 15 times. The funny thing is, I see myself as someone who would be suited to being comfortably settled. But perhaps, once you have had a major uproot, it is hard to ever find that peace again? I cannot decide whether this is a good or a bad thing because, as mentioned, I am currently at square one, which 124 | Issue 123 | April 2019

screen in front of you changes. Maybe it is time to realise that perhaps we do want it all, but actually, most of it can wait a little while, while we take a walk in the sunshine.

Mette Lisby is Denmark’s leading female comedian. She invites you to laugh along with her monthly humour columns. Since her stand-up debut in 1992, Mette has hosted the Danish version of Have I Got News For You and Room 101.

By Maria Smedstad

idea, but just how would you capitalise on Swedish-ness? What are we (supposedly) good at? I can only think of cinnamon buns and raunchy vintage films, neither of which I am sure I am suited to. Anyway, as mentioned – I am doomed. This is not because of my sudden job situation, but because I have just discovered that my (current) home city has a shop that sells real Swedish sweets. If anything will lead to my financial ruin, it will be this.

is a pretty all-consuming space to occupy. Where do I go from here? A minor career adjustment, a change in profession, a change in country? “You’re Swedish,” my friend suggested. “Can’t you somehow use that to your advantage and create a new job?” It sounds like a good

Maria Smedstad moved to the UK from Sweden in 1994. She received a degree in Illustration in 2001, before settling in the capital as a freelance cartoonist, creating the autobiographical cartoon Em. Maria writes a column on the trials and tribulations of life as a Swede in the UK.

Scan Magazine | Culture | Music

Scandinavian music Zara Larsson is undisputedly the biggest music export that the Nordic lands have given the rest of the world over the last couple of years. Now, she is all geared up to release her much-anticipated sophomore album, and has just put out a new single from it to give us some idea of what to expect. Don’t Worry Bout Me finds our sass queen responding to a former boyfriend’s inquiries into how she is doing, by asserting that she is absolutely fine, and that he should stick to worrying about himself, as per usual. Burn. All while set to an uplifting dance beat, to make the break-up anthem that extra bit empowering. One artist that feels like she might be on the cusp of a breakthrough like Zara’s is fellow Swede Clara Mae. She has written for plenty of other artists, released her own music, and featured on her fair share of dance tracks, but her new single Lost sounds like the arrival of a proper popstar, elevating her to the same level, and

perhaps even beyond, some of her wider known contemporaries. Over in Norway, Chris Holsten is making an impact of a different kind: delivering an emotional gut-punch with his beautifully soulful new single Don’t Speak. It is a collision of emotions that you will not be able to stop returning to. I have had it on repeat for days. Finally, if you are looking for something a bit longer than three minutes to spend an afternoon or evening getting lost in, there are a few album highlights that have come out of Scandinavia this past month. Norway’s Sigrid finally got around to releasing her debut album, Sucker Punch; soul siren LÉON’s self-titled debut album is a warm and fuzzy listen from start to finish; and Swedish pop collective NEIKED (you might remember them from their mega-hit Sexual) have taken the pragmatic approach of titling their new opus Best of Hard Drive.

By Karl Batterbee

Web: www.scandipop.co.uk

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Santtu-Matias Rouvali. Photo: Kaapo Kamu

Scandinavian Culture Calendar – Where to go, what to see? It’s all happening here! Northern Rites Concert (18 April) This evening concert, performed by the award-winning vocal ensemble Sansara, will explore the heritage of music from the Scandinavian and Celtic traditions. The programme includes traditional Nordic tunes such as Bengt Ollén’s Trilo, Knut Nystedt’s O Crux and Anna Thorvaldsdottir’s arrangement of the Icelandic folk song Þann heilaga kross. 6pm. St John’s Smith Square, Smith Square, London SW1P 3HA, UK. www.sjss.org.uk

By Sanne Wass

Talk and Supper Club: Henrik Vibskov and Malene Hartmann Rasmussen (24 April) Messums Wiltshire Gallery’s next Talk and Supper Club is celebrating Danish art and culture with talks by Danish fashion designer Henrik Vibskov and ceramic artist Malene Hartmann Rasmussen, followed by supper in the Mess Restaurant. Vibskov’s immersive installation The Onion Farm is currently displayed at the gallery. 6.30pm. Messums Wiltshire, Court Street, Salisbury SP3 6LW, UK. www.messumswiltshire.com

Ace Rosewall. Photo: Toppedwith

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Scan Magazine | Culture | Calendar

Walpurgis Night in Sweden (30 April) Sweden’s ‘other Halloween’ will be celebrated across the country with bonfires and folk songs on the last day of April. Walpurgis Night (or ‘Valborgsmässoafton’ in Swedish) can be traced all the way back to pagan Norse celebrations in Scandinavia thousands of years before the arrival of Christianity. Various locations, Sweden. www.visitsweden.com

St Paul’s Cathedral Fantastic Feats Organ Festival with Bine Bryndorf (2 May) The Fantastic Feats Organ Festival at St Paul’s Cathedral features five of the world’s organ-playing masters, performing music spanning five centuries. Kicking off the series is Denmark’s Bine Bryndorf, the castle organist at Frederiksborg Castle in Hillerød and a professor of organ at the Royal Academy of Music in London. 6.30pm. St. Paul’s Cathedral, St. Paul’s Churchyard, London EC4M 8AD, UK. www.stpauls.co.uk

Photo: Mikkeller Beer Celebration Copenhagen

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Mox Mäkelä, Strange. Photo: AV-arkk

Scandinavian Craft Weekend (4-5 May) Learn how to carve a Dala Horse, weave a birch-bark basket and make other traditional Scandinavian crafts during this outdoor weekend event in Warminster. Organised by Explore The Great Outdoors, the course will teach you a range of Scandinavian craft techniques and also serve traditional Scandinavian dish-

es. Warminster Five Ash Lane, Warminster BA12, UK. www.eventbrite.co.uk

Live music with Ace Rosewall (8 May) Ace Rosewall, an acoustic singer and songwriter from Denmark, started playing in London in 2017 and has since

Scan Magazine | Culture | Calendar

Pekka Kuusisto. Photo: Kaapo Kamu

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become a well-known face on London’s underground music scene. This evening in May, he will be performing together with Ariana Brophy, a Canadian folk singer. 6.45pm. Apples and Pears Bar, 26 Osborn Street, E1 6TD London, UK. www.eventbrite.co.uk

Mikkeller Beer Celebration Copenhagen (10-11 May) Mikkeller Beer Celebration Copenhagen 2019 returns to Copenhagen for the eighth time, celebrating the north’s popular drink together with guests and breweries from around the world. Mikkeller is a Danish microbrewery founded in 2006 by Mikkel Borg Bjergsø as an experiment with malt and yeast in his kitchen. It has since opened breweries across Europe, America and Asia. Øksnehallen, Halmtorvet 11, 1700 Copenhagen www.mbcc.dk

Mox Mäkelä: Strange (15 May) Part drama, part satire, Strange tells the story of an androgynous foreigner who travels the Finnish landscape and encounters a series of absurd yet tragic events. The new audio-visual work by Finnish Mox Mäkelä will have its UK premiere at Tate Modern. Mäkelä is a conceptual artist who, since the late 1970s, has explored literary and ecological themes in her films and installations. 6.30pm. Starr Cinema, Bankside, London SE1 9TG, UK. www.tate.org.uk

Santtu-Matias Rouvali conducts the Philharmonia Orchestra (30 May)

Henrik Vibskov.

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Finnish conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali and violinist Pekka Kuusisto will join the Philharmonia Orchestra this spring and, in the words of the organisers, “bring their energy and invention to music infused with rhythmic vigour”. Among other pieces, they will perform Stravinsky’s Violin Concerto and Petrushka. 7.30pm. Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX, UK. www.southbankcentre.co.uk

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