MARCH 2017 ISSUE 98 PROMOTING BRAND SCANDINAVIA
HANNE BOEL – NOTHING TO PROVE DANISH AND SWEDISH CULTURE SPECIAL DESTINATION NORWAY 2017 OUR TOP NORWEGIAN MUSEUMS
Your Shortcut to Scandinavia Bergen
NORWAY
Oslo Stockholm Bromma
SWEDEN Aalborg
Gothenburg
Aarhus
UNITED KINGDOM
DENMARK Billund
Manchester
London City
GERMANY Brussels
Düsseldorf
BELGIUM
SWITZERLAND
Munich
Zürich
S na cks
Me al s
Drinks
ba.com
Pap ers
Lounges
Smiles
Scan Magazine | Contents
Contents COVER FEATURE 24 Hanne Boel – nothing to prove
24 17
She is Denmark’s best-selling female singer, having sold more than 2.5 million albums. Her record Dark Passion is the sixth best-selling album of all time in Denmark and won her five Danish Grammy Awards – yet as Hanne Boel approaches 60 and returns to her music full time, she insists that she has nothing to prove. Scan Magazine spoke to the singer about success, art from the heart and forgiving yourself.
DESIGN 12 From upcycled to uber modern What does the most extravagant, super modern architecture have in common with upcycled bits and bobs from India? Environmental friendliness is one, a strong vision another. Head to the design section to find out more.
45 Scandinavian Culture – Sweden More than a leader in functional and usability design, Sweden has a strong reputation for contemporary art in all its guises. Add a distinct textile production heritage and a kingdom of crystal, and you will see why culture vultures are holidaying in Sweden in their thousands.
62 Destination Norway 2017 Whether you are all about classical literature or you want to explore Norway’s struggles during World War II, there is a wealth of museums in Norway just waiting to welcome you. From the Narvik War Museum up north to the capital’s cultural and historical offerings further south, we have listed the museums not to miss in 2017. In addition, we made a pit-stop in some of the most beautiful regions along the way, discovering nature adventures, traditional food and charming towns and villages. Oh, and did we mention the picturesque farm shops?
SPECIAL FEATURE 22 The best beef and more We found what might just be the best meat haunt in all of Denmark, only to discover that they also do a mean barley risotto and a generous selection of craft beers on draft. Naturally, we had to share it with you.
BUSINESS 90 Behold the smart cities As the Smart City Summit kicks off in Oman and London prepares for the Smart to Future Cities conference in May, we tried to find answers to Copenhagen’s smart city secrets – and went to find a few more.
SPECIAL THEMES 28 Scandinavian Culture – Denmark
28 78
Anyone who knows a thing or two about Danish culture will think it apt that one of this year’s European Capitals of Culture is in Denmark – namely Aarhus. But Denmark also boasts one of the ten biggest carnivals in the world, more than a few renowned art galleries, and a fascinating maritime history.
CULTURE 113 Cinnamon buns and Swedified English We could not stop singing that YouTube hit and decided to speak to the guys behind Go Royal to find what makes them tick. Meanwhile, columnist Joakim Andersson shares his top tips for surviving in Sweden on Swedified English.
REGULARS & COLUMNS 6 Fashion Diary | 10 We Love This | 96 Conference of the Month | 99 Hotels of the Month 102 Restaurants of the Month | 107 Attractions of the Month | 110 Experience of the Month 112 Humour
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 3
Scan Magazine | Editor’s Note
Dear Reader, Did you know that the Swedish ethos of ‘lagom’ has been dubbed the lifestyle motto to live by in 2017? As a Swedish emigrant, I have to admit that I was a tad taken aback at first when I heard of this elevation of the concept I once fled – but the more I think about it, the more it makes sense. Lagom, the very Scandinavian word for striking a perfect balance, meaning ‘not too little, not too much, but just enough’, could do a world of good applied to everything from consumption to social media use and international relations.
of Culture this year is Nordic (Aarhus of Denmark, to be precise) makes perfect sense.
If you want to understand a nation, people say to look to its cultural heritage and speak to its artists. That is what we have done for the March issue of Scan Magazine; we have visited the museums, headed for the historic locations, spoken to passionate designers and explored thought-provoking art exhibitions. In Norway, we discovered everything from the story behind the celebrated explorer Thor Heyerdahl and his big excursion, to a range of exhibitions dealing with past times of war. In Sweden, we found a strong textile tradition, a worldclass contemporary art scene and a keenness to put our idea of truth under a microscope. Denmark presented an equally fascinating past alongside a modern, colourful carnival and crafts and music to boot. That one of the two European Capitals
Whether you are sceptical of the Swedish ethos or keen to ‘lagomify’ your life, our March issue definitely makes a good place to start further exploration. Enjoy!
Also of Denmark, this month’s cover star is a champion of art from the heart and creativity that is allowed to flourish unrestricted. Denmark’s best-selling female singer of all time, Hanne Boel, is about to turn 60 and return to her own music full time. Yet despite huge success and acclaim, she has what can only be described as quite a lagom approach to life, as she talks about endless touring as a young mother. “One of the most important things is the ability to forgive yourself,” she told me. “I actually said to both my kids that I was pretty aware of not being perfect, but hey, surprise, no one is!”
Linnea Dunne, Editor
SCAN M A G A Z I N E
Scan Magazine
Graphic Designer
Helene Toftner
Scan Magazine Ltd
Issue 98
Mercedes Moulia
Stian Sangvig
15B Bell Yard Mews
Simone Andersson
Bermondsey Street
Cover Photo
Andrew Mellor
London SE1 3YT, United Kingdom
Copenhagen Music
Josefine Older Steffensen
Phone +44 (0)870 933 0423
Steve Flinders
info@scanmagazine.co.uk
Contributors
Ndéla Faye
www.scanmagazine.co.uk
Published by
Heidi Kokborg
Mette Lisby
Scan Magazine Ltd
Sanna Halmekoski
Maria Smedstad
© All rights reserved. Material
Signe Hansen
Joakim Andersson
contained in this publication may
Malin Norman
Karl Batterbee
not be reproduced, in whole or in
Liquid Graphic Ltd
Marte Eide
March 2017 Published 03.2017 ISSN 1757-9589
part, without prior permission of
Thomas Bech Hansen
Sales & Key Account Managers
Executive Editor
Nicolai Lisberg
Emma Fabritius Nørregaard
Scan Magazine® is a registered
Thomas Winther
Louise Older Steffensen
Mette Tonnessen
trademark of Scan Magazine Ltd.
Pia Petersson
Johan Enelycke
Creative Director
Sara Wenkel
Mads E. Petersen
Ellinor Thunberg
Advertising
Karen Langfjæran
marketing@scanmagazine.co.uk
This magazine contains
Editor
Linn Skjei Bjørnsen
Linnea Dunne
Eirik Elvevold
To Subscribe
Pernille Johnsen
scanmagazine.co.uk/subscribe
Copy-editor
Line Elise Svanevik
Isa Hemphrey
Astrid Eriksson
4 | Issue 98 | March 2017
Scan Magazine Ltd.
advertorials/promotional articles
NEW PORSGRUND GLOW
FITS IN EVERY BATHROOM! MODERN, SMART & EASY
PORSGRUND GLOW RIMFREE® Easier to keep clean, less stains and bacteria. GLOW
See how!
INFO porsgrundbad.no/glow
www.porsgrundbad.no/glow
Scan Magazine | Design | Fashion Diary
Fashion Diary… March is a funny month – the calendar states it is spring, but most days still feel like winter or autumn at best. What do you wear in this in between month? At Scan Magazine, we say go for the classy and timeless look mixed with pretty spring colours. By Heidi Kokborg | Press photos
Whether you are a jeans and T-shirt kind of guy or more of a suit type, this coat will match almost any outfit with its classic and timeless straight shape. The front buttons are nicely hidden, which gives the coat a neat finish. Wear it with a scarf for an instant business look. COS coat, £125 www.cosstores.com
You can never go wrong with a blue denim shirt. It is one of the few fashion items that never go out of style. And the best part? Demin shirts are always super comfy, and you can mix and match denim with pretty much any other fabric to create a modern and classy look. Won Hundred shirt, £130 www.wonhundred.com
Step away from the traditional blue denim or the full business suit, and opt for these comfy beige chinos. Cheap Monday specialises in trousers, so you are guaranteed both comfort and a perfect fit. Cheap Monday chinos, £55 www.cheapmonday.com
Did you know that TRIWA stands for ‘Transforming the Industry of Watches’? The brand wants to transform the watch into a modern style symbol; and they did a good job with this classy blue steel watch. But beware – this watch is so cool your partner just might steal it. TRIWA Nevil watch, £114 www.triwa.com
6 | Issue 98 | March 2017
Scan Magazine | Design | Fashion Diary
mbyM’s signature style is raw femininity mixed with Scandinavian coolness, and they nailed it with this rose-coloured wrap dress. With a loose top part and a more fitted bottom half, it will enhance your figure. Wear it with a cool pair of sneakers for work or a pair of pumps for a night out. mbyM, approx. £69 www.mbym-shop.com
You can never go wrong with a trench coat. When you wear this classic from Gestuz, it is clear that you mean business. Just imagine strolling down the high street wearing this and a pair of high heels. Just like black, this beige colour goes well with just about anything. Gestuz, approx. £230 www.gestuz.com
We cannot get over how classy and stylish this knit skirt is. The colour might not be as bold and bright as many other items this spring, but the layered graphic detail still makes it a real head turner. It is the perfect skirt for a day at the office; but style it with a pair of black pumps and you will look like you stepped right out of the most recent issue of French Vogue. COS, £89 www.cosstores.com
Despite what some people might say, being late is never cool. With this stylish watch, there is no excuse not to be on time. Perfectly combining classic silhouettes and Scandinavian simplicity, it will instantly make any outfit more elegant, feminine and classy. TRIWA, £159 www.triwa.com
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 7
Scan Magazine | Design | Street Style
Nordic Humans of London Scan Magazine’s brilliant Sanna Halmekoski has once again hit the streets of London to find out what the Scandinavian fashion fanatics are wearing. Cool, sleek and full of statements, this is a little piece of Scandiland in the United Kingdom. Text and photos by Sanna Halmekoski | www.nordichumans.com
Emilie Riis Danish strategist at The Future Laboratory
Emilie Riis
“My style is feminine with a playful twist. I like muted colours and good-quality materials. I mostly buy Scandinavian brands. Today my shoes are by Church’s, the bag is by Carven, my trousers are by Filippa K, the ring is by Tiffany and the jacket is by Lovechild 1979.”
Ossian Ward Finnish/British writer and head of content at the Lisson Gallery “My style is functional, quality work wear. I look like a failed 1950s architect. I’m wearing a jacket and trousers by Old Town. My shirt and socks are by Marimekko, and my shoes are by Nike.”
Vibeke Nygaard Danish nurse
Vibeke Nygaard
8 | Issue 98 | March 2017
“My style is practical and casual. I like Nordic brands and shop in both London and Copenhagen. My latest accessory, a newborn baby, has made my style less fashionable and more relaxed. Today my jacket is by DAY Birger et Mikkelsen, my shoes are by Church’s, the changing bag is by VOKSI Ida Ising, the baby carrier is by Boba, the scarf is by lala Berlin, and the baby’s outfit is by mini Zara.”
Ossian Ward
Natural Happiness
Natural Norwegian Handcrafted Skincare www.lykkebyjulie.com
Scan Magazine | Design | We Love This
We love this… The birds are singing, people are smiling, and soon enough you will be putting your winter coat away. The blossom on the trees is like pretty pink cherry frosting on a cupcake. Spring has finally sprung, and we love it. It is the season for chilled rosé wine on the patio, crispy salads, and long walks in nature. But why not also do a little spring decorating in your home? These picks will help you create a space where you can feel relaxed, inspired, and creative. By Heidi Kokborg | Press photos
This is probably the most famous vase in Denmark, which is understandable when you see how beautiful it is. The vase was designed in 1936, but it was not until the 1950s that it gained popularity due to its modern and unique aesthetic. Glass vase by Lyngby Porcelain, from £59 www.skandium.com
Did you know that Scandinavians burn more candles than any other people? With candles as heavenly scented as this one, it is no wonder. This berry-scented candle will make your home smell of spring – or you can take it outside in the evening with a cup of tea. Scandinavian bær/berry scented candle, £29 www.husandhem.co.uk
Picture yourself on a Sunday morning with a good book, a cup of tea, and this chair. This cosy bear-like chair is perfect for chilly spring mornings and evenings, and the colour screams spring. Designer of the chair, Flemming Lassen, said it is “as warm and safe as a polar bear cub in the arms of its mother in the middle of the ice cap”. Sounds pretty good on a rainy day in March if you ask us! The Tired Man, Sheepskin, approx. £5,965 www.bylassen.com
You most likely already have an app for note-taking, but sometimes it can be nice to put away your phone for a while and write your thoughts down in a real notebook. Sure, call us old fashioned. This luxurious notebook from Paper Collective is ideal for jotting down your thoughts, todo lists, grocery lists, or whatever you may need to remember. The Last Notebook, blue grey, approx. £39 www.paper-collective.com
This beautiful and luxurious cushion is designed to make you escape into a dreamy, soft, and colourful world. The pattern is inspired by the magnificent palm trees that line the French Riviera, where the designer spent her childhood summers. The white and golden palm trees are carefully embroidered onto the velvet cushion, which will brighten up any room and make you dream of beaches and sunshine. Elizabeth Scarlett Palmier Rosewater Velvet Cushion, £55 www.amara.com
10 | Issue 98 | March 2017
WE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE
TIN PACKAGING THAT SHARPENS THE IMAGE
BOOST SALE
AND FOR OUR CLIENTS
Using tin as packaging offers numerous different options, and we deliver to customers throughout Denmark and Europe in the following categories: • Tea and coffee • Confectionary • Biscuits and cakes
• Spices • Beer and spirits • Travel retail
DID YOU KNOW.... tin is 100% recyclable, making it one of the most sustainable types of packaging available on the market today.
If you would like to hear how we can help you, please call us Companized A/S | CEO | Lars Bengtsen | lars@companized.dk | +45 2671 5757 | www.companized.com |
Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Trademark
Something old, something new and something upcycled Recycling takes on a new meaning in Trademark Living’s evocative and rustic collection of interior design pieces. With a distinctive combination of one-of-akind vintage furniture, upcycled items and new products, the family-owned Danish wholesale furniture supplier has carved itself a strong position on the international scene. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Trademark Living
Trademark Living, owned and managed by husband and wife Annette and Jan Thormann, was one of the first Danish wholesale furniture suppliers to specialise in a complete range of one-of-a-kind vintage furniture from the Far East. The company’s collection combines original timeless pieces with new products produced from recycled, upcycled and sustainable materials. The result is a distinctive expression, which reflects both new trends and timeless aesthetics. 12 | Issue 98 | March 2017
The successful approach has earned the company a growing client base within restaurants, hotels, and clothing and interior design retailers all over Europe. “I think that our main strength is that we can present this large collection of old, original items. Finding good products at good prices and continuing to come up with new ideas is essential to our business,” explains Annette. “We would like to inspire people, and that’s why it’s such a fantastic feeling when we bring home
some peculiar item we dug up somewhere in India and present it to a client who loves it just as much as we do.” The impressive development helped Trademark Living qualify for the Gazelle Prize – a status awarded by the Danish financial newspaper Børsen to successful companies – in 2015 and 2014.
Turning the trend When looking at Trademark Living’s online catalogue, it is evident that the collection is the result of an individual and creative selection process. Browsing the pieces, clients will find items such as an old Indian ‘tuk tuk’ turned into a wine shelf, an original old cabinet as well as a number of patinated table tops created from upcycled materials.
Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Trademark Living
“We find our old one-of-a-kind items on our trips to India. Some we buy as they are, and others we just use parts from in new products,” says Annette. “In the beginning, we were among just a very few on the market selling original old vintage pieces, and when we started focusing on recycled and sustainably produced furniture it coincided with the whole sustainability wave taking off. Today, there are many companies doing some of the same things we do, but we found a good niche – people really like the idea of re-using something that’s had a life before.”
Mutual respect Trademark Living not only finds but also creates its own products in India and, when it comes to its collaboration partners in the east, Annette and Jan have the same approach as they have to their clients at home: everything has to be done with mutual respect and under-
standing. “We have a very honest and personal relationship to our clients and our collaboration partners in India. The way we conduct our business is based on a mutual understanding and respect for our cultural differences. It’s an approach that means that our partners also value the collaboration; we always have a really good dialogue with them, and whenever there’s a big family event we’re invited to take part,” says Annette. Trademark Living’s extensive use of old, recycled and upcycled products from India has also caught the interest of the Indian press. The last time the company went to a trade show in Germany, an Indian journalist stopped by their stand and was surprised to recognise several items from her childhood. “She was really fascinated by how all their old products were gaining a new lease of life here in Europe, and that’s also a big part of what
makes us happy in our work: in the west, we throw away so many things that end up in the east, and I think it’s really cool that it also works the other way,” stresses Annette. Facts: - Trademark Living was founded in 2006 and began specialising in old, recycled and upcycled furniture and material from India in 2011. - Trademark Living only trades with VAT registered companies. - Trademark Living’s 250-squaremetre showroom and administration, which employs 12 people, is located in Niels Bohrs Vej 28, Skanderborg, Denmark.
The whole collection can be viewed on: www.trademarkliving.dk
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 13
Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Ross Architecture & Design
Spacious designs – for freedom of the soul Wenner-Gren Center’s 20th floor, designed by Ross Architecture & Design, is not just walls, flooring and furniture. The space somehow manages to capture the client’s core. By Malin Norman | Photos: Mikael Damkier
Known mostly for its stunning private villas, characterised by rounded silhouettes and interplay with nature, Ross Architecture & Design also brings magic to commercial spaces. The mix of spacious yet homely atmospheres has made its way to office environments, holiday resorts, museums, boutiques, restaurants and even care homes. Imagine a place our beloved elderly can actually long for. Standing tall in the Stockholm borough of Vasastaden, the Wenner-Gren Center was Europe’s highest building with a steel 14 | Issue 98 | March 2017
frame when it opened back in the 1960s. Since a few months back, one of the structure’s top floors houses an office unlike any other. With a plan on their hands for the 20th floor, created by another firm, the client noticed the energetic and ‘un-square’ office environment of Ross Architecture & Design, which has been nominated as Sweden’s Most Beautiful Office. Architect Pål Ross and his team were given only 14 days to come up with a new layout for the 400 square metres. “Our solution blew their minds,” says Ross. “In those two weeks, we managed
to come up with a completely new space. They had never seen anything like it!” This translated to all systems go. As the construction firm had already been contracted by the client, the project moved fast and was completed in only a couple of months – quite extraordinary, as the complex administrative and building process would usually take much longer. Unsurprisingly, Wenner-Gren Center’s administrator Fabege was suitably impressed with the functional, beautiful and creative space, as well as its rapid completion.
Welcome to the core Upon entering the 20th floor from one of three elevators, visitors will find themselves facing the skyline of New York.
Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Ross Architecture & Design
The wall straight ahead has been covered with a panoramic image from the client’s own website, giving visitors and staff the sense of standing on a balcony, admiring the fantastic view. Like the first sentences of a book, this introduction invites people to come inside and see more. The rest of the floor certainly does not disappoint. By removing 80 per cent of the corridors, Ross Architecture & Design has created a flow and interesting dynamic with curved walls and open spaces. The new layout comes with five more work stations than in the original plan, without feeling cramped, and is well balanced with secluded areas. With added height and hidden lighting, the ceiling almost opens up to the sky, a bit like light therapy – essential to make it through those long, dark winters in Scandinavia. Another surprise is the golf green, a quirky feature inspired by the client’s interest in the sport, and screens with customisable image galleries to suit any meeting.
Architect Ross himself says of the design: “Ultimately, we have optimised the space to the core requirements of this company. And we have quite radically improved conditions for the people working there. They will not only feel better and have fewer sick days; they will actually want to come to work!”
Freedom of movement Ross is no doubt a master at creating homely atmospheres, cleverly striking the balance between seclusion and community spirit. For more than 20 years, his team of architects, engineers and designers has been improving living conditions for families and work places for employees. The firm has been awarded for Best Architecture Single Residence Sweden, received the Building Preservation Prize for Best New Construction, and named Most Beautiful Villa in Sweden. With a mix of ultra-modern and ultraclassic, Ross enables flow and freedom of movement. By clearing out walls and
corridors, he recreates new environments not based around cubicles and straight lines but instead vibrant areas filled with energy. In the private villas, bedrooms are grouped in one area of the house with their own bathrooms and wardrobes, a bit like secluded islands, whilst the communal areas are more linked. Both are needed for a meaningful existence, as is the relationship between indoor and outdoor space, which is so often forgotten in this part of the world with cold weather and long winters. Does commercial design differ much from private housing? According to Ross, not so much. “We work a lot with creating freedom indoors. Our projects are characterised by generous high ceilings, without making them anonymous. The soul needs space, and we make room for a sense of freedom in our design.” The 20th floor of Wenner-Gren Center will be open for viewing at the end of March.
Architect Pål Ross. Photo: James Holm
For more information, please visit: www.ross.se
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 15
Scan Magazine | Design Business Profile | design-people aps
New Nordic design – inspired by women Winning the competition of tomorrow is not only about embracing new technology trends. For design-people, it is about doing it in a way that makes an impact on people by providing real user benefits. By Nicolai Lisberg | Photos: Vifa
Meaningful benefits, ease of use and desirability – those are the three core ingredients in the recipe for success for the Danish design company design-people. So, although they are a company primarily designing technological solutions for their clients, technology is not the main focus. “When we take on a project, we spend about 20-25 per cent of the time on research and finding out what the users would really benefit from. The main focus is on people and user experiences, because knowing the users’ preferences allows us to create the ultimate 16 | Issue 98 | March 2017
user journey, which is so important for the final product to be a success,” explains Henrik Mathiassen, design and creative director as well as partner at design-people. One of the projects where design-people spent a great deal of time figuring out the target audience and their needs and intuitive preferences was when they were hired to design lifestyle speakers for Vifa. Design-people was given the freedom not only to design the end product, but also to help with a marketing strategy.
“Vifa wanted to change from a component manufacturer to a product lifestyle brand. We spent a lot of time on research and came up with the idea of creating a visible differentiation from the designs on the market in order to attract women, without offending male buyers,” says Mathiassen. “We developed an interiorfriendly design, and we suggested that Vifa would launch the new speakers at the furniture exhibition in Stockholm. Usually, you launch products like this at an electronic appliance fair, but we wanted to target a different audience and market. The result was stunning – during the brand premiere at Stockholm Furniture Fair in 2014, people, mainly women, blogged about it and uploaded pictures to Facebook and Instagram about the speakers, and Vifa got instant
Scan Magazine | Design Business Profile | design-people aps
inquiries from Australia and Japan about where the product could be bought.” The Vifa speakers have won several awards, including the very prestigious iF Gold Award 2017.
and design also means that major companies such as Microsoft, Kenwood and LG Electronics have reached out to them.
Inspired by women
No matter what client design-people works with, the main approach and ambition is always the same. It is about creating products that are meaningful, easy to use and desirable. That was the success criteria when they designed a new app for Danfoss that allows you to manage your indoor climate from the convenience of your smart phone. The Smartheating app is the result of an extensive development to create something simple and appealing for the users, and women have played a key role as they were benchmark users for making the app provide substantial everyday benefits and uncompromising ease of use.
The fact that design-people used female preferences as an inspiration for the design was not a coincidence. From 2009 to 2012, the company initiated the Female Interaction research project together with Danfoss, Bang & Olufsen and Jabra. The project was co-financed by the Danish Business Authorities and the purpose was to crack the code of female-responsive tech innovation. “In 2028, almost three quarters of consumer spending worldwide will be controlled by women, but products and services are rarely created or marketed to satisfy their expectations. We have explored a market with great opportunities and making our products inspired by women has become a part of our DNA,” explains Klaus Schroeder, innovation director and CEO at design-people. The fact that design-people have made it one of their core competencies to offer clients female-responsive innovation
Design makes a difference – even in the digital world
The Danfoss Link sales figures are very positive, and so are the user feedback and the evaluations from experts. This makes the Smartheating app a milestone in Danfoss’s strategy to win ground in the digital economy. It demonstrates that Danfoss Climate systems are now becoming part of the Internet of Things
(IoT), where heating devices become connected to the internet, which allows new energy-saving user benefits and services. Numerous companies use designpeople’s innovation and design skills to make their new connected products provide winning customer experiences – be it within professional ovens, cleaning equipment or energy metering solutions. “For the future of many of our clients’ businesses, the digital growth potential is essential – and to succeed, we help them to connect to their prospective users and buyers,” says Schroeder, and Mathiassen adds: “Sometimes a client might wonder if they can save some money on the designer, but in the end it’s the customer experience that makes them profit. It’s all about creating winning experiences for the end users; if they find a product to be meaningful, easy to use and aesthetically appealing, you’ll get a happy client and thus a product that sells better. Design really does make a difference.” For more information, please visit: www.design-people.com
Danfoss App. Photo: design-people
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 17
Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Gyllensten Design
Perfectly imperfect In a world where everyone is pressured into being their most perfect version, there is something refreshing in finding beauty in imperfect jewellery. By Marte Eide | Photos: Gyllensten Design
“To take something that is meant for one thing and give it another purpose, that fascinates me,” says Venke Marit Gyllensten, jewellery designer and founder of Gyllensten Design. She finds her inspiration in things that most would likely disregard, and in her workshop in Skien she has made jewellery using everything from copper strings to the remains of old bicycle seats – all by hand. “I have always liked old things and have collected them over the years,” Gyllensten explains. “Now I have a mixture of materials to use.” Gyllensten Design was born out of a wish for the designer to be more creative in her daily life. “I started making a proper business out of this last year, but it is still mainly a hobby,” she says. “My goal is to expand the range of products as well as starting to
ship to customers overseas. I get requests from across the world, especially through Instagram where I share a picture almost every day.” As there is only one of each product, Gyllensten emphasises that her work is a far cry from mass production. “I want my products to be one of a kind, to feel unique and special to the customer,” Gyllensten says, adding that this is where her slogan, ‘perfectly imperfect’, came from. “Nothing is perfect – but the imperfect is perfect in its own way.”
For more information, please visit: www.gyllenstendesign.com Instagram: @Gyllenstendesign
Scan Magazine | Artist of the Month | Norway
Artist of the Month, Norway
The art of living on the coast Five minutes from Brønnøysund Airport, where the unique landscape of the Helgeland coast opens up to the Norwegian Sea, painter Inger-Hilde Nyrud has transformed a small farm into a gallery and atelier that is out of the ordinary. This summer, Nyrud’s use of layers and colours will again inspire thoughtfulness and wonder in the spectacular surroundings of northern Norway. By Eirik Elvevold | Photos: Inger-Hilde Nyrud
Despite its proximity to the town of Brønnøysund, it looks like Inger-Hilde Nyrud’s gallery and atelier is located at the edge of the world. Before visitors even lay eyes on the esteemed art they came to see, they are left contemplating the breathtaking nature found on the doorstep of what was once a relative’s farm. The thought-provoking ambience, enhanced by the sound of the sea crashing in on the Helgeland coast’s barren rocks, is indicative of the art they have in store. “Life – to be a human being – is like an emotional rollercoaster, and I know that many people experience a moment of recognition in my work. Personal things quickly come to the surface. I spend a lot of time creating depth and dynamics through layers upon layers of colourful acrylic paint. Paintings with one layer
have no real tension in them, so I’m trying to dig deeper. It’s like a research process, in which colour and life itself are at the centre,” explains Nyrud. The Norwegian artist, who has been showcased internationally through exhibitions in New York, Berlin, Rome and Vienna, keeps moving through various forms of expression to avoid getting stuck. Still, she argues, it is possible to see a pattern in her work. “I keep coming back to three different ‘motif circuits’. First, you have the coastal landscape here at Helgeland – to which I’m almost addicted. Second, you have what I like to call fabulating figurative motives with a sense of recognition in a dream landscape. The third circuit is the purely abstract,” says Nyrud, before describing how she often moves from one circuit to
the other through an intuitive process of discovery. “At the moment, I’m working on a large, abstract painting that might become a fabulating figurative one. I can glimpse an older man on a journey in there, perhaps a refugee in life, but I’m not sure if he gets to stay. I just have to wait and see. The old man reminds me of why I’m an artist. You have to travel the narrow road sometimes, just like in life,” concludes Nyrud.
Interested in renting Inger-Hilde’s farm house, including a kayak and boat? Contact her on ingerhilde@live.no
For more information, please visit: www.ingerhildenyrud.no
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 19
Scan Magazine | Gallery of the Month | Norway
Galleri Briskeby’s goal is to show the diversity in Norwegian contemporary graphic art.
Gallery of the Month, Norway
Bringing high-quality, affordable art to the people When Galleri Briskeby opened its doors 12 years ago, it was a result of gallery director Line Harr Skagestad’s desire to give graphic artists an arena to showcase their work. With graphics described by many as an art form not getting the recognition it deserves, the space was a much appreciated addition to the Norwegian capital’s art scene. Since then, Galleri Briskeby has exhibited work by famous artists such as Hariton Pushwagner, as well as up-and-coming talents. By Linn Skjei Bjørnsen | Photos: Galleri Briskeby
Oslo’s art scene has been flourishing over the past few years, with new art institutions and galleries constantly popping up around the city. Galleri Briskeby, now in its 12th year, is somewhat of a veteran in the industry – at least when it comes to graphic art. In 2005, it was one of very few galleries focusing on graph20 | Issue 98 | March 2017
ic work, and this is still the case today. “Graphic art is in many ways a misunderstood art form. People often associate it with mass-produced prints you can find at the local framing shop. While it is true that graphic work is often made in multiples, there is a very complicated process involved, as well as unique forms of ex-
pression,” explains gallery director Line Harr Skagestad.
Forgotten heroes and lesser-known talent After studying art history and working at several galleries in Norway, Skagestad developed a deep interest in graphic arts. Noticing the lack of arenas for graphic artists to present their work, she decided to team up with friend and artist Eline Medbøe to start Galleri Briskeby. Located right behind the Royal Palace in central Oslo, Galleri Briskeby hosts several larger exhibitions each year, as well as a permanent exhibition showcasing work from the 60 artists the gallery represents.
Scan Magazine | Gallery of the Month | Norway
“Our goal has always been to show the diversity in Norwegian contemporary graphics. We have hosted big names, lesser-known local artists and up-andcoming talent. What we find particularly exciting is to give lesser-known artists with great potential a place to showcase their art, as well as highlighting forgotten heroes and perhaps facilitating their comeback,” Skagestad affirms.
International superstar One artist Galleri Briskeby can take some credit for reviving is Pushwagner – perhaps one of the best-known Norwegian contemporary artists of all time. Since the gallery hosted a solo exhibition of the artist’s 1980s graphics in 2006, Pushwagner has become a national and international sensation, with exhibitions at home and abroad, and a space at the Norwegian National Museum. “It’s definitely something we are proud of, and it’s great to see old heroes experiencing successful comebacks,” says Skagestad. “In fact, we just wrapped up an exhibition by another artist who has seen rising popularity in recent years, Ingrid Haukelidsæter. Her artistic expression is very much representative of us as a gallery, with powerful images focusing on movement, rhythm and presence.”
al or stone – by either carving, drawing or chemically treating the surface. The final print is made by placing a sheet of paper in contact with this surface and running it through a printing press. “What makes graphic art so great is the fact that it’s not only attainable for art collectors or people with huge amounts of money. It is in many cases more affordable than traditional paintings, making it popular amongst first-time art buyers,” says Skagestad.
High quality with a low threshold The idea of bringing art to the people is the driving force behind everything Galleri Briskeby does. “It’s almost a cliché, but we want to function as a door opener, demonstrating that art is available to everyone, and that it’s possible to keep a low threshold while still ensuring the highest standards of quality and originality,” Skagestad explains. The most
inspiring part of the gallery director’s job is helping people find their unique style. “The personal approach is very important to me, spending time and effort with each client to uncover their needs. Feeling heard and cared for adds to the art-buying experience, for both the client and me,” she says. With large, commercial art institutions taking up big chunks of the art scene, and art dealing increasingly moving online, small galleries are in danger of dying out. But Galleri Briskeby’s personal approach and low threshold might be just what is needed to keep them alive. Here is hoping – because in today’s commercialised world, we may well need them more than ever.
For more information, please visit: www.galleribriskeby.no
What many people might not realise is that many of the world’s most famous artists, including Van Gogh, Picasso and Munch, used graphic techniques in their work. A category of fine art, graphic art is created by a transfer process, rather than drawing or painting directly on a canvas or paper. The artist creates the motif on another flat surface – usually wood, met-
Top middle: Galleri Briskeby is located in central Oslo and hosts continuous solo exhibitions, as well as a permanent exhibition. Top right: Gallery director Line Harr Skagestad with a piece of art from the latest exhibition, Momenter by Ingrid Haukelisæter. Bottom left: Pushwagner had a major comeback after his 2006 exhibition at Galleri Briskeby. Bottom right: Gallery Briskeby’s latest exhibition featured work from the Norwegian graphic artist Ingrid Haukelisæter.
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 21
Scan Magazine | Culinary Feature | Restaurant BØF
Bøf welcomes guests with rustic settings, a relaxed atmosphere and lots of friendly smiles.
Quality, smiles, and juicy steaks in central Copenhagen If you are looking for a quality steak traditionally prepared and served in relaxed settings, you will not be disappointed at Bøf. As the name reveals (‘bøf’ is Danish for steak), the bistro bar specialises in proper juicy steaks, but it is much more than that. Specialty beer, a rustic interior, and warm and friendly service all contribute to the genuine charm of the place. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Bøf
With a central location, focus on quality, and a small and approachable menu, Bøf has managed to attract a wide range of guests. Tourists, young couples, and businesses have all taken a liking to the bistro’s balanced approach to quality and simplicity. The approach is not based on a wish to go against the New Nordic trend or vegetarian and health movements, but 22 | Issue 98 | March 2017
rather to stay true to original values, as owner Robin Alexandersen explains. “Our concept is not created to provoke, but to give our audience what they want – a relaxed Sunday dinner with a no-frills steak béarnaise. We make what people want without trying to push some kind of concept onto them. That’s also why we’re not called Robin’s steaks or something
like that; it’s not about me, it’s about creating classic dishes based on traditional methods,” says Alexandersen.
Not just steaks While Alexandersen aims to use as much local and European produce as possible, the bistro’s famously juicy steaks are from more exotic parts of the world. “We don’t want to be placed in the New Nordic category. What we want to do is present Danish food traditions and produce, and we use as many local ingredients as possible. But, when it comes to the meat, it’s not all from Denmark but from more traditional meat-producing nations like Uruguay, and that’s simply because
Scan Magazine | Culinary Feature | Bøf
quality steak meat is only produced in very small quantities in Denmark,” says Alexandersen. Despite the name, it is not all about meat at Bøf. The purposely small menu contains three classic meat mains including rib-eye and tenderloin as well as a traditionally prepared plaice and a vegetarian barley risotto. Besides, the bistro has also become known for its approachable wine menu, relaxed atmosphere, and rustic interiors created partly from old and weathered timber. This means that the bistro attracts a wide audience and not, as one might think, just male diners out for a juicy steak. “We actually have a lot of women coming here; a lot of groups but also a lot of single travellers. Our menu
is very approachable; you don’t need to go for a whole three-course meal but can just sit down at a casual bar table, have a single course and a glass of wine, and that’s it,” stresses Alexandersen.
to smile at our guests, wish them a happy birthday when they’re celebrating it with us, and ensure that our menu is only made up of the kind of food we would wish to have for dinner ourselves.”
Good beer and friendly smiles
Being independent also means that Alexandersen is able to focus on the areas that he is particularly passionate about, such as beer. The bistro owner will soon be completing Denmark’s new beer sommelier training and has created a special beer menu to match his bistro’s food. Draft beer is served from the bar’s extraordinary five-tap beer tap made from an old manhole cover, and Alexandersen is even planning to open up his own brewery in the bistro’s cellar very soon.
Located in between Kongens Haven and Nyhavn in central Copenhagen, Bøf bistro is surrounded by numerous larger restaurant franchises. But despite the smaller resources, Alexandersen, as an independent restaurant owner, believes there is an upside to being a small independent business. “We are just what we are and that might mean that things take a little longer to develop, because we don’t have any big investors backing us, but it also means that we have time
Facts: Bøf is centrally located in Dronningens Tværgade 22, 1302, Copenhagen. The bistro is open for dinner every day of the week. The bistro includes an event room for private functions for up to 100 people.
For more information, please visit: www.bofcph.com
As the name reveals, Bøf bistro bar (‘bøf’ is Danish for steak) specialises in juicy and quality steaks.
Barley risotto.
Like the food menu, Bøf’s wine menu is small but well thought through and presented.
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 23
Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Hanne Boel
24 | Issue 98 | March 2017
Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Hanne Boel
Hanne Boel Nothing to prove As Denmark’s best-selling female singer returns to music full time, just ahead of her 60th birthday, nerves and performance anxiety would be understandable. But Hanne Boel is surprisingly calm. Scan Magazine spoke to the singer about the madness of fame, musicianship as artistic expression, and forgiving yourself. By Linnea Dunne | Press photos
She won the hearts of all Scandinavia in 1990 with her hit single I Wanna Make Love to You and went on to become the best-selling female singer in Denmark, but Hanne Boel is not interested in entertaining the idea of mad success. “I was brought up to be a sensible, well- behaved, measured woman, so I was really aware on the one hand of letting the whole thing happen, and on the other of thinking that this is something any grown woman can handle and that I should act natural and not freak out,” she says. “I was actually almost 30, which is probably eight to ten years older than many artists when they first experience that fame, and I was blessed in that I was older, I was mature, I was a mother. I had a foundation to stand on in my life.” At the same time, being a mother and having to pack up and go on tour was not wholly uncomplicated. She laughs. “I can see that I made some funny decisions here and there. From about 1988 to 1996
were the heavy years – things were really moving fast and that time has a tendency to feel like a blur. I must’ve been really stressed out. But that’s what happens when you experience this kind of fame – you can’t avoid it.”
Revolting and forgiving yourself She talks about what followed as a sort of resistance, as her behaving like a 35-year-old teenager insistent on trying out something new and expecting her audience to follow her. “I see this happening to other artists, and I’ve tried to explain it to them but they won’t listen to me,” she says. This becomes a recurring theme: Boel talking about other, often younger, artists and wanting to help them, almost as if to protect them – perhaps trying to make sense of her own story. “When you don’t say no at the right time, you end up feeling like you’ve been driven around the circus too much, and you want to go the opposite direction. I sometimes think I should be a mentor for record companies
and help manage young artists, because it’s such a natural thing and I can see it happening before it happens.” Boel’s children are now 24 and 32 and, while she sees the past for what it was, she is resolute in her belief that regret is a waste of time. “I think I was there enough. Of course, when your kid turns 21 you start hearing the truth, and we’ve been through some truths,” she pauses. “They must have suffered… but one of the most important things is the ability to forgive yourself. I actually said to both my kids that I was pretty aware of not being perfect, but hey, surprise, no one is! I’ve spent some time forgiving myself – not that anything was wrong, but ten years of my life kind of passed by like a storm.”
Artistry and academia Boel went on to release more than a dozen solo albums in genres ranging from pop and soul to jazz, gospel and rockier sounds. To this day, she has sold over 2.5 million records. But in 2009, a whole new chapter started as she took on a job as professor at Copenhagen’s Rhythmic Music Conservatory. “Once I got over the writing of this huge application, I just felt angry at the institution for how they were handling students and music education,” Issue 98 | March 2017 | 25
Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Hanne Boel
you to become a better bass player – but never just for the sake of it.”
Feeling secure 2017 is a big year for the singer, who is turning 60 and moving on from academia. Touring and doing her own music proved difficult while giving the professorship her all, and now the urge is back. “I got so enthusiastic about the job at the Conservatory, so it made sense to give it everything I had,” she says. “It’s been a wonderful time, but I’m really happy to be feeling this growing lust – and nervousness, but in a good sense – about doing music again.” The past few years of making music have mostly consisted of Boel gigging with an acoustic trio, something she thinks will impact on her sound. “It’s been happening without me thinking about it, this floating into a new way of doing my music,” she reflects and describes a sound that marries acoustic chamber music with analogue keyboards and some percussion. While her 60th birthday is just another year to her, maturity may well impact on her musical arrangements. “That’s one thing about becoming older – I feel my voice is enough. I feel more laid back and secure, more ‘yeah’, you know? Leaving that heavy instrumentation behind doesn’t mean it won’t groove, but I feel comfortable with my voice being centred and the instruments just adding the framework.”
she recalls. “I spoke about it during the interview, said ‘you guys have to change your attitude’, so when I started that became a natural direction – and they needed that drive and energy. It was frustrating in the beginning; art and music have to come from the body and not the brain – I don’t think we can bring up artists if we’re not bringing in the artistic way. It has to be the heart that brings about art.” She started out as professor in vocals but eventually took on more of an artistic de26 | Issue 98 | March 2017
velopment role. She describes this as the shift the institution made in employing her: adopting the craftsman’s way of looking at art. “If you’re fantastic at playing the bass, you might be able to express something in an artistic way – but while skills are important, they’re only facilitating that artistic expression, so we changed it around,” Boel explains. “First comes this thing you want to say, and then you pick your weapon, a way to get the story out of your body. Then, if you’re not a good enough bass player to do it, we’ll motivate
All she knows now is that she has a few months to go at the academy and that the next focus will be music. “The only real plan I have so far is to come back to doing music – more live concerts, writing more, spending more time with my own music,” she says. As for genres, styles and the rest, she seems unfazed. “I don’t have to fit any boxes. It’s a little bit scary, but on the other hand, it’s like, what are you afraid of? Nobody’s expecting anything – any expectations are my own. I want to put out an album that makes sense to me, out of my necessity and no one else’s. I don’t have to prove anything.” For tour dates and new releases, keep an eye on: www.hanneboel.com
Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Hanne Boel
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 27
RE U m LT he T U l C cia N RK e p A S VI MA A N N DI DE N – A SC e:
With 80,000 participants and 200,000 spectators, the Aalborg Carnival is a festival of giant dimensions.
Europe’s happiest carnival The Danish summer boasts an exciting programme of cultural events and festivals, and one of the season’s absolute highlights is the Aalborg Carnival, the biggest carnival in the Nordics. Extending over the last two weekends of May and comprising 85,000 active participants in three large parades, the festive event makes the perfect occasion for a visit to Aalborg, Europe’s happiest city. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Aalborg Carnival
With 85,000 active participants and more than 200,000 spectators, Aalborg Carnival is among the world’s ten biggest carnivals. But what makes the carnival stand out is not just its size, but also the distinctive, cheerful atmosphere intrinsic to its home city, Aalborg. Known for its charming cobblestone streets, new waterfront and lively nightlife, the regional capital was nominated as Europe’s happiest city last year. 28 | Issue 98 | March 2017
“One of the most noticeable qualities of our carnival is the fact that all our participants are extremely cheerful and thoughtful – everyone is helping each other out. It’s quite unique; no matter which way you turn, you’ll be met by a smiling face,” explains Kresten Thomsen, head of the member-driven organisation behind Aalborg Carnival. “Aalborg has gone through an almost magical change; through the last ten years, it’s trans-
formed from a rather plain industrial city in the north of Denmark to a modern cultural hub. It means that today our inhabitants don’t have to look with envy at other cities in Denmark or abroad but feel an enormous pride in Aalborg and its expression.” Truly, the very existence of the carnival relies on this general goodwill, as guests are not charged an entrance fee but instead encouraged to buy the carnival’s loyalty wristband.
A carnival for everyone Spread out over two weekends, Aalborg Carnival is not just one but three major events. Taking place on 19 May, the first parade is the International Parade, which sees carnival groups from all over the world treat spectators to a magnifi-
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Scandinavian Culture – Denmark
cent demonstration of different carnival traditions. The following day, the city’s children get the chance to take part, dress up and dance through the streets of Aalborg in the Children’s Carnival. The parade ends in Kildeparken, a park in the heart of the city, where a string of activities and entertainments are arranged for young carnival goers of all ages and nationalities. “The Children’s Carnival is the only carnival in the world for children,” explains Thomsen. “Last year, we had upwards of 9,000 participants in the parade in which children and their parents march through the entire city centre to end up in Kildeparken.” The last parade of the carnival is the Aalborg Parade, the carnival’s largest free parade, which attracted around 200,000 spectators last year. “Right now, we are one of the ten biggest carnivals in
the world. The carnival has become one big festival for the city; it’s a week when everyone, children and grown-ups, has fun and parties together. Even the police have a good time. You can compare it to Notting Hill carnival, for instance, where you need around 7,000 police officers to keep everything running smoothly – in Aalborg we have around 50 officers and fewer arrests than on an ordinary Saturday,” Thomsen says. “It takes a lot of work and security to arrange something this big of course, but when it comes to closing people in and asking them to behave, it’s not necessary; it’s just part of the culture. We never need to close off the streets, because everyone knows that the carnival is here – not even a bicycle enters.”
Celebrating love With its intoxicating combination of colours, costumes, music and open spirit, Aalborg Carnival has, unsurprisingly, set
the scene for many romantic encounters. Some new couples even choose to take things one step further and get married in the carnival’s express wedding tent. The carnival wedding is nothing but fun and mock certificates, but in many cases it has actually led to something real, says Thomsen. “We have many stories of people who have met at the carnival. Five years ago, for instance, a couple met at the carnival and got carnival married, and then, last year, they tied the knot officially.” The carnival has also provided the setting for many extraordinary stag and hen dos. Last year, a group of 100 Britons travelled across the sea to celebrate their friend’s upcoming wedding by taking part in the carnival, Thomsen recalls. “We have more and more participants coming from abroad, and it’s all due to our visitors spreading the word. Most of our visitors are still people who have
Top left: The Aalborg Carnival’s Children’s Carnival is the world’s largest children’s carnival and ends with a big party in a park in the heart of the city. Bottom left: All you have to do to participate in the Aalborg Carnival is to dress up according to the year’s theme, which this year is ‘the world is full of…’ Right: Through local initiatives and support, the Aalborg Carnival has become one of the world’s ten biggest carnivals.
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 29
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Scandinavian Culture – Denmark
The international parade invites carnival enthusiasts from all over the world to present their various carnival traditions.
Local forces getting together
one making a big fuss about it. Today, the only similar event in Denmark that draws more people is Distortion [Copenhagen’s Dance Music Festival], and we’re quite proud of that,” says Thomsen.
Aalborg Carnival first came about thanks to a small group of locals who, having experienced the carnivals of Nice and Tenerife, decided that their hometown needed something similar. Despite a down-to-earth approach typical for the region, the carnival idea immediately gained a foothold with locals, attracting 5,000 participants from all over the region in the first year. “Since then, the event has just kept growing gradually without any-
Every year, Aalborg Carnival is given a new theme to inspire the outfits of carnival goers. This year’s theme is ‘the world is full of…’, and Thomsen is looking forward to seeing what the theme inspires. “Last year, the theme was ‘once upon a time’ and we had people dress up as everything from Olsen Banden [an iconic fictional Danish gang] and cassette tapes to hippies and even a Trojan horse. We encour-
been here many times before, and most new visitors have heard about Aalborg Carnival through friends.”
30 | Issue 98 | March 2017
age people to take a creative approach to our theme,” he stresses. Another tradition is the appointment of a Carnival King or Queen, who leads the parade in an impressive King float decorated with a three-metre-tall golden crown. But despite kings, queens and golden floats, the whole event is still defined by the original spirit of unity and inclusivity. Thomsen rounds off: “This year it’ll be the 34th time we’re setting up the carnival, and today we’re the only carnival that allows everyone to take part freely. We just create the framework; the streets are the stage, and you are the performer.”
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Scandinavian Culture – Denmark
Facts about Aalborg Carnival: Aalborg Carnival takes place 19-27 May 2017. Participation is free, but carnival goers are encouraged to support the event by buying a loyalty wristband. To take part in the Aalborg Parade, carnival goers just have to dress up and show up at one of three starting points. The loyalty wristband costs 150DKK (£15) in advance or 250DKK (£25) at the event. It gives access to the party in Kildeparken, the children’s carnival, the following children’s party, extra toilet facilities, free water and free transport on public buses in the region.
For more information, please visit: www.aalborgkarneval.dk/happy
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 31
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Scandinavian Culture – Denmark
Left: Located by the seaside half an hour north of Copenhagen, Louisiana is undoubtedly one of the north’s most beautiful art museums. Right: Louisiana has expanded significantly since its foundation almost 60 years ago, but thanks to its unique architecture and structure it has maintained its approachability.
An art institution with a Scandinavian heart With its characteristic seaside setting, democratic approach to art and inclusive atmosphere, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art is one of the world’s most distinctively Scandinavian cultural institutions. As the museum approaches its 60th anniversary, Scan Magazine talks to Thomas Bendix, head of communications, about the ideas behind the museum’s singular success.
Bendix. “Even though we’re closing in on 60, I think we’ve managed to maintain a certain freshness. There’s something about the place and our fundamental values that is just as attractive now as it was then.”
By Signe Hansen | Photos: Louisiana Museum of Modern Art Photo: Ulrik Jantzen
Founded in 1958, Louisiana has undoubtedly had a successful 60 years. The museum holds one of Scandinavia’s largest and most visited collections of modern art and is widely recognised for its innovative special exhibitions of contemporary art and modernist classics. Behind the success is the idea that art should be made accessible for everyone to explore and enjoy. “The museum is based on a distinctively Scandinavian, democratic idea of making art accessible to everyone by placing it in a specific setting and connecting it with nature. Accessibility is the keyword that has been driving us from the very beginning,” explains Bendix. Despite its location half an hour outside Copenhagen, Louisiana is Denmark’s most visited art museum with more 32 | Issue 98 | March 2017
than 600,000 yearly visitors. Many people spend almost a full day at the museum leisurely exploring the beautiful 19th century villa’s many nooks and corners and enjoying the surrounding sculpture park’s peaceful atmosphere and sea views. The museum also includes a highly popular three-storey children’s wing, offering open workshops for children aged four to 16. “The museum has grown significantly since its establishment, but we’ve successfully maintained our founding structure. The architecture, the way the museum is set up, means that when you enter you don’t feel like you’re facing some kind of unapproachable big art behemoth. It’s more like a leisurely exploration of a string of smaller intimate spaces,” says
Current exhibitions at Louisiana include:
Louisiana on Paper – Barnett Newman: 6 Jan-17 Apr The Architect’s Studio – Wang Shu: 9 Feb-30 Apr William Kentridge: 16 Feb-18 Jun
For exhibition dates and more information, please visit: www.louisiana.dk
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Scandinavian Culture – Denmark
Top left: The David Collection’s Islamic collection includes one of the ten most important collections of Islamic art in the western world. Top right: The David Collection’s European 18th century art collection is presented in the original setting of the collection’s founder C. L. David’s 19th century bourgeois Copenhagen home.
An unexpected art encounter Set in the heart of Copenhagen, the David Collection exhibits an unexpected and unusual collection of art, including one of the ten most important collections of Islamic art in the western world as well as collections of European 18th century art and Danish early modern art. All is free to view and enjoy within the settings of a beautiful old Copenhagen townhouse.
contains almost exclusively original pieces. These include works by some of the most famous Danish artists of the time, such as Vilhelm Hammershøi and J. F. Willumsen.
By Signe Hansen | Photos: Pernille Klemp
The David Collection arranges guided tours, lectures, children’s activities and much more in Danish, while tablets with audio guides provide information in English. Guided tours in English are offered every summer from June through August, and special tours in English can be arranged all year round.
Founded in 1945 by the Danish lawyer C. L. David, the David Collection is not an ordinary art museum. The collection is exhibited within its founder’s old townhouse in Kronprinsessegade and gives visitors a broad range of different and unexpected experiences. “The Islamic collection has a range and scope that is unmatched in most parts of the western world; it’s on par with institutions such as the Metropolitan, Victoria & Albert, and the British Museum,” says curator Joachim Meyer. “For visitors from abroad, it’s also a chance to experience a Danish bourgeois home from the 19th century and that, together with the collection of Danish art, is something many appreciate.” The David Collection today has the largest collection of Islamic art in Scandinavia
and includes a wide range of characteristic calligraphies, textiles and miniature paintings from all eras and corners of the Islamic world. However, it all began with an interest in ceramics. “The museum’s founder was a very resourceful and successful lawyer, who collected paintings and decorative art. His great passion was ceramics and, at some point, because of this, he started collecting Islamic ceramics – and that was the start of the Islamic collection,” explains Meyer. When C. L. David died in 1960, he left his entire art collection and home to the C. L. David Foundation and Collection, which runs the museum today. The foundation has since expanded the Islamic collection considerably, while the collection of Danish modern art from 1880-1950
For more information, please visit: www.davidmus.dk
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 33
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Scandinavian Culture – Denmark
Enjoy life in the slow lane on Denmark’s most eastern island Life on Christiansø, a tiny island and former military fortress east of Bornholm, is the epitome of ‘slow living’. On the island, which has only 89 year-round inhabitants, visitors will find a characteristic rocky landscape, well-preserved historic fortresses and an impressive bird life. As the island does not welcome cars, all must be explored by foot. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Christiansø Administration
As the administrative manager of Christiansø, Jens Peter Koefoed has many roles. Owned by the Danish Ministry of Defence, the island is not part of any municipality, and its special status means that everything from ensuring law and order to managing the local guesthouse, which is coincidentally the old prison, is in the hands of Koefoed. The 52-yearold former military man, who moved to Christiansø from Bornholm in January this year, has quickly become entranced 34 | Issue 98 | March 2017
by the island’s special way of life. “It’s a completely unique atmosphere out here. When you arrive, you immediately get this sense of tranquillity and peace. People just automatically slow down and get into the pace of the island,” he says. “During the summer, the atmosphere here is more like that of a small southern European town than a Nordic island – you’ve got the narrow streets, warm cliffs, historic buildings, the sea and birds; I dare say it’s unlike anything else in the north.”
Unless arriving in their own boat and docking at the local port, visitors reach Christiansø by ferry from Bornholm. When they arrive, they are literally compelled to slow down as the only means of transport on the small island is by foot.
From pirate hub to military defence Despite its small size, Christiansø has a long and colourful history. The strait between Christiansø and the smaller Frederiksø has been used as a harbour since the first millennium. Up until the construction of the defence fortress in 1684, the strait was often ruled by pirates on the search for gold. In between, however, the island was also used by local fishermen and, in 1684, the work on the defence fortress was initiated. After 1721, when the Great Northern War end-
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Scandinavian Culture – Denmark
ed, the fortress became less essential and the island slowly transformed back into a fishing community. It was not until the Napoleonic Wars that the island’s military role was once again revived. Following a most dramatic decade with not just military attacks and piracy but also mutiny and murder, the fortress was finally closed down in 1856, and the island gradually turned into a community of artists and fishermen. Today, visitors can explore the dramatic history of the island in its original settings as the old fortress and service buildings as well as the homes of local fishermen have all been awarded heritage status. The two main defence towers have been turned into museums of the island’s history, nature and art and, after an extensive renovation, the largest tower will reopen this summer with a modern interior and a spectacular view over the islands. However, even though it might look like it, the islands are not a museum but a living community. “Almost all of the old houses are still inhabited – at least during summer,” stresses Koefoed. “We’ve
had a few cases where visitors simply walk into people’s homes because most of the island looks like something from an open-air museum.”
Become a prisoner for a night When it comes to nature, Christiansø is especially known for its diverse bird life, which includes many breeding birds. At times, ornithologists flock to the small island. This happened last year, when Danish TV host Sebastian Klein discovered a sulphur-bellied warbler, a bird that is extremely rare in Europe, on the island. “We have a lot of breeding colonies on the island and regularly have ornithologist gatherings here. Sometimes it happens spontaneously that someone spots a rare bird and then everyone flocks to the island,” Koefoed laughs. While some visitors come for a specific reason and just for a short visit, the island also has a number of long-term summer guests. Many stay in holiday cabins or at the local inn or campsite. Moreover, for those looking for an authentic experience of the island’s history, a night in the
old prison is also a possibility. Today, the eight cells have been transformed into small but comfortable rooms that can be rented via the island administration. Facts about Christiansø: - Christiansø is part of the small Ertholmene archipelago, an hour east of Bornholm. - The archipelago’s two main islands, Christiansø and the smaller Fredriksø, are connected by a 30-metre-long walkway. - Christiansø is connected to Gudhjem on Bornholm by ferry three times daily during peak season. - The island is owned by the Danish Ministry of Defence, and only people employed on the island are allowed to move there. However, a small number of former servicemen and fishermen families still live on the island. - In total, the 25-hectare island has an estimated 89 year-round residents.
For more information, please visit: www.christiansoe.dk
Located an hour east of Bornholm, the captivating Christiansø island can be reached by ferry from Gudhjem or private boat. During the summer, Christiansø’s atmosphere is more like that of a southern European village than a Nordic island, and most of the island’s historic buildings are inhabited.
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 35
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Scandinavian Culture – Denmark
Greed by Steinar Haga Kristensen.
Times of sin The seven deadly sins and their relevance to life in the 21st century are explored through seven exhibitions across Jutland in Denmark. By Thomas Bech Hansen | Photos: Skovgaard Museum
When did you last commit a sin? Maybe you would only admit it to yourself if you felt a touch of envy, sloth, gluttony, anger, greed, lust or pride – the seven deadly sins described and classified in early Christian times. But if such an act of soul searching proves one thing, it is that we still hold onto a notion of sins. Seven exhibitions across the Jutland peninsula in Denmark, divided between seven venues, encourage us to rethink the deadly sins and what they mean in today’s society.
Where is the power? “The power used to be with the church. But where is it now?” asks Anne-Mette Villumsen, director at the Skovgaard Museum in Viborg, one of the venues involved, referring to the fact that the seven 36 | Issue 98 | March 2017
sins were created by the church as an instrument to make immorality tangible. “We still live by many of the same values, at least the sins and virtues tend to be more or less the same as they were hundreds of years ago,” she continues. “But the question is how we perceive them today, what relevance they have. The purpose of these exhibitions is to look at the seven deadly sins and use them to discuss and debate contemporary life.”
Sins and virtues With Viborg Cathedral as its next-door neighbour, the Skovgaard Museum needs no reminder of the old world order. Inside is Rebecca Louise Law’s modern interpretation of the sin pride. From blooming to withering, the British artist’s flower installations illustrate pride as
hubristic. The other six venues also feature both Danish and international artists using a range of formats, from Katja Bjørn’s video sculptures at Muse®um in Skive to Jamex and Einar de la Torre’s glass art at Glasmuseet in Ebeltoft. Villumsen takes a broader look at the seven deadly sins exhibitions and argues that contemporary eyes might even view some sins as virtues. “Nowadays, for instance, there is a lot of talk about stress and work-life balance. Maybe a sin like sloth is on the way to becoming a virtue?” she ponders. “And maybe the reason we have come to talk so much about stress, and sometimes consider it prestigious, is that we subconsciously perhaps fear committing the deadly sin of sloth. It could also be that lust has become desirable. Just think of Fifty Shades of Grey.” There is, she says, an eternal struggle between good and evil. “Everyone seems to keep their own private score. Someone might take a long airplane journey, leaving
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Scandinavian Culture – Denmark
behind a huge carbon footprint and the next day choose a recycled plastic bottle to save the planet. The point is, the seven deadly sins are so steeped in our culture, whether we consider ourselves Christians or not. We do not notice them, but if we do sin, we usually try to make up for it.”
Eternal questions
the world always has been, and probably will remain, in flux. There is always doubt and the idea of some kind of threat. We continue to debate the values of society, and right now events like Brexit and Trump in the White House shake our ideas of the world order. It might all feel unprecedented, yet the world has continually seen huge changes.”
The exhibitions do not seek exact answers to what sin means today, nor do they provide any solutions to us mere mortals, who might wish to ignore the devils on our backs. “It is all very confusing,” Villumsen admits. “But the comforting thing is that
On another comforting note, we can safely assume that everyone sins. At least that was the conclusion when the seven museum directors met to prepare the exhibitions. “There were seven jars,
Sloth by Einar and Jamex de la Torre.
Lust by Christian Lemmerz.
one for each sin, and we could confess to the latest one we had committed by putting a ball in one of the jars,” explains Villumsen. And the result? “There was a lot of sloth. And quite a bit of anger.” Seven deadly sins, seven exhibitions Danish and international contemporary artists and seven art museums collaborate to rethink the seven deadly sins in society today. The exhibition series can be experienced until 28 May 2017.
Pride – Skovgaard Museum, Viborg Anger – Horsens Kunstmuseum, Horsens Greed – Holstebro Kunstmuseum, Horsens Lust – Randers Kunstmuseum, Randers Gluttony – Museum of Religious Art, Lemvig Envy – Muse®um, Skive Sloth – Glasmuseet Ebeltoft. Ebeltoft
Aarhus 2017 The exhibitions are part of Aarhus 2017 – European Capital of Culture.
Envy by Katja Bjørn.
Gluttony by Barbara Kruger.
For more information, please visit: www.aarhus2017.dk/en
Anger by Martin Erik Andersen, Rene Schmidt, Vinyl Terror & Horror.
Pride by Rebecca Law.
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 37
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Scandinavian Culture – Denmark
Left: Axel Salto vases in budding style made in 1958. The vases are from the Royal Copenhagen Collection. Top right: Axel Salto vase from 1947 in sprouting style from the Royal Copenhagen Collection. Right: The beautiful house, named Grimmerhus, was built by Johan Daniel Herholdt in 1857 and has been preserved just like most of CLAY’s surroundings. Photo: Thomas Mølvig.
The magical world of ceramics If you think of clay as nothing more than a boring, brown mug, think again. Clay is the beautiful Royal Copenhagen cup; it is your grandmother’s old china set. Clay is all around you. At CLAY Museum of Ceramic Art Denmark, you can experience the natural material in all its glory.
in society,” Wirnfeldt explains. “However, in the 1800s, when the absolute monarchy ended, ceramics was democratised and was suddenly for everyone.”
By Heidi Kokborg |
Axel Salto
Photos: Ole Akøj
Surrounded by tall trees, the sea, and both the new and the old Lillebælt bridges, CLAY Museum of Ceramic Art Denmark could not wish for a more picturesque location. This is where art, architecture and nature meet. “We want to open the doors to a world of magic. Clay has so many expressions – it can be heavy or light as a feather, and imagination is the only limit to the amount of shapes you can create with it. It is an extraordinary material,” says Pia Wirnfeldt, director at CLAY. “When you come to CLAY, you’ll realise that ceramic is not just a brown mug from the 1970s. You’ll see that ceramics are everywhere; it is the focal point for social 38 | Issue 98 | March 2017
gatherings – we drink out of cups, eat off plates and put salad in bowls, all of which are most likely made of clay,” she says.
A window to Danish history In 2010, the Royal Copenhagen Collection, containing 55,000 items in porcelain, faience and stoneware, was donated to CLAY. This makes the museum completely unique. “We now have both modern and historic collections that are unique and very special,” says Wirnfeldt. Not only does the Royal Copenhagen Collection tell the ceramic history of Denmark of the past 240 years, but it also mirrors the cultural development in Denmark. “In the 1700s, porcelain was a symbol of power and social status. It was expensive, fragile, and only for the richest
A must-see during a visit to CLAY this year is the Axel Salto exhibition. Salto (1889-1961) is world renowned for his stoneware, and a central figure in Danish design history. The exhibition is centred around the Royal Copenhagen Collection as Salto contributed numerous creations to it. “Salto’s art is absolutely incredible, and we are proud to display the most extensive exhibition of his ceramic oeuvre,” says Wirnfeldt. “You can see his stoneware and porcelain work, and his original drawings and sketches, which give a unique insight into his work.” For more information, please visit: www.claymuseum.dk
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Scandinavian Culture – Denmark
Photo: Camilla Hey
Photo: Mew
The king will see you now The Danish Museum of National History is set within living history at Frederiksborg Castle. Take a walk through the intact halls of Danish luminaries and gaze at their portraits.
Photo: Mew
By Thomas Bech Hansen
Ever wondered what it felt like to be a 17th century king? At Frederiksborg Castle, home of the Danish Museum of National History, you get it. With conservators employed at the museum, specialised in furniture, paintings and textiles, the castle is living proof of life hundreds of years ago. “Several Danish kings lived here. These are people who have shaped Denmark. The exterior walls are the same as back then. The church, the secret passage and the audience chamber hall are as well. The rest is decorated as a museum, so differs somewhat from what it used to look like,” says Emilie Tønnesen from the museum’s communications department. Visitors will be hard-pressed to find a corner of Frederiksborg Castle that is not historical or majestic, but the great hall, the church and the audience chamber are all must-sees. “If you must prioritise, these are what you should see. But you get the best experience and sense of his-
fection, according to old portraits. This can be experienced in English on weekends and school holidays.
tory by walking through the museum from one room to another,” says Tønnesen. The museum is also Denmark’s national portrait gallery, with a collection of more than 10,000 portraits. This year sees seven special exhibitions, two of which are up and running at the moment.
Special exhibitions Until 2 April, works from the past 36 years by Danish artist Peter Martensen are presented. Also on show, until 14 May, are photographs from the 1960s taken by late American actor Dennis Hopper. Frederiksborg Castle has something for the whole family. In the basement, there is an interactive part for children. “They can write with ink and feathers, wear armoury and try on recreated Renaissance dresses,” explains Tønnesen. There are also castle hosts who tell stories dressed out in traditional attire modelled to per-
Frederiksborg Castle Situated in Hillerød, north of Copenhagen, this impressive Renaissance castle was the birth place of Danish King Christian IV and incorporates the best of Renaissance architecture and craftsmanship.
Opening hours Open Monday to Sunday. 1 Apr-31 Oct: 10am – 5pm 1 Nov-31 Mar: 11am – 3pm
For more information, please visit: www.dnm.dk
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 39
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Scandinavian Culture – Denmark
Concerto Copenhagen and Lars Ulrik Mortensen. Photo: TS-Foto
Making old music vital, relevant and contemporary Concerto Copenhagen has a clear mission. The Scandinavian music ensemble wants to spread the beauty and joy of live classical music from the 17th to 19th centuries, and they want to do it in a way that makes the music communicative and present for its audience. By Nicolai Lisberg
Where most symphony orchestras performing Mozart, Vivaldi or Bach are trying to create their own modern interpretation, Concerto Copenhagen does just the opposite. The Baroque orchestra does not go on to reproduce an already tested concept, but instead examines what happens when one considers all aspects of old music and its instruments. “We use instruments from the time when the music was written, or at least instruments built to resemble them. We don’t do this in order to create an illusion of a historic ‘truth’; we do it because we find that it’s the only way we can make the music contemporary, vibrant and relevant to a modern audience,” explains Nikolaj de Fine Licht, general manager of Concerto Copenhagen. 40 | Issue 98 | March 2017
The orchestra played its first concert in 1991 and has since developed into Scandinavia’s leading early music ensemble, joining the league of the world’s most exciting and innovative baroque orchestras.
The experiential and nerdy paradox The fact that Concerto Copenhagen searches for the original sound of the old music does not make its sound and expression old-fashioned. It is quite the contrary, in fact. “It seems like a paradox, but by playing old music on old instruments, you actually achieve a modern communication on the art’s own conditions. Bach’s music, for example, was composed for the present-day instruments of his time and will reconnect in an organic way when played on period instruments,” says de Fine Licht.
Concerto Copenhagen is what you would call a baroque orchestra. It is the nerdy niche of classical music, as they say, but in recent years the orchestra has also been experimenting with performing newly composed music. “Our composer -in-residence, Karl Aage Rasmussen, has written music specially for the instruments we have in our orchestra. This gives the music a different sound and a different life than usual. I wouldn’t mind us being labelled an experimental orchestra, because we like to try new things where we can’t be sure of the outcome. Of course we have a good feeling whenever we take on a new project, but the fact is that we don’t know how it will turn out,” de Fine Licht says. One of the projects the orchestra is experimenting with right now is the famous Danish composer Niels Wilhelm Gade and his ballad Elverskud from 1854.
Exceptional art projects Concerto Copenhagen’s music delivery is about contemplation and devotion,
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Scandinavian Culture – Denmark
about the unexpected and being surprised, about feelings and being in the moment. That is why the orchestra also gets involved in what they like to call exceptional art projects. “These projects are for everyone. You don’t have to be an expert on classical music to get a tremendous experience out of it. There are projects for children, for young people,
for older people, for hospitalised people – pretty much for everyone,” says de Fine Licht. The projects communicate, create dialogue and are participatory by other means than the more traditional concert. The fact that some of them are meant for children does not mean that the musi-
cal aspect is being downgraded, assures de Fine Licht. “Doing things with young people and children is just as satisfying as everything else we do. Those are projects of the highest artistic ambition and skills, in combination with a deep rooted belief that we are all born artists – it’s just that some of us are more aware of it than others.” Facts: - Concerto Copenhagen was founded in 1991. - Artistic director since 2010 is Lars Ulrik Mortensen. - The baroque orchestra receives financial support from the Danish Art Foundation (Statens Kunstfond) and is additionally financed through sales and fundraising. The budget varies between seven and ten million DKK. - The orchestra gives 45 to 55 concerts each year in Denmark and abroad. - Over the years, Concerto Copenhagen has collaborated with many internationally renowned artists in the Early Music scene, including Emma Kirkby, Andreas Scholl, Anne Sofie von Otter, Sonia Prina, Vivica Genaux, Andrew Manze, Andrew Lawrence-King, Reinhard Goebel, Ronald Brautigam, Jordi Savall, and Alfredo Bernardini, the orchestra’s principal guest conductor.
Concerto Copenhagen and Nederlands Kamerkoor with Lars Ulrik Mortensen in Wiener Konzerthaus, January 2016. Photo: Bernhard Trebuch
Nikolaj de Fine Licht addressing the audience during the 25-year anniversary concerts in Copenhagen, June 2016. Photo: Christoffer Askman
Photo: Mathias Løvgreen Bojesen
For more information, please visit: www.coco.dk www.facebook.com/concertocopenhagen www.twitter.com/concertocph www.instagram.com/concertocph youtube.com/user/concertocopenhagen
Lars Ulrik Mortensen and Sine Bundgaard in Vivaldi’s opera Ottone in Villa. Photo: Søren Meisner
The Baroque Expedition for children aged seven to nine years in the National Art Gallery, Copenhagen. Photo: Frida Gregersen
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 41
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Scandinavian Culture – Denmark
Left: Designmuseum Danmark exhibits 110 of the most iconic and influential chair designs in the history of Danish design. Top right: Visitors can also pragmatically test the functional merits of a number of chairs exhibited in more authentic settings. Right: The exhibition The Danish Chair displays each chair as an individual work of art.
The Danish Chair – an international affair Designmuseum Danmark’s newest exhibition, The Danish Chair, exhibits 110 of the most iconic, innovative, and influential chairs ever designed. The exhibition shows the influence, legacy, and background of the early 20th century chair designs that put Danish design on the world map. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Pernille Klemp
With its arms, legs, seat and back, the chair is the piece of furniture that has the closest resemblance to the human body it is built to carry. It is recognised as a symbol of the status and identity of the person sitting in it and, like a work of art, it reflects the age and society in which it was created. Consequently, the exhibition The Danish Chair displays each chair individually as distinct works of art. However, the exhibition also clearly visualises how Danish designers learnt from, and built on, their predecessors’ designs. The exhibition is designed by architect Boris Berlin and curated by Christian 42 | Issue 98 | March 2017
Holmsted Olesen, head of exhibitions and collections. “What we wanted to do was to create a coherent story; by grouping the chairs by types, the exhibition clearly shows how the architects have drawn inspiration from each other. It’s almost a Darwinistic experience as you can see the evolution from one chair to the next,” explains Olesen. The display leads through a tunnel-like hall in which the chairs encapsulate visitors in darkness. When a visitor approaches, light beams are switched on to highlight distinct details and specific design features of the chair. “When Boris
Berlin saw the chairs for the exhibition, his immediate reaction was that they were fantastic – like individual works of art – and that’s why we’ve placed them in each their own frame, floating in a plastic box with light on the most important details,” explains Olesen. The exhibition not only includes chairs by Danish designers, but also designs that inspired, and were inspired by, Danish design, including Briton Jasper Morrison. Moreover, it comprises an area of chairs displayed in more authentic settings, where visitors can pragmatically test the functional merits of the famously stylish chairs, by for example sitting down to have a rest.
For more information, please visit: www.designmuseum.dk
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Scandinavian Culture – Denmark
Photo: Thijs Wolzak
Photo: Thijs Wolzak
Photo: Luca Santiago Mora
An architectural figurehead for maritime history When the new Maritime Museum of Denmark opened in October 2013, accolades for both the museum’s iconic architecture and its modern and informative exhibitions came flooding in from across the seven seas. The BBC deemed it one of the eight best new museums, and it was featured in The New York Times’ list of 52 places to go in 2014. By Louise Older Steffensen
The praise for the museum continued in 2015 with the Luigi Michelleti Special Commendation Award, and National Geographic named it one of the ten places most worth visiting for its architecture. Designed by the renowned Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), the museum is located underground, built to show off the old dockyard into which it is built. Glass-covered corridors form bridges across the huge dried dock, incorporating the new into the old, while the dock itself has been left untouched. “It’s become our biggest, most breath-taking installation,” says Frederikke Møller, the museum’s head of communications.
get a good overview, or you can spend the entire day here and dive into the individual stories of merchant seamen and sea women from the Middle Ages through to modern times,” Møller explains. As an island nation, Denmark has a rich maritime history, from the Vikings to modern-day shipping giants including Maersk. The Maritime Museum is situated in Helsingør, 40 minutes from Copenhagen, and neighbours the beautiful renaissance fortress of Kronborg, which served as a crucial Danish defence and taxation point for ships passing to and from the lucrative Baltic Sea – and posed as the fictional home of Hamlet in its spare time.
Oceans of fun
The eight permanent exhibitions cover all expected and unexpected areas of seafaring history, from exotic sailor memoirs to the lives of the families left at home
The museum has made a conscious effort to accommodate all types of visitors. “You can visit for 20 quick minutes and
for years at a time. The temporary exhibition Sex and the Sea lets visitors experience the sense of the homesickness, desire and value clashes that sailors felt. The emphasis is on interactivity and experiences: you can get a sense of life on board ships, for example, and younger audiences can design their own sailor’s tattoo, learn to navigate and try their luck as merchant traders. As Møller confides: “Part of our cunning plan is to also be a museum for architecture tourists and casual visitors who don’t know that they enjoy maritime history – yet.” Photo: Rasmus Hjortshøj
For more information, please visit: www.mfs.dk
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 43
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Scandinavian Culture – Denmark
A walk through the Stone Age
By Heidi Kokborg | Photos: Anne Birgitte Gurlev
If you fancy taking a journey 7,000 years back in time, Vedbækfundene is for you. You can see skeletons from the Stone Age, a wild boar, and take a walk through the virgin forest. 20 kilometres north of Copenhagen you will find Vedbækfundene, one of three museums making up the Rudersdal Museums. Vedbækfundene is an archaeological museum about the Stone Age where, among other things, you can see one of the world’s most famous graves, belonging to an 18-year-old woman and her baby. The woman went into labour too early and both her and the baby died. “What is so special about the grave is that the baby was buried on a swan wing,” says Anne Birgitte Gurlev, curator of Vedbækfundene. “This shows how upset the community was about the death.”
Experience wildlife Vedbækfundene was founded in 1984, based on archaeological findings from the 1975 construction of a school. 17 graves
and 22 people who had been buried 7,000 years ago were found. “The skeletons were well preserved, so archaeologists could find out how the Stone Age hunter-gatherers lived,” explains Gurlev. The environment was very different 7,000 years ago. The temperature was higher, most of Vedbæk was covered in water, and where there was not water there was virgin forest – something the museum has incorporated into the exhibition. “When you walk into the museum, you walk straight into the virgin forest. You will see skeletons and wild animals, and the floor is curved so that it feels like you’re walking in the virgin forest. You can touch reconstructions of weapons and tools from the Stone Age in the museum, which makes Vedbækfundene particularly fun for kids,” says Gurlev.
Rudersdal Museums consists of the Local Historic Archive for Rudersdal Municipality and two cultural history museums: the cultural history museum Mothsgård in Søllerød and the archaeological museum Vedbækfundene.
For more information, please visit: www.museer.rudersdal.dk
THE JUTLAND AQUARIUM THYBORØN Join us on an oyster safari for some of the world’s finest produce, The Limfjord’s oyster, in the western part of the Limfjord.
OYSTERHUNTING.DK
Book your next experience and visit
www.JyllandsAkvariet.dk Email: jyllands@kvariet.dk 7680 Thyborøn, Denmark Phone: +45 97 83 28 08
Book your overnight stay at Hotel Nørre Vinkel www.norrevinkel.dk 7620 Lemvig Phone: +45 97 82 22 11
SC AN DI Spec ia N l – S AVI Them W AN e ED C : EN ULT UR E
Street art in Stockholm. Photo: Tuukka Ervasti, imagebank.sweden.se
Moderna Museet. Photo: Miriam Preis, imagebank.sweden.se
World-class design, thought-provoking art and a rich cultural heritage Art aficionados and culture vultures flock to Sweden for a look at an innovative scene with a strong global reputation. But the consensus-keen country up north has much to offer even if you do not know your Carl Larssons from your Anders Zorns – not least a fascinating cultural heritage. From world-class art museums to renowned glass design, Sweden is dotted with historical sites, award-winning museums and lively venues. The Swedish cultural heritage includes legends such as ABBA and August Strindberg, not to mention the fierce Vikings, but there is more to Swedish culture than the historical events and art personalities that first spring to mind – think top-quality art collections, a long-standing reputation for textile excellence, and inspiring local and regional theatres. If you make it up north, the northern culture hub of Umeå boasts a number of highly regarded galleries and museums, including Bildmuseet, whose exhibition on nuclear culture is a thought-provoking
example of a pioneering programme of contemporary international art. In the capital, do not miss Moderna Museet, the lush Prince Eugen’s Waldemarsudde, and the past-to-present exploration at the Nordic Museum. Travelling south, you are spoilt for choice with The Volvo Museum, Varbergs Konsthall and The Glass Factory, before arriving at Malmö Konsthall, one of the country’s most prominent art galleries. Along your journey, wherever you stop, you will find well-prepared, organic food, beautiful design and tasty cinnamon buns for a quick energy boost. It is often said that, in times of turbulence and change, the artists lead the way. As the world faces great uncertainty and
trend spotters look to Sweden to adopt a more balanced, consensus-driven approach to life, visit the great country up north to find out what the artists and creatives have to say.
The Gothenburg Opera. Photo: Torbjörn Skogedal, Folio, imagebank.sweden.se
For more information, please visit: www.visitsweden.com
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 45
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Scandinavian Culture – Sweden
Photo: Volvo Museum/Lisa Jabar.
Staffan Forssell, director general of the Swedish Arts Council.
Bildmuseet. Photo: Polly Yassin, Bildmuseet
Equality, diversity and culture – underpinning Sweden’s success At the very top of Forbes’ annual Best Countries for Business list, followed by New Zealand and Hong Kong, sits Sweden. The accolade is a tribute to Sweden’s worldclass taxation system, innovation, technological development, share market and bureaucracy. Sweden is also home to some of the world’s most famous brands – Volvo, IKEA, H&M, Electrolux and Ericsson. So, what is the secret to Sweden’s success? In part, it is gender equality. By Staffan Forssell, director general of the Swedish Arts Council
According to US-based consulting firm McKinsey, if the sexes were equal in standing then the global economy would grow by more than 25 per cent. With the highest rate of female participation in the workforce of any EU country, Sweden is a pioneer for the cause. What is more, Swedish women are now serving as government ministers, business executives, lawyers and managers in greater numbers than ever before.
broader range of human experience. We believe that art is only truly free when the playing field is level.
The Swedish Arts Council systematically includes gender equality considerations in each of its decisions to fund cultural practitioners. The Council holds that a national cultural scene characterised by gender equality promotes quality, artistic renewal and diversity by showcasing a
A cultural policy objective established in the Swedish parliament states that culture should be accessible to all. Experience and opportunity are not solely products of gender, however. Age, ethnicity, sexuality, gender identity, functional ability, language, economic status, place
46 | Issue 98 | March 2017
The Council strives to uphold gender equality through an equal distribution of power, influence and resources between women and men in grants and other promotional activities. In total, the Council allocates around one third of Sweden’s national culture budget.
of residence and religious beliefs are also factors that affect an individual’s ability to actively shape their world. I do not claim that the Swedish society is equal in every respect; we still have a long way to go. Nevertheless, the majority of Swedes agree that greater equality helped make Sweden what it is today and contributed to the World Economic Forum’s finding that “Sweden beats other countries at just about everything”.
About the Swedish Arts Council The Swedish Arts Council is a public authority under the Swedish Ministry of Culture, whose task is to promote cultural development and access based on the national cultural policy objectives. The Council achieves this by allocating and monitoring state funding, alongside other promotional activities.
For more information, please visit: www.kulturradet.se
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Scandinavian Culture – Sweden
Photo: Hugo Leijon
Event at Kägelbanan. Photo: David Thunander
View from Södra Teatern. Photo: David Thunander
Tradition meets modernity Situated in a magnificent building on Södermalm in Stockholm, Södra Teatern (Southern Theatre) holds a unique position in the city’s nightlife. For more than 150 years, it has been the go-to place for generations of Stockholmians keen to enjoy themselves. Cherishing its heritage, Södra Teatern has proved to be the master of reinvention. By Pia Petersson
Stockholm is sometimes accused of being too trendy and sensitive. Clubs, bars and concert venues are constantly changing to try to keep up with the latest crazes and fads. In that context, Södra Teatern at Mosebacke square provides a reliable but creative option. “I guess you could say that Södra Teatern is both traditional and contemporary – and also quite independent,” says Ingmari Pagenkemper, CEO at Södra Teatern. Moreover, Södra Teatern offers its premises to events and meetings. “Given that there are many different types of venues and rooms within the premises, we can cater for a wide selection of events, ranging from a small conference room for the small department meeting, to big events for up to 700 people. IKEA has exhibited
new furniture collections here; yesterday we hosted a big yoga gala, and next week the Swedish crime drama Beck will be shooting here,” says Pagenkemper. There are a number of reasons behind Södra Teatern’s success in the world of events and meetings. “We have a fantastic heritage and we’re located bang in the centre of town,” Pagenkemper explains. In addition to meetings and events and a wide selection of club nights, gigs and stage performances, visitors to Södra Teatern also have the opportunity to dine in a restaurant whilst taking in the stunning views of Stockholm. “We just reworked the profile of the restaurant. All the food is now vegetarian, so should you want some meat with your meal you’ll have to add that as an extra. This modi-
fication of the menu has meant that we have received a lot of attention and positive comments. The decision to switch to vegetarian food and organic wines feels absolutely right,” Pagenkemper explains. This way of thinking is most likely one of the reasons behind Södra Teatern’s success – the place is permeated by an ability to reflect and make well-reasoned decisions about the quality and deliverance of the services on offer.
Head chef Håkan Hederstedt. Photo: Anna Huerta
For more information, please visit: www.sodrateatern.com
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 47
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Scandinavian Culture – Sweden
Photo: KW Gullers, Nordiska museet.
500 years of enlightenment From design classics to lessons about life before electricity, Nordic light at the Nordic Museum explores life, love and rituals in the Nordic countries, past and present. By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Karolina Kristensson, Nordiska museet
The big, majestic building on the island of Djurgården, which houses the Nordic Museum, gives the impression of a typical old, conventional museum of historical artefacts and past splendour. But the Nordic Museum is anything but a traditional museum; in fact, it was always meant to be much more than that. Founded in 1873 by Artur Huzelius, it was built on a fascination with real stories of real people from all levels of society – a focus that has been respected and celebrated ever since. “We refer to our museum as the palace of everyday life, and what we mean by that is that we’re not so much interested in kings and royalties and the extraordinary. We’re all about ordinary people, 48 | Issue 98 | March 2017
how they live and have lived – about food, homes, fashion and traditions,” says Loredana Jelmini, head of communications at the museum. “And we insist on not being put in the historical box. Yes, we look at the past – but we’re also keen social commentators and deeply fascinated with the present and the future. We use the stories of the past to mirror and explain the present.” This spring, an after-work session in the name of creativity and curiosity is taking place every Wednesday, with regular knitting gatherings, gigs and talks. Super Sundays are for families and friends to play, explore and tickle the imagination. Behind the scenes, ethnological research is continuously being carried out,
among other things as part of the almost 100-year-old Hallwyl professorship, currently held by Lotten Gustafsson Reinius, who is working on the theme of Arctic. As associate professor of ethnology and in collaboration with Stockholm University, Gustafsson Reinius is exploring issues around indigenous peoples and repatriation in relation to the Arctic. It seems easier to describe the Nordic Museum by what it is not than by labelling what it is – neither a historical museum or a design museum – but a look at its publishing house provides a good snapshot. Active since 1873, it publishes books from the 1500s up until today, aiming to present a diversified version of truth. Lucia Revisited, for instance, looks at the Swedish tradition and its multifaceted past, including interpretations both humorous and serious, sacred and profane, popular and aristocratic. The thought-provoking book sheds light on the popular tradition
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Scandinavian Culture – Sweden
at a time when many people claim to know the truth about how it should be celebrated and by whom.
120 lamps from 120 years Call it education or exploration or both; what the Nordic Museum does best is perhaps to break down the boundaries between past and present, between established preconceptions and uncomfortable truths, providing a platform for unprejudiced debate and enlightenment. Take the current exhibition, Nordic light, for example – a look at 120 lamps from 120 years in addition to a culturalhistorical section about a time when the only source of light was fire. “It’s not that long ago, when you think about it,” says project manager Amanda Creutzer, describing the cultural-historical walk from darkness to light, one part of the exhibition. “One of the rooms looks at the breakthrough of electricity around the turn of the century, and the walk ends in a modern home. These days, pretty much
everything is lit up, from refrigerator buttons to atmospheric lights.” More than a lesson in technology and design, the exhibition explores the meaning of light for various rituals, nature’s light phenomena, and the impact of light losing its status as families stopped gathering around the one light source for story time and socialising. “The theme has provided us with an opportunity to broaden our activity, both geographically and scientifically,” says Susanna Janfalk, collection and theme manager of the exhibition. “So we’re looking, in a very wide sense, at light, health, and environment. Light pollution is a big issue in its own right. How else would we interpret the fact that the Milky Way can no longer be seen from the most lit-up places on Earth?”
The real Nordic experience While light naturally takes centre stage in Nordic light, real people are still very present, if mostly between the lines. In
the exhibition magalogue, Leena Oininen talks about her late husband and the moments they shared under a lamp left behind in a house they bought. Safa Lotfi, museum technician and interpreter, remembers how happy lightness made him during his first year in Sweden. From design trends to cultural developments, the exhibition presents a journey of light that provokes more than a few questions. “500 years of enlightenment,” says Jelmini. “It says something not just about Nordic light but about the museum as a whole. We may have the fanciest house in town, but in reality we’re a little bit hardcore and very down to earth. You get the real Nordic experience when you come here – the past, the present and the future.” For more information, please visit: www.nordiskamuseet.se
Photo: Bertil Höder, Nordiska museet.
Photo: nukleerkedi/iStockphoto.
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 49
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Scandinavian Culture – Sweden
Bildmuseet’s seven-floor purpose-built building with its eye-catching larch wood façade was designed by the Danish architecture firm Henning Larsen Architects as part of the new Arts Campus that saw the light of day five years ago. Photo: Johan Gunseus
A platform for world-class art and critical thinking A beacon of artistry and enlightenment right on the Ume River bank, Bildmuseet is a world-class contemporary art museum with strong local roots. The current exhibition, Perpetual Uncertainty, is as visually striking as it is philosophically brave and, as such, embodies what the museum is all about. By Linnea Dunne
Showing since October last year, Perpetual Uncertainty has been allowed to take up the entirety of Bildmuseet in Umeå. At the heart of it is a big, round table, a reconstruction of James Acord’s 1999 creation in his Hanford studio in response to the culture of silence around the clean-up of nuclear material after the creation of the first American atom bomb and test-runs of nuclear reactors. “Acord wasn’t against nuclear power, but he was insistent that ordinary people may have something to say and ideas worth hearing, so he wanted to facilitate roundtable discussions of 50 | Issue 98 | March 2017
representatives from the environmental movement, culture workers and the nuclear community to get together and just share thoughts,” says Sofia Johansson, project manager for the exhibition and curator at the museum. “The underlying thought is that we must be able to talk about difficult issues, even those that don’t have clear and easy answers.”
On nuclear culture That underlying thought is one shared by both Bildmuseet and Ele Carpenter, the British curator and teacher at Goldsmiths
University of London, who guest curated the exhibition. Having spent four years researching what she calls nuclear culture, Carpenter worked with artists and collectives from all over the world to explore what it means to be living in a world of nuclear power and radiation. The resulting exhibition deals with questions around our perception of memory and how we communicate around these issues presently as well as with future generations. “Some artists deal with very specific cases, such as Chernobyl, and some deal with the ethical issues involved in communicating around underground repositories that make certain places unsafe for hundreds of thousands of years,” Johansson explains. “One installation that resonates strongly with a lot of peo-
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Scandinavian Culture – Sweden
ple here in northern Sweden is Susan Schuppli’s Delay-Decay, which presents photographs of 20 Pravda covers, starting on the day of the Chernobyl accident and ending on the day Gorbachev finally declared that it had taken place. A lot of people here have very vivid memories of that time, when the winds were blowing across Europe and the radioactive fallout was raining down along the coast, and there was a great deal of uncertainty around how dangerous it was. Schuppli’s work raises questions around the implications of delaying the announcement.” Other works include Ken and Julia Yonetani’s visually striking Crystal Palace: The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nuclear Nations – an installation of crystal chandeliers where the prisms have been replaced with uranium glass and the bulbs with UV lights, shining eerily green. Each chandelier represents a country producing nuclear power, and the work reminds us how electricity is produced and that most of us are using it, even if we do not live in a so-called nuclear country. Another powerful installation is that by the JapA reconstruction of James Acord’s 1999 round table. Photo: Mikael Lundgren
anese collective Don’t Follow the Wind, best known for their exhibition inside the evacuated red zone of Fukushima where no one could go, aiming to bring the spotlight back to the problem after mainstream media moved on.
Where local meets global Bildmuseet’s reputation for world-class international contemporary art makes it the perfect host for this important exhibition. The seven-floor purpose-built museum building with its eye-catching larch wood façade was designed by the Danish architect firm Henning Larsen Architects as part of the new Arts Campus that saw the light of day five years ago, situated right on the Ume River bank. Modern, transboundary and confident, it embodies some of Bildmuseet’s defining characteristics. Hosting a programme ranging from cross-disciplinary academic collaborations to workshops for visitors of all ages, including a free, open cultural preschool, Bildmuseet is a local champion yet a renowned international player. This is where art meets science and local
meets global. “What makes us tick is the visually striking that is simultaneously meaty in terms of concept and dares to ask critical questions,” says Johansson. “Perpetual Uncertainty is a perfect example of that.” Current and upcoming exhibitions at Bildmuseet:
Perpetual Uncertainty until 16 Apr 2017 Swedish Picture Book of the Year 17 Mar to 27 Aug Umeå Academy of Fine Arts 2017 6-21 May Jumana Emil Abboud: The Horse, the Bird, the Boat, the Pail 20 May to 17 Sep Roger Metto: Cryosphere 20 May to 17 Sep Ana Mendieta: Omsluten av Tid och Historia 18 June to 22 Oct
For more information, please visit: www.bildmuseet.umu.se
From Delay-Decay by Susan Schuppli. Photo: Polly Yassin, Bildmuseet
From Crystal Palace: The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nuclear Nations by Ken and Julia Yonetani. Photo: Polly Yassin, Bildmuseet
The exhibition Perpetual Uncertainty explores nuclear culture and deals with questions around our perception of memory and how we communicate around these issues presently as well as with future generations. Photo: Polly Yassin, Bildmuseet
Material Witness by Don’t Follow the Wind. Photo: Polly Yassin, Bildmuseet
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 51
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Scandinavian Culture – Sweden
´ Shoes for Departure (1991), Left: Julia Peirone’s Sleepy head (2016) is shown in the context of Before and Behind the Lens. Photo: Julia Peirone. Middle: Marina Abramovic, as seen in The Cleaner. Photo: Heini Schneebeli, courtesy of the Marina Abramovic´ Archives. Right: Marina Abramovic´ at the Eric Ericson Hall. Photo: Moderna Museet / Åsa Lundén. Bottom: From the exhibition Malmö’s Burning at Moderna Museet in Malmö. Photo: Lars Hejll
The Cleaner comes to Stockholm Yugoslavia-born Marina Abramovic´ is one of the world’s most discussed performance artists. This spring, she comes to Moderna Museet with her new exhibition The Cleaner. By Malin Norman
Marina Abramovic´ is famous for groundbreaking performances and for expanding the boundaries of art. Her famous exhibition The Artist is Present at the Museum of Modern Art in New York attracted some 750,000 visitors who queued to sit in a chair opposite her. This spring, her new exhibition The Cleaner is showing at Moderna Museet in Stockholm. It is Abramovic’s ´ first major retrospective in Europe, looking back some 40 years and including works with artist Ulay (Uwe Laysiepen) as well as shows by other performance artists. “The real performances are a bit like mindfulness but more extreme,” says the museum’s communication strategist John Peter Nilsson. “Abramovic’s ´ art is about exposing the body to physical strains in order for the senses to be liberated.” The Cleaner is open at Moderna Museet until 21 May. Re-performances will take place 52 | Issue 98 | March 2017
daily and the audience will be very much part of the exhibition.
Leader in modern art Moderna Museet is one of Europe’s leading museums of modern and contemporary art. It has an impressive programme and offers guided tours in several languages. “We work a lot on how to make it even more interesting and enhance the experience for our visitors,” says Nilsson about how the museum is extending its availability to attract a new audience. “Art is a bit like theatre – it’s important to see it together with others, but people can decide for themselves how long they want to look at each painting.” Worth checking out is the museum’s extensive photography collection, which comprises around 100,000 works from the 1840s and up to this day. Several exhibitions will take place this spring with a
focus on photography under the banner Before and Behind the Lens, including a new display on the technical development of photography and how it has been used in art, opening this month. Moderna Museet is also present in Malmö, where a new display of the work of one of Sweden’s most internationally acclaimed artists, Annika Eriksson, opened this month. Another highlight is Malmö’s Burning, with selected works from the art scene in Malmö from the 1960s through to the ‘80s.
For more information, please visit: www.modernamuseet.se
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Scandinavian Culture – Sweden
Sustainable architecture, form and design Many venues show art and design objects, but few open up dialogues on how they affect society. At Form/Design Center, questions about sustainable architecture, form and design are openly discussed. By Malin Norman | Photos: Fanny Hansson
Located in the old warehouse Hedmanska Gården in the middle of Malmö, Form/ Design Center is a central meeting place for discussing design and its possibilities for people, culture, society and business. “It’s important to look at complex questions about how society is changing. We want to offer a deeper discussion on sustainability,” says director Birgitta Ramdell. This spring’s programme focuses on youth, starting with the exhibition Young Swedish Design 2017 until 26 March. It aims to broaden and deepen knowledge about young and innovative Swedish design. The combined award and touring exhibition includes product design, textiles, fashion, crafts and furniture. Another interesting display is the Spring Exhibition
2017, open 25 May to 4 June, where the region’s architectural and design schools present this year’s examination projects. The students showcase solutions for new products and services, housing and outdoor environments, and information and communication. Ramdell also recommends the new exhibition Milan Kosovic + Thomas Alexanderson = Interpersonal, open until 19 March, where the industrial designer and ceramic artist collaborate on challenges to the encounter between crafts and design. The display Material Driven Design, open until 26 March, also addresses the question of sustainable design and consumption, with work presented by product design students at Malmö University.
Welcome to Love City
From the exhibition Milan Kosovic + Thomas Alexanderson = Interpersonal.
For more information, please visit: www.formdesigncenter.com
By Malin Norman | Photos: Martín Mejía Rugeles
Varbergs Konsthall is welcoming visitors to its new installation Love City by international artist Pascale Marthine Tayou. The exhibition Love City by Cameroonian artist Pascale Marthine Tayou has been produced especially for Varbergs Konsthall in collaboration with Galleria Continua in Paris. The installation is a unique display with floor-to-ceiling wallpaper made of fullscale photographs of a rainforest. Across the hall runs a long pipeline, a thoughtprovoking feature that reminds visitors of the devastation in rainforest areas. The display certainly raises important environmental questions, yet leaves room for personal interpretations. “It’s fantastic for us to have such an internationally renowned artist here,” says gallery director Eva Eriksdotter. “Pascale is highly sought after across the world and usually only appears at big international festivals, which makes it even more exciting that he chose to come to Varberg. He even spent a whole week here for the opening!”
In addition to a series of lectures, workshops and seminars, visitors can see exhibitions on industrial design, crafts, furniture and textiles as well as architecture and urban planning, fashion, graphic design and illustration. With up to 120,000 visitors per year, this is a true, modern design hub.
Following the exhibition in Varberg, which is open until 30 April, Pascale Marthine Tayou will also visit Berlin, Paris and Rio de Janeiro. Another highlight at Varbergs Konsthall is an exhibition by Swedish artist and filmmaker Knutte Wester, opening on 20 May. In high demand, Wester is best known for his modern takes on the theme of vulnerability. In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Finland’s independence, the art gallery will also showcase eight Finnish contemporary artists in partnership with curator Kati Kivinen at KIASMA Museum of Contemporary Art in Helsinki, Finland. This special exhibition will open on 7 October. This young art gallery first opened its doors in January 2012 in Kulturhuset Komedianten. In just a few years, it has made a big impact on Sweden’s art scene with plenty of attention for its many inter-
national and national exhibitions. Varbergs Konsthall also hosts a small art gallery in Hamnmagasinet for regional art displays.
For more information, please visit: www.varbergskonsthall.se
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 53
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Scandinavian Culture – Sweden
Prints and patterns
Singularity. Faig Ahmed, 2016. Image courtesy of Faig Ahmed Studio.
– from an old factory to the urban space of Borås The Swedish town of Borås has been a textile mecca for a long time now, but in September this year it will overflow with textile art as the Crossover festival kicks off. As part of the festival, world-renowned visual artist and sculptor Faig Ahmed brings an exhibition of new work to the Textile Museum of Sweden – a first in many regards. By Linnea Dunne
“He doesn’t answer questions – he asks them,” says curator Medeia Ekner about the Azerbaijan artist who has been ranked as one of the world’s ten most interesting textile artists right now. This will be the first time his work is shown in the Nordic countries, and the exhibition Equation sees him try out new, unfamiliar methods. “He’s not a textile artist in a traditional sense, but a sculptor and contemporary artist who works a lot with performance and video, and he’s fascinated by psychological states and identities,” Ekner continues, adding that Equation explores patterns, symbols and rituals in oriental rugs. “He breaks up and distorts patterns and conquers them, marrying rug craft with contemporary art, thereby challenging our view of traditions and what craft really is.” Complementing Ahmed’s textile art, the exhibition will display sound and video installations. “The spectator will not just 54 | Issue 98 | March 2017
it will be an exciting year for the textile capital of Sweden – and with no better organiser than the Textile Museum of Sweden, housed in the lauded Textile Fashion Center in an old factory steeped in textile production history.
gain an understanding of the artist’s inner world, but hopefully also start to think about their own,” says Ekner.
A true textile capital When the Crossover festival kicks off properly on 12 September, it will take over not just the museum but the entire town, working with eight satellite venues including the urban space. Together with Borås Municipality, the Textile Museum of Sweden will host the European Textil Network’s conference, expected to attract around 500 visitors from across the continent. “We’re hugely proud to be able to present Lidewij Edelkoort as keynote speaker,” Ekner enthuses. “This definitely won’t go unnoticed for anyone in the creative industries.” The whole event coincides with the ceremony of the Nordic Award in Textiles, the biggest textile art award in the Nordics, and the work of the winner will be exhibited at the Abecita Art Museum. All in all,
Photo: Anna Sigge
2017 at the Textile Museum of Sweden:
Shapes of Fashion – Nordic Artwear: until 26 March 2017 New Nordic Fashion Illustration: until 7 May 2017 Equation by Faig Ahmed: 6 May to 24 Sep 2017 Crossover – Textile Art Festival: 12-19 Sep 2017
For more information, please visit: www.textilmuseet.se
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Scandinavian Culture – Sweden
Lights on at The Glass Factory
By Malin Norman | Photos:The Glass Factory
The Glass Factory sits bang in the middle of the Kingdom of Crystal. This interactive glass museum is the ultimate knowledge hub and creative meeting place for international artists, designers and visitors alike. With around 4,000 square metres of exhibition space and over 50,000 visitors per year, The Glass Factory in Småland is one of the biggest glass museums in Scandinavia. It offers nothing but spectacular glass shows, a scientific glass lab and a special glass factory for children, a complete collection from the glassworks and, last but not least, live glassblowing at Glashyttan studio, the beating heart of the centre. The museum presents a programme packed with exciting international and interdisciplinary events. “We are focusing even more on innovation and science this year,” says museum director Maja Heuer. First up is exhibition Glass Code: Lights On, open until 28 May. It showcases unusual historic glass objects from Pukeberg glassworks with a focus on lighting fixtures and signs from, for example, gas stations. Not to miss
is also Craft Party Boda on 1 April, a combined performance and workshop with CoLab Småland, where artists such as Markus Emilsson and Carl-Oscar Carlson will meet with the audience in an experimental setting. Heuer also recommends Glass Code: Celebrating Kosta from 17 June to 10 September. In collaboration with Orrefors Kosta Boda, five artists will showcase their new pieces inspired by Kosta’s vast collections. Other new exhibitions include Sci Glass in September, which mixes art and science, and Young Glass in partnership with museums in the US, UK and Denmark, opening in October. In addition, The Glass Factory will also present an impressive new display of contemporary Scandinavian glass. Right: From early explorations of materials and sensors by Dynamic Transparencies. In collaboration with Henrik Svarrer Larsen and Mads Höbye.
For more information, please visit: www.theglassfactory.se
90 years of the iconic Swedish car “It is a piece of Swedish history and a walk down memory lane. You can see how Volvo has changed over the decades,” says Sören Nyeboe, director at Volvo Museum, when describing his workplace. By Sara Wenkel | Photos: Volvo Museum/Lisa Jabar
Everything from cars and engines to buses and trucks is on display at the popular museum, which showcases an impressive timeline. Last year was an all-time high with 81,000 visitors at the museum in Arendal on the outskirts of Gothenburg. The museum is larger than what many visitors expect, and you can also explore 2,000 square metres dedicated to the Volvo Ocean Race. “If you are interested in cars – great! But I believe you will enjoy the museum either way. It is pure nostalgia and everyone has a relationship to Volvo,” says Nyeboe. Three temporary exhibitions this summer Volvo’s very first car, the ÖV 4, was presented to the world on 14 April 1927 and this year, starting in April, the museum is celebrating
its 90th anniversary. A unique exhibition has been put together for this festive purpose, to be shown throughout the summer. Another temporary exhibition represents the works of the late Jan Wilsgaard, who was chief designer for Volvo between 1950 and 1990. A number of sketches and the result of his work visualised by Volvo models will be showed. The Volvo museum will also exclusively display six company cars of the former CEO, Dr. Pehr G Gyllenhammar. “He had a bright, unique red colour as his trademark and four of the six cars are in this colour,” says Nyeboe. For more information, please visit: www.volvomuseum.com
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 55
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Scandinavian Culture – Sweden
Left: With a staff gardener and florists working in the lush gardens in the Stockholm archipelago, Waldemarsudde is a holistic experience for all the senses. Right: Joan Miró, The first spark of the day ll, 1966. Fundacíó Joan Miró, Barcelona. Photo: Successió Miró, 2017.
A holistic experience for all the senses Between lush greenery and the waters of the Stockholm archipelago, a stronghold for culture presents world-class art, architecturally admirable reception rooms, rare flora and a fascinating past. All thanks to a passionate prince. By Linnea Dunne |
Photos: Lars Edelholm
“Our breadth is our strength,” says Karin Sidén, museum director at Prins Eugen’s Waldemarsudde. “Our programme is rich and varied, with exhibitions including some of the western world’s most renowned pieces of art, as well as a constant stream of big and exciting Swedish and Scandinavian names. But then the environment is also just fabulous – we have concerts and children’s activities, and the feeling of enjoying a cup of coffee outside the café croft is beyond compare. The experience exists thanks to Prince Eugen, son of King Oscar II and Queen Sofia, who wrote in his will in 1947 that his buildings, art and green areas were to be not only preserved, but made accessible. “He described his vision in such an open and generous way. He didn’t want for this to be a mausoleum over his dead body but a vivid, lively environment that changes with the times,” Sidén explains and describes a Prince who was not just 56 | Issue 98 | March 2017
a respected cultural figure but eventually also one of Sweden’s most important landscape painters around the turn of the century. He went on to buy an impressive amount of art, not least to support struggling artists, and was heavily involved when architect Ferdinand Boberg designed both the 1905 castle and the 1913 gallery of his beloved Waldemarsudde.
Alongside regular exhibitions of renowned Swedish artists such as Carl Larsson, Hanna Pauli and indeed Prins Eugen himself, one of this year’s highlights is the extensive Joan Miró – The Poetry of Everyday Life, which runs until 4 June. “He is one of the world’s giants and it’s been 20 years since you could see an extensive exhibition of his work in Sweden, so this feels big,” says Sidén.
Giants from Sweden and beyond Today, Prince Eugen’s Waldemarsudde is a much-loved and award-winning museum and destination that was named the Stockholm inhabitants’ favourite museum last year. “Waldemarsudde is a holistic experience for all the senses. There’s the beauty of the art and gardens, the smells and the sound of the water and the birds…” the museum director enthuses. “We employ a gardener and a florist to look after the parks and decorate the museum using flowers we’ve grown here, including some very rare species.”
Museum director Karin Sidén.
For more information, please visit: www.waldemarsudde.se
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Scandinavian Culture – Sweden
Kulturen in Lund is an open-air museum covering two city centre blocks featuring 30 historical buildings.
From past to present in southern Sweden Kulturen in Lund is the perfect destination for anyone wanting to learn more about the history and culture of southern Sweden. Expect interesting historical insights alongside modern-day reflections in both permanent and temporary exhibitions exploring everything from war time courage and fears to a playful children’s exhibition featuring the Moomins. By Ellinor Thunberg | Photos: Viveca Ohlsson/Kulturen
Kulturen in Lund is an open-air museum covering two blocks in the central part of Lund, Sweden. It includes around 30 historical buildings in various styles such as half-timbered, timbered and brick-built. Aside from exploring the buildings from a historical perspective, visitors can also enjoy exhibitions about life in southern Sweden from the Middle Ages up until today. A current example is the topical exhibition Hela världen brinner (The whole world is on fire) about courage and fear in times of war. “Author Astrid Lindgren’s diaries from World War II make the starting point, along with interviews with people who have experienced war today. It makes a connection between what happened during World War II and what is happening
around us now,” says Anki Dahlin, museum director at Kulturen. The new and old are often presented side by side, an approach making various topics more relevant to visitors. This summer, a new exhibition will open featuring a mix of historical dresses and contemporary fashion photographed by Omar Victor Diop.
are likely to continue when you grow up. It is important to bring in knowledge from history.” Kulturen is a non-profit organisation managing several other attractions in the county of Skåne, including Kulturen in Lund. Do not miss other destinations such as Kulturen’s Östarp, where you can experience farm life from the 1800s, or the Museum of Medical History in Helsingborg if you are in the area.
Something for young and old Kulturen in Lund is a destination for children and adults alike, with some exhibitions aimed especially at the young – or young at heart. The playful Moomin exhibition opening on 21 May is one example. “We think it’s important to address children,” says Dahlin. “If you are used to going to the museum as a child, you
The new Moomin exhibition opens on 21 May. Photo: ©Moomin Characters™
For more information, please visit: www.kulturen.com/en
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 57
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Scandinavian Culture – Sweden
The Swedish Navy – on land, on water This year, the Naval Museum celebrates 20 years on the island of Stumholmen. With its exhibitions, playground, restaurant and museum shop, there is something for everyone to explore. The museum even has its own beach! By Malin Norman | Photos: Naval Museum
The Naval Museum in Karlskrona has been named Museum of the Year in Sweden. Seeing the variety of exhibitions and interesting things to do, this comes as no surprise. Celebrating 20 years on the small island of Stumholmen this year, the museum will also have a funfilled programme with something a bit extra on offer, including concerts, talks and guided tours. “This is a great museum with something for everyone,” says Susanne Ekblad, head of the museum unit. “Whether you have a special naval interest or are a family on holiday, you can easily spend half a day here. Our visitors are really surprised; they often have no idea that there’s so much to do!” The museum tells the story of the Swedish Navy, its historic battles and, 58 | Issue 98 | March 2017
importantly, also the human side. At its heart is the Model Chamber, dating back to 1752, with old ship models, smart designs and beautiful decorations. Other highlights include the Submarine Hall with 110 years of history, and the chance to get up close with a real submarine from the Cold War, HMS Neptun. “It’s technically fascinating with our three submarines on show in the hall, and few museums in the world have a submarine in original condition that you can actually enter and explore on your own,” says Ekblad, emphasising the wow factor. Highly recommended is also Surface Tension, an exhibition about the last decade of the Cold War from the perspective of the Swedish Navy, also showing the contrasts between the military and the civil society. Visitors should also take the opportunity to see the Figureheads
Hall with its unique collection of wooden sculptures from some of the greatest warships. The temporary exhibition Object 871 with watercolour reproductions of the Karlskrona world heritage is also a must-see, and there is a navalthemed children’s play area as well. While on Stumholmen, visitors can explore the wide range of books, toys and interior design in the museum shop, all with a maritime touch. Why not enjoy a lovely meal in the restaurant after an eventful nautical experience? Opening hours: Jan-Apr: Tuesday-Sunday 10am-4pm May: daily 10am-4pm June-Aug: daily 10am-6pm Sept: daily 10am-4pm Oct-Dec: Tuesday-Sunday 10am-4pm Jan-May and Sept-Dec: Wednesdays 10am-7pm, free admission.
For more information, please visit: www.marinmuseum.se
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Scandinavian Culture – Sweden
Left: Rosa Barba has created a darker space than usual here. Right: Malmö Konsthall has seen many prominent artists over the years. Here Tauba Auerbach from 2012. Bottom: Sam Francis, 2000.
A fresh start at Malmö Konsthall Experimental film and sculpture installations by Rosa Barba will be followed by a photo exhibition. Malmö Konsthall – one of Sweden’s most prominent art venues – greets 2017 with a programme featuring the best of international and local contemporary art exhibitions. By Ellinor Thunberg | Photos: Helene Toresdotter
Malmö Konsthall is famous not only for its exhibitions, but also for the building itself. The spacious exhibition hall with its great flexibility, generous space and fantastic light was designed by Swedish architect Klas Anshelm. At the inauguration in 1975 he described the building as “a large, low concrete box, opening up towards the park and the skies’ light”. He created an exhibition space that poses endless challenges to the artists, inspired by the flowing natural light in an artist studio. However, in the current exhibition Elements of Conduct, Rosa Barba has blocked out the light using filters to create a fictitious night. A number of today’s most well-known artists have had major exhibition projects here over the years. “I had a feeling Rosa Barba would truly challenge the space. She has made the
room dark and mysterious and filled it with amazing film works,” says Mats Stjernstedt, the new director at Malmö Konsthall. Rosa Barba brings film and sculpture together and adds poetic layers on top. Her work includes large and small installations and, as shown in Malmö, the exhibition offers many exciting views of the media: film as fiction, film as painting, film as a sound experience. “I have followed the programme closely throughout the years, and I’ve never seen anything similar to this before at Malmö Konsthall. It feels like starting fresh. Part of the idea was to bring matters to a head and show a new art space. I think Rosa has done an amazing job,” Stjernstedt says.
Next up is the photo exhibition Subjektiv, opening in June. A group of international curators connected to the Norway-based photo magazine Objektiv has been invited. Much of the details have yet to be revealed, but Zoe Leonard, Zoe Strauss, Basma al-Sharif and Sara Cwyner are among an all-female line-up of photographers participating. “This was the only way to go when looking at the international political climate right now. It is a statement, but I wish it did not have to be,” says Stjernstedt.
For more information, please visit: www.konsthall.malmo.se
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 59
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Scandinavian Culture – Sweden
Susan Philipsz, A Single Voice (2017), from Lost in Space.
Susan Philipsz, guest artist at Bonniers Konsthall.
Interior from Lost in Space.
Space, art and war photography Bonniers Konsthall is not only a leading institution for Swedish and international contemporary art. This cutting-edge gallery also raises moral and ethical questions with its upcoming exhibitions. By Malin Norman | Photos: Petter Cohan/Bonniers Konsthall
Bonniers Konsthall has, ever since the start in 2006, been a welcoming place to see exhibitions and take part in discussions about Swedish and international contemporary art. The gallery in central Stockholm showcases new and upcoming names as well as more established artists. Visitors can see collections in a bigger cultural context as well as solo displays with work produced specifically for the gallery, in addition to talks, seminars and special events. With a mission to spread knowledge about modern art to the general public, the gallery is a privately run non-profit organisation. It originated from the Maria Bonnier Dahlin Foundation, which was founded by the late Jeanette Bonnier in 1985 in memory of her daughter Maria Bonnier Dahlin. Its knowledgeable art guides add to the active hosting concept, as curator Theodor Ringborg explains: “We value communication with our visitors and work a lot around active hosting. 60 | Issue 98 | March 2017
Our dedicated guides actually talk to visitors about art, which is not so common in art institutions.”
Lost in space Bonniers Konsthall currently presents Lost in Space, a solo exhibition with Turner Prize-winning artist Susan Philipsz. The Scottish guest artist is internationally renowned for her spatial sound installations, which revolve around themes such as loss, longing and hope. Here, Philipsz has created a new piece around the space opera Aniara, originally a poem written by Swedish Nobel laureate Harry Martinson in 1956. The exhibition is open until 7 May. This summer, Bonniers Konsthall will present a collection from Swedish publishing house Albert Bonnier Förlag. It includes art purchased by bookseller Gerhard Bonnier in the early 1800s. “This display shows Swedish art history from a forgotten period,” says Ringborg. “It’s really interesting to see not just the work by
the artists, but also how a collection was put together during this time.” Later in the year, the art gallery will host the exhibition Images of War, with war photography from the 1960s to the present day. It raises important questions on political awareness and evokes ethical and moral connections with the object. The display will be combined with a conference on 24-25 November, including art performances and discussions on topics such as propaganda and news value.
Susan Philipsz, Radio Star (2017), from Lost in Space.
Opening hours: Wednesday 12pm-8pm Thursday-Sunday 12pm-5pm Free admission.
For more information, please visit: www.bonnierskonsthall.se
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Scandinavian Culture – Sweden
Creative recess in the deep Swedish forest What happens when a group of artists find an abandoned paper mill in the deep forest of Dalsland, Sweden? They create a successful and exuberant environment where several exhibitions, festivals, a gallery, a handicraft shop and a café and bistro – featured in the White Guide – attract 25,000 visitors every summer. By Sara Wenkel | Photos: Malin Robertson Harén
Not Quite is the name of a co-operative for artists run by 60 members who all possess different artistic skills. Among them are photographers, smiths, carpenters, furniture designers, art designers, textile artists, ceramicists, musicians, painters and more. For about 15 years, they have been using the paper mill with its raw and industrial setting to practise their creativity, but also to invite the public to explore and participate in cultural events. This summer, the members have tasked themselves with inviting artists, curating objects and being responsible for their own exhibitions. Malin Robertson Harén, marketing manager and member of Not Quite, has invited photographer Johanna
Wulff. “Johanna has an exciting and interesting project where she has photographed creative people over 80 years of age,” she explains. Portraits of Lennart Hellsing, Lisa Larson, Sven-Bertil Taube and Gunilla Pontén will all be on display. Minor festivals are among recurring events at Not Quite. “In July, LJUS, aka Daniel Filipsson, will play with musicians including Salem Al Fakir, and we are very much looking forward to the performance by Nils Berg Cinemascope,” says Robertson Harén. A full list of events and dates is available on the Not Quite website.
Pavlova from the bistro.
Konsthallen.
For more information, please visit: www.notquite.se
Vibrant culture brings history to life The county of Värmland is rich in culture, natural beauty and history. To celebrate the different aspects of the dynamic and diverse area, the county museum has, in addition to its main museum in Karlstad, several branches scattered across the county. This summer, visitors can look forward to a number of special exhibitions. Visitors to Långban gruv- och kulturby (Långban mining and culture village) will find one of the most mineral-rich areas in the world, set in a landscape known for its natural beauty. “Mining started here in the 1500s and continued until 1972 when the mines closed,” says Daniel Olsson, visitor manager. The summer exhibition explores the relationship between man and matter. “Three contemporary artists with different starting points investigate the relationship of man to stone, mineral and crystal,” explains Olsson. Another branch of the museum, Von Echstedtska gården (a mansion house and its gardens), is a unique place largely due to its exciting combination of different styles and influences. “The garden is full of plants typical of the 1700s, a herb garden and sev-
eral apple trees. Visitors can participate in a traditional midsummer celebration, enjoy concerts or just listen to the birds singing,” says Käthy Nilsson, curator. This summer the exhibition focuses on faith. “The exhibition becomes a dialogue with the environment, the mansion and its murals,” explains Nilsson. Lastly, Torsby Finnskogscentrum (Centre for Forest of the Finns) focuses on the cultural history of the Finns from Savolax and how they put their mark on the region. They were specialists in the slash-andburn technique and moved to the area in the 17th century. This summer’s exhibition explores the coexistence between the population and the magical spirits of the forest. “In the exhibition, we meet a rich world of the elusive and ambiguous creatures that
By Pia Petersson Photos: Lars Sjöqvist
were part of life in the Finnskog,” explains Kersti Berggren, operations manager. Von Echstedtska garden mansion house.
Torsby Centre for Forest of the Finns.
For more information, please visit: www.varmlandsmuseum.se
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 61
e:
m he
N IO 17 T NA Y 20 I ST WA E D OR N lT
Sp
ia ec
Photo: Torbjørn Martinsen/Visitnorway.com
Photo: Terje Rakke / Nordic Life AS – Visitnorway.com
62 | Issue 98 | March 2017
Scan Magazine | Feature | Destination Norway 2017
Photo: Terje Borud / Visitnorway.com
Photo: CH – Visitnorway.com
Discover amazing nature, cosmopolitan cities and interesting history Lush strawberry hills, vibrant cities, wild animal life, adventure sport, and fascinating history – it is no wonder Norway has repeatedly been called one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Norway has something for everyone – whether you are a nature lover, a child, an adventure seeker, or a culture devotee. Here is our guide to museums to visit and destinations to go to if you are visiting Norway this year.
Regardless what you choose to do with your time in Norway, you are bound to see some of the most beautiful parts of the world, including views that will leave you speechless, all while enjoying delicious food and having the time of your life.
By Heidi Kokborg | Photos: Visit Norway Photo: Terje Borud / Visitnorway.com
Norway is a vast playground for everyone seeking adventure. It boasts vibrant and cosmopolitan cities amidst lush nature and a celestial light show. It is the country where you get the chance to spot polar bears, reindeers and moose, go mountain biking in one of the world’s most spectacular terrains, take a ride on Europe’s most beautiful railway, or go hiking in the wonderful fjord landscape. Natural beauty is everywhere you look. But Norway is not only for the nature lovers. The country has a vibrant culture, and the cities are full to the brim with Scandinavian architecture, so if you are more of a big city person than a hiker,
fear not. The cities have many a cosy café, where you can eat heart-shaped waffles and drink coffee, alongside renowned museums and, should you find yourself craving a piece of nature, you can always take a stroll in one of the city parks. You can also devote your time in Norway to exploring its fascinating history. There are enough museums about Norwegian history to keep even the keenest of history fans busy for a long time. The museums cover topics to suit all interests, whether you are all about the Vikings, poetry, world wars, or stave churches. We guarantee that you will find a museum to feed your curiosity. Issue 98 | March 2017 | 63
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Our Top Norwegian Museums
Museum of Oslo is the first museum in Norway to make use of augmented reality through its new app, City Detective.
Museum of Oslo is located in the old manor house Frogner Hovedgård in Frognerparken. Photo: Christina Krüger
A journey through Oslo’s history Oslo’s rich history dates all the way back to the Middle Ages. At Museum of Oslo, visitors can travel back in time to learn about the history of the Norwegian capital, get a glimpse into the daily life of the people who lived here, explore the immigration to the city, and see how the industrial era shaped and influenced life. By Linn Skjei Bjørnsen | Photos: Museum of Oslo
Museum of Oslo, located in the 18th century old manor house Frogner Hovedgård, tells the fascinating story of the city. Through the permanent exhibition, OsLove, visitors are guided through the highlights of Oslo’s history, using digital storytelling, films, photos, paintings and models. “The exhibition’s focus is on the people who lived in the city and shaped it to become what it is today, and it explores the medieval times, the great fire, and the contrasts between the working and upper classes,” says head of communication, Siril Bull Henstein. Though focusing on history, the exhibition utilises brand new technology to bring stories to life. In fact, Museum of Oslo is the first museum in Norway to use augmented reality. “We just launched an app for kids called City Detective, which allows users to not only explore 64 | Issue 98 | March 2017
the history, but also see it come to life,” explains Bull Henstein. The app’s goal is to find ten historic stations in the OsLove exhibition, and users get to visit a small apartment inhabited by a family of 19, see how the city’s main street Karl Johan has changed through the years, and witness the Aker River flow into the exhibition. Oslo Museum is a collection of four museums, consisting of the Intercultural Museum, the Labour Museum, the Theatre Museum and Museum of Oslo – each exploring the past and present of their respective fields.
The Activists, a photo exhibition by photographer Iffit Quershi running at the Intercultural Museum, has also become very popular – and important. It portrays Norwegian activists who fight against inequality and discrimination no matter the
costs, and offers insight into their stories. Meanwhile, Oslo says – language in the city, is an interactive exhibition exploring different dialects, multilingualism and the sound of the Oslo language before and now, displayed at Museum of Oslo. With record-breaking visitor numbers for two years running, Museum of Oslo has demonstrated the deep interest for the capital’s history, among both locals and Norwegian and foreign tourists. “Our goal is to be Oslo’s meeting point – a place where kids and adults can learn while enjoying themselves,” Bull Henstein ends. The museum offers interactive exhibitions that allow children and adults to engage with the history of Oslo.
For more information, please visit: www.oslomuseum.no
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Our Top Norwegian Museums
Top left: In the year-long exhibition celebrating Sami traditions, you can see wonderful Sami arts and crafts. Below left: Spending sunny days in Sverresborg can create memories for life. Right: Buildings of high historic and cultural value have been collected from all over the region. The medieval stave church to the right is from Haltdalen.
Atmospheric time travelling in the heart of Norway On a hill close to fantastic forest landscapes and the inviting views of Trondheimsfjorden, Sverresborg Trøndelag Folkemuseum offers a portal to historic scenes of Norway from the Middle Ages to today. By Karen Langfjæran | Photos: Trøndelag Folkemuseum
Overlooking the beautiful Trondheim city in the heart of Norway, the historic museum is open all year with a vast programme of historic and cultural events. “This year, our main exhibition is part of the year-long celebration marking the 100 years that have passed since the first congress for the Sami people, where we showcase unique Sami arts and crafts,” says Torunn Herje, director of Sverresborg Trøndelag Folkemuseum. In the summer season, between mid-June and mid-August, the museum evolves into a dynamic and lively haven with a range of activities for all ages, but perhaps with a special emphasis on the younger population. “The historic town area comes to life during the summer with theatre, music, traditional food and historic activities that you can engage in, including our Birke-
beiner camp, which takes inspiration from the Middle Ages and the regional Viking heritage,” says Herje. The huge outdoor area of the museum includes several historic and traditional buildings from a range of epochs, amongst others a unique medieval church and the ruins of a fort that once belonged to Sverre Sigurdsson, king of Norway between 1184 and 1202. You can also walk amongst wooden houses that reconstruct a Norwegian town from the 18th century until today, and take a peek inside buildings collected from all over the region. Appreciated by locals and visitors from all over Scandinavia and beyond, the museum has garnered attention from near and far as a wonderful experience. “In the summer, we have
had performances from international artists such as Mark Knopfler and Elton John, and one of our traditional buildings has now been copied for a Frozen exhibition in Disney World Florida,” says Herje. Children will find a resemblance to the Frozen sceneries and the range of activities and outdoor exploration opportunities engaging. The historic value attracts adults of all ages, making it perfect for a family outing. Combine a visit to Sverresborg Trøndelag Folkemuseum with a few days in Trondheim, a celebrated city of major cultural and historic value in the heart of Norway. Only 30 minutes from Værnes airport, the city thrives with attractions and historic buildings, such as Nidarosdomen Cathedral, Kristiansten Fort and the royal residence of Stiftsgården. For more information, please visit: www.sverresborg.no/en
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 65
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Our Top Norwegian Museums
The museum and multi-purpose cultural centre Norveg, designed by Icelandic architect Gudmundur Jonsson, houses a captivating archeological and historical exhibition, a resource centre for coastal culture and business, a restaurant specialising in locally sourced food and traditional cakes, and a store. Photo: Kystmuseet i Nord-Trøndelag
Marvel at the mighty sea At the Coastal Museum in Nord-Trøndelag, located in the Norwegian port village of Rørvik, you can experience 10,000 years of maritime history inside the architecturally stunning cultural centre Norveg. After learning about life on Norway’s harsh but plentiful coast, you can head out to sea to visit the protected, island-based fishing village of Sør-Gjæslingan, where serenity awaits and the unique atmosphere has outlived the fishermen. By Eirik Elvevold
Every winter, around this time of year, millions of Atlantic cod make their way to the Norwegian coast to spawn. At Sør-Gjæslingan, an island group outside Rørvik in the municipality of Vikna in Nord-Trøndelag county, the fish once gave birth to a bustling fishing village spread across 30 small islands. “We can trace the activity at Sør-Gjæslingan as far back as to the sixth century. At its peak, it was the most important Norwegian fishing village south of Lofoten, with up to 5,000 people participating in the seasonal fishing. The small society had almost 100 fisherman’s cabins, or ‘rorbuer’ as we call them in Norwegian, and their own telegraph, shops and bakery. The place was also brimming with mer66 | Issue 98 | March 2017
chant ships, travellers and entertainers,” explains Charles Utvik, director at the Coastal Museum in Nord-Trøndelag. The former fishing village has been preserved ever since the 1980s, but it was not until 2010 that the Norwegian government officially protected the village as the first in Norway, including houses, cultural landscape and sea bed, and invested large sums in restoration. From May to September, visitors at the Costal Museum can travel by boat to Sør-Gjæslingan to spend their holiday in the restored fishermen’s cabins. “As soon as you arrive, something happens. Civilisation disappears and be-
comes insignificant,” says Utvik. “You step into another world that you’ll never forget, where a calm atmosphere and crystal clear water is like balm for the soul. The islands do have a local shop and a friendly host, and the cabins are more than comfortable enough, but you won’t be living in a five-star hotel. It’s not an artificial society, but one built up over centuries. It’s the real deal. All this makes Sør-Gjæslingan a well-suited place for reflecting on what’s important in life.”
Preserving the past while sailing into the future Back on the mainland, the sublime cultural centre Norveg, designed by Icelandic architect Gudmundur Jonsson to look like a ship in full sail, stands as a symbol of a proud past and present. The iconic 13-year-old museum houses a captivating archeological and historical exhibition, a resource centre for coastal culture and business, a restaurant specialising in locally sourced food and traditional cakes, and a shop.
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Our Top Norwegian Museums
“Norveg is used actively for a wide range of purposes and is far from a relic of the past. We have to preserve our heritage, but also look into the future. That’s why we use technology, interactive segments and drama to communicate history. In our permanent exhibition, you can learn about Norway’s maritime history, stretching from early settlements 10,000 years ago, to modern-day industrial fishing. Next, you can go on a guided tour of the local aqua farming business SalmoNor, to see first-hand how far the industry has evolved,” says Utvik, who is also an archaeologist. In front of Norveg stands a bust of local historian Paul Woxeng. Without him, there might never have been a museum in Rørvik. “Like many others in Vikna, Woxeng went to the United States in hope of a better life. That must have inspired him, because when he returned, he built a private museum with more than 3,000 historical objects at his small farm Vågsenget – which
was his birth name before the transatlantic journey – and wrote extensively on local history,” Utvik explains. Woxeng’s collections were later moved to Berggården, a former trade house with a key role in Rørvik’s emergence as a coastal trade and communications centre, where they are now on display together with two other collections. Vågsenget remains in the hands of the Coastal Museum and is frequently used as a getaway spot. “In the summer, the whole village comes to life through a historical theatre involving the local population. It’s almost like being back in the old days. For Skreifestivalen 2017, an annual festival celebrating the Atlantic cod, we’ll put on a contemporary drama taking place in the 1970s, when the fishing village at Sør-Gjæslingan was in crisis. If we want to avoid losing our soul, we have to reach the younger generation,” says Utvik.
The Coastal Museum in NordTrøndelag at a glance: Rørvik: A small Norwegian port village, home to the Coastal Museum. Sør-Gjæslingan: A protected fishing village off the coast of Rørvik, once the most important south of Lofoten, offering accommodation in old fishing cabins. Norveg: An iconic coastal cultural centre in Rørvik, designed by Icelandic architect Gudmundur Jonsson, housing an archaeological and historical exhibition, a resource centre, restaurant and shop. Vågsenget: Once the home of local historian Paul Woxeng, now a popular getaway spot. Berggården: Former trading house in Rørvik where Paul Woxeng’s historical collections are now on display.
For more information, please visit: www.kystmuseetnorveg.no
Top left: At its height, Sør-Gjæslingan attracts up to as many as 5,000 seasonal fishermen. Photo: Kystmuseet i Nord-Trøndelag. Bottom left: If you are looking for peace of mind, you should consider a holiday inside a fisherman’s cabin at Sør-Gjæslingan. Photo: Martin Jehnichen, Kystmuseet i Nord-Trøndelag. Right: Sør-Gjæslingan was once the most important Norwegian fishing village south of Lofoten. Photo: Martin Jehnichen, Kystmuseet i Nord-Trøndelag
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 67
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Our Top Norwegian Museums
The Gokstad, which could be rowed as well as sailed by 32 men.
One of the most intriguing Viking ships, the Oseberg, which was a burial ship for two prominent women. Photo: MårtenTeigen
The ever-lasting appeal of the Vikings The history of the Vikings is one of the most universal interests in the world. The Viking era spanned from the beginning of the 700s to approximately 1050 AD. The bestpreserved Viking ships in the world are located at the Viking Ship Museum in Bygdøy, Oslo, which is open to the public every day.
fast and built for travels on the high seas, built around 890 AD, at the peak of the Viking period. It was found by two teenage boys digging around in 1879 in Sandefjord, and excavated in 1880.
By Pernille Johnsen | Photos: Viking Ship Museum
The first known and documented Viking attack happened in Lindisfarne in northern England in 793. The allure of the Vikings is likely a combination of a fascination with their plunderous activity and the intellectual views about the world they lived in. The mythological, cosmological ideas the Vikings shared about life after death as well as their sense of adventure and fervour for storytelling are ubiquitous aspects of cultures worldwide and thus appeal to tourists and locals alike.
The mystery of Oseberg One of the monoliths at the museum is the Oseberg ship, which was built in around 820 and excavated in Tønsberg in 1904. The Oseberg ship was used as a burial ship for two women, one aged between 70 and 80 and the other woman approximately 50 years of age. No 68 | Issue 98 | March 2017
one knows exactly who they were, but it is certain that they had substantial power and agency. No ordinary person was given such a grave, so the women must have held high religious or political positions in their communities. The burial of the women provokes many questions. Were they related, or was one sacrificed to join the other in the afterlife? The women’s lives remain a mystery that makes seeing the Oseberg an exercise of the imagination, suitable for all age groups.
This spring, the museum offers a new way to experience the Viking era through an animated film screening. The project is called The Vikings Alive and includes a feature film as well as two documentaries, which will be available at the Viking Ship Museum at Bygdøy from April 2017 onwards. The Oseberg cart, which was found in the burial chamber along with the women.
The high seas The second of the three ships on display at the Viking Ship Museum is the Gokstad ship. With a different build than that of the Oseberg, the Gokstad could be rowed and sailed by a crew of 32 men. It was
For more information, please visit: www.khm.uio.no
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Our Top Norwegian Museums
Step behind the scenes of Henrik Ibsen’s life Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen – writer of the most frequently performed plays in the world after Shakespeare – is a national hero and a true international superstar. More than a century after his death, immortal plays such as Peer Gynt, Brand, A Doll’s House and Hedda Gabler still possess the power to engage, provoke and break down social boundaries. At the Ibsen Museum in Oslo, situated in Ibsen’s last apartment, you can move beyond the myth and get an intimate look at the final chapters of a mortal man. By Eirik Elvevold | Photos: Ibsenmuseet
Most of Henrik Ibsen’s plays, which are unceasingly performed around the globe, are set in Norway, but the playwright himself remained disenchanted with his home country. For 27 of his best years, Ibsen lived in self-imposed exile in Italy and Germany, before relocating to the Norwegian capital Kristiania (now Oslo) after a trip to the North Cape in 1891. “Ibsen eventually moved into a splendid apartment right next to the Royal Palace, where he lived for the last 11 years of his life and wrote his two last plays, John Gabriel Borkman and When We Dead Awaken. After a long process of uncovering the original interior and retrieving furniture, the apartment has been restored for everyone to see at the Ibsen Museum,” says consultant Bergljot Geist.
was a secluded and almost mystical person during his last years and was always very conscious of his own image. If he wasn’t out walking or drinking German beer at Grand Café, he would be in the study writing for his life,” says Geist.
Exhibitions at the Ibsen Museum:
While admirers used to flock to the street below Ibsen’s window to catch a glimpse of the ageing playwright, fans from around the world now enjoy exhibitions and guided tours in his private sphere on the building’s second floor.
The Writer’s Home: Ibsen’s last home has been restored with original interior, colours and décor.
“People usually gasp at the grandeur of the apartment. It’s full of lavishly decorated rooms, including the ‘blue salon’, ‘red salon’ and library, with the crown jewel being Ibsen’s study,” asserts Geist.
Mestermøte: Ibsen – Munch: Exhibition tracing Edvard Munch’s inspiration from Ibsen’s writing.
A portrait of Ibsen’s arch enemy August Strindberg, which used to motivate him by staring him in the neck, still hangs above the playwright’s old work desk. “The study has a magical atmosphere. There he sat each day, with a view of the Royal Palace, writing world literature. He
On the Contrary: Named after Ibsen’s last words, the permanent exhibition depicts the human being and the writer Henrik Ibsen.
Beatles in A Doll’s House: A humorous approach to Ibsen and the Beatles. Walking with Ibsen: A wandering theatre in the heart of Oslo.
For more information and opening hours, please visit: www.norskfolkemuseum.no/ibsenmuseet
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 69
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norwegian Museums
Photo: Fossekleiva Kultursenter
The fabric of community culture In the second half of the 19th century, a remarkable industrial development took place in Berger in Vestfold. Two new factories, constructed with fresh capital and brand new technology, turned a small Norwegian farm into a world-leading production site for woollen textiles, attracting hundreds of Norwegian and foreign workers. More than a century later, production at Berger has come to a halt, but a dynamic symbiosis between Berger Museum and Fossekleiva Arts Centre keeps the community vibrant and the legacy alive. By Eirik Elvevold
In the winter of 1879, Jürg Jebsen and his son Jens Johannes travelled from the west coast of Norway towards the capital to find the right location for their next textile factory. Having established factories outside Bergen, the well-connected and industrious Jebsens were looking to expand in areas closer to the profitable markets in eastern Norway and Sweden. Their eyes were initially set on Oslo and Drammen, the most developed urban areas in the region, but the plan changed 70 | Issue 98 | March 2017
on, his younger brother, Jørg, followed suit and opened a factory of his own – Fossekleven fabrik – further up the river. In the following century, the two Norwegian factories went on to create some of the world’s best woollen textiles,” says Berger Museum’s managing director, Hanne Synnøve Østerud.
Patterns of industrial transformation when they stopped in Holmestrand and crossed the frozen fjord to spend the night at Berger farm. “The Jebsen family, originally from Denmark, had capital and knowledge but a shortage in energy and waterfalls, so they decided to buy Berger farm in 1879 to get the rights to the local river Bergerelva. Only a year later, in 1880, 21-year-old Jens Johannes opened the textile factory Berger fabrik. Nine years
Today, Berger Museum and Fossekleiva Arts Centre, co-funded and run by the municipalities of Svelvik and Sande and the Vestfold Museums, have replaced textile production in the disused Fossekleven fabrik. In Berger Museum, you can witness how the Jebsens’ two factories gradually transformed Berger from a farm into a dynamic and international industrial community with its own church, school, bank, docks, shop, nursing home and sports association.
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Our Top Norwegian Museums
“By importing highly advanced Jacquard looms, the Jebsens were able to produce award-winning textiles with complex patterns, like the Berger blankets. To attract skilled Norwegian workers and much-needed experts from England and Germany to such a rural area, they developed Berger into a highly self-sufficient community based on humanist values,” Østerud explains. Through multimedia exhibitions, you can learn more about Berger’s industrial history and the technology behind the Jacquard loom, which is considered as an early form of the computer because it utilised punched cards. You can also enjoy the surrounding cultural landscape while discovering the scope of the well-preserved industrial community that constitutes two factory clusters, 32 wooden worker’s houses, Berger farm and a small church. “The real treasure, however, is our unique archive of more than 3,000 pattern and textile designs. The archive includes Thorolf Holmboe’s famous blanket patterns for the centennial anniversary of the Norwegian constitution in 1914, which have later been used on the catwalk in both Paris and Oslo,” says Østerud.
The transition to artistic production Fossekleiva Arts Centre dates back further than Berger Museum, but none-
theless represents a new and forwardlooking chapter in Berger’s history, which first began when Fossekleven fabrik closed in 1965. The factory buildings were left partly empty for more than ten years, before two entrepreneurs bought them, restored them and opened Fossekleiva Brukssenter. “In the early 1980s, one hundred years after the Jebsens settled, the first artists started arriving at Berger. Not only did the worker’s houses provide them with affordable ateliers and rents, but the enchanting light inspired their art. Many interesting art projects took place in and around Fossekleiva, but the organisation of the arts centre long remained quite occasional and sporadic,” says Fossekleiva Arts Centre’s managing director, Franzisca Aarflot. Since 2013, however, strong municipal focus and funding have brought the prospect of continuity to Berger’s art scene, and Fossekleiva Arts Centre will soon transition into being open all year round. “It’s incredibly inspiring to work with a more permanent cultural programme in these historical surroundings. Many contemporary artists enjoy relating to specific places, since there are so many stories popping up. In this year’s summer exhibition Produksjon!, for instance, we have invited the Scottish art duo Vision
Mechanics, who will create a four-metretall figure covered in sparkling mirror mosaics in the traditional patterns of the Berger blankets,” Aarflot reveals. Five important years in Berger’s industrial history: 1880: Production starts at Berger fabrik. 1886: Berger fabrik wins silver medal at the Liverpool International Exhibition. 1889: Production starts at Fossekleven fabrik. 1965: Production ends at Fossekleven fabrik. 2002: Production ends at Berger fabrik.
Coming up at Fossekleiva Arts Centre: June: Produksjon!, a summer exhibition with place-specific art. September: Kunst rett vest, art from 15 municipalities west of Oslo. October: Figur i Fossekleiva, an annual puppet theatre festival. November: November-prosjektet: Recycling, an annual project highlighting current social topics.
For more information, please visit: www.bergermuseum.no or www.fossekleiva.no
Photo: Fossekleiva Kultursenter
Katarina Skår Henriksen and Kyuja Bae. Photo: André Wulf / Dreiemoment AS
Photo: Hanne Synnøve Østerud
Photo: Hanne Synnøve Østerud
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 71
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Our Top Norwegian Museums
Shining a light on the past and informing for the future Fancy a peek into the private life of Adolf Hitler where he nourished his artistic side? Or perhaps a glimpse at Eva Braun’s purse? This and many more curiosities from World War II can be found at the Lofoten World War Memorial Museum. The museum holds one of the world’s largest collections of unique artefacts that tell a story from the war far from the battlefield. By Helen Toftner & Astrid Eriksson | Photos: Lofoten Krigsminnemuseum
The Lofoten World War Museum is a museum that is out of the ordinary, where the focus has drifted from the military to the personal side of the war. Thus, the museum takes pride in reflecting the time span between 1940 and 1945 with all its drama and brutality alongside examples of personal sacrifices, altruism and courage. “It is a historical museum with curiosities that attract people from all over the world. It intends to encourage people to think for themselves,” William Hakvaag says. He is the enthusiast behind 72 | Issue 98 | March 2017
the museum, and it has become his mission in life to locate and exhibit artefacts that tell stories about people and the war. “A museum ought to shed light on the past, namely through photo material, pictures and text. Together, this constitutes a story, but the best thing it will do is to encourage visitors to think and make up their own conclusions,” Hakvaag says.
Josef Terboven’s porcelain Being Norway’s largest exhibition of uniforms, artefacts and small objects
from World War II, there are many curiosities displayed within the museum walls. Hakvaag himself has travelled near and far to get his hands on the unique pieces, and the current collection consists of porcelain of Reichskommissar for Norway, Josef Terboven; Christmas trees called Frontbaums, sent up north to cheer up Waffen-SS; Christmas tree decorations with Hitler’s head painted on them; as well as a large collection of uniforms. One of the most notable artefacts includes the main flag taken from the German ship Blücher after it was sunk in the Oslofjord. On that note, the museum also holds the cap of Birger Eriksen, the officer who ordered firing on the ship and was thus instrumental in stopping the first wave of Germans invading Norway.
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Our Top Norwegian Museums
The museum exhibits five watercolour paintings painted by Adolf Hitler. The main image of the farm house had a double back, a hidden compartment, where four other images painted by Hitler were hidden.
“Eriksen was from Lofoten, and it is therefore particularly special to have his cap,” Hakvaag says.
The Lofoten raid – the first victory against Germany It is no coincidence that the museum is located in Lofoten in northern Norway. The place played an important role during the war at the centre of Operation Claymore, often referred to as the Lofoten raid. On 4 March 1941, the allied forces, with the United Kingdom in the lead, carried out the raid on the Lofoten islands. It was soon considered the first total victory against Germany during the war, and it was a massive morale boost for British and Norwegian troops. It did, however, lead to the enormous fortification of Svolvær in Lofoten, and not least it opened German eyes to the north. As a di-
rect consequence of the raid, the Gestapo established their regional headquarters in Svolvær, alongside a considerable increase in German soldiers in the area.
Hitler behind the scenes – an artist and vegetarian Adolf Hitler is probably one of history’s most talked about men, and there is no lack of biographies. Most people are struck by his brutality, while others are also fascinated by the man behind the public appearance. It is a well-known fact that he was an eager artist, and it has been argued that the whole war might have been avoided if he had been admitted into the Vienna Academy of Art. With this in mind, Hakvaag bought a painting by Hitler for €200. What neither he nor the vendor knew was that behind the paintings there were five drawings of
dwarfs from Snow White, all signed by Hitler. “He was an artist by nature, which one could also see in his behaviour as a leader. He did not follow the rules of the game and did things that no rational leader would do: for example, sending his troops to Russia without winter clothes,” Hakvaag says. While obviously portraying Hitler as the leader of the war, the museum is also trying to show the person behind the scenes, who was a vegetarian and a non-smoker. “He was a hard-line psychopath, who may not have struck people as the dangerous person he really was at first. This is all part of our desire to make people think for themselves and gain a new insight into history.” For more information, please visit: www.lofotenkrigmus.no
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 73
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Our Top Norwegian Museums
Left: Only one of the six men aboard Kon-Tiki had any experience at sea. Photo: Museum Archives. Right: Heyerdahl’s Kon-Tiki expedition took him from South America to the Polynesian Islands. Photo: Museum Archives. Bottom right: The museum based in Oslo features the original raft, a museum shop, cinemas and meeting rooms, along with several other facilities. Photo: Fin Serck-Hansen.
The David and Goliath of the sea It is not every day you see people crying in the foyer of a museum, but admirers of the Norwegian explorer and archaeologist Thor Heyerdahl often become so overwhelmed with emotions by seeing his renowned raft in real life, that they will shed a tear or two at the Kon-Tiki Museum in Oslo. By Line Elise Svanevik
In 1947, Heyerdahl did the unimaginable and crossed the Pacific Ocean on a handmade balsawood raft, named Kon-Tiki, to test his theory that it was possible to travel by raft from South America to the Polynesian Islands. Although not a single scholar believed it would work, Heyerdahl became one of the first archaeologists to test his own theory – and successfully so. He was told the raft would sink due to the porous nature of the balsawood, and no one had attempted this journey in several hundred years. “The story of Thor Heyerdahl and Kon-Tiki is in many ways the story of David and Goliath,” says head of communication at the Kon-Tiki Museum, Ulrikke Thea Berg. “Heyerdahl’s David had to fight against the Goliath of science to prove his worth and theory that it was possible to cross the Pacific Ocean in a primitive balsawood 74 | Issue 98 | March 2017
raft, based on earlier models from preColumbian times.” Without knowing how to sail or swim, Heyerdahl set out on the expedition along with five others and sailed for 101 days. What made the journey even more spectacular was that they were completely alone at sea.
only view the original Kon-Tiki raft, but also Heyerdahl’s original Ra II boat, in addition to attending educational exhibitions with findings from the expeditions. It also screens the Oscar-winning 1950 documentary Kon-Tiki in its very own cinema. The museum is frequently used for business meetings, with rooms for 12-15 people and an auditorium for up to 70 people. “Our experience is that the story of the Kon-Tiki expedition lends itself brilliantly to team-building and management meetings,” says Berg.
Most visited museum in Norway Since the museum opened its doors in 1950, more than 17 million people have visited the building, including Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and former US president Bill Clinton. It quickly became one of the most visited museums in Norway due to the historical original raft, and the museum still welcomes just under 200,000 visitors annually. Although small in size, the museum features incredible content. Visitors can not
For more information, please visit: www.kon-tiki.no
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Our Top Norwegian Museums
Life of a pioneer for the mentally disabled Emma Hjorth secured care for mentally disabled people too ill for government support. Today, her life and work are on display in her former care home at the Emma Hjorth Museum in Oslo. “Our goal is to inspire visitors to care more, as well as informing them of her life,” special consultant Bård K. Dahl explains. Born in 1858 near Oslo, Emma Alethe Andreasdatter Lippestad worked as a teacher at Thorshaug Institutt (Norway’s first school for mentally disabled children) under the supervision of her brother, Johan Anton Lippestad. She qualified as a teacher in 1879 and, after leaving the school in 1903, she dedicated the rest of her life to the care home for mentally disabled people. In 1881, a law was introduced to secure care for people with hearing, seeing and mild mental disabilities, but not for those with severe mental disabilities. With many individuals rejected, Hjorth formed the care home in 1898. Two years later, she married architect Ingvar Magnus Hjorth. His famous designs generated a network of contacts amongst Norway’s social elite, to whom he introduced his wife.
By Stian Sangvig
Emma Hjorth. Photo: Akershus Fylkesmuseum
Hjorth raised funds to finance her care home from wealthy Norwegians including Queen Maud, composer Edvard Grieg and 600 factory and land owners and shipping magnates. It continued to run successfully after her death in 1921 and until care for the mentally disabled was taken over by municipalities in the 1990s. Hjort’s work displays the possibility to care for others despite having the government against you. “It forms part of an activities centre including a café and accommodation,” says Dahl. On Thursdays, the museum has regular opening hours, but visits can also be arranged by appointment. For more information, please visit: www.emmagjestehus.no
Visual warnings of war
Exhibition. Photo: Arne Norman
By Eirik Elvevold | Photos: Narvik Krigsmuseum
Through historical artefacts and the active use of design, pictures, film and technology, Narvik War Museum passes on the historical legacy from Narvik and Norway during World War II. But the museum’s mission and message do not stop there. Visitors of all ages are invited to reflect upon universal questions about war, conflict, peace, truth and human rights, to escape the perils of war in the future. On a grey and snowy morning on 9 April 1940, German destroyers, with thousands of trained mountain troops on board, torpedoed and sank the two Norwegian warships Eidsvold and Norge in Narvik. To everyone’s surprise, Norway was being invaded. “The following five-year Nazi occupation of Norway was more dramatic in northern Norway than further south, even though you wouldn’t guess that based on the media coverage. As an example, 8,500 people lost their lives in the battles for Narvik in 1940. Naturally, the local population is happy to have an institution in town that takes that history seriously,” explains Narvik War Museum’s director, Eystein Markusson. Even though it means a great deal to locals, the museum’s main exhibition,
Peacefront, has been designed to be attractive and understandable for both youth and foreign visitors. “We use plenty of visual aids to tackle Narvik’s complex history and all the universal questions it provokes. More than half of our visitors come from abroad, and many of them are familiar with Narvik because of its geopolitical importance, but they’re surprised by the scope of hostilities here and impressed by our design and approach. The younger generations are genuinely interested in the part about war and human rights,” says Markusson.
For more information, please visit: www.warmuseum.no
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 75
February means romance. And so does JarlsbergÂŽ! Treat your special someone to a home cooked meal. Breakfast in bed, a romantic lunch or an intimate dinner. Keep the meal simple and add the special ingredients - love and JarlsbergÂŽ.
www.jarlsberg.com
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norwegian Top Destinations
Gaustatoppen, Rjukan’s prideful mountain where visitors can view one sixth of Norway from the top.
Krossobanen still runs every day, all year round.
The famous Vemork facility where heavy water was produced, a central component in constructing a nuclear bomb.
Rjukan celebrates a rich, industrial history The town of Rjukan in Telemark county has experienced a renaissance over the past few years due to the popular TV series The Heavy Water War. The show depicts the World War II race in developing the first nuclear bomb. Norwegian saboteurs bombed the Vemork power plant where the heavy water was produced, preventing the Germans from constructing a nuclear bomb. By Pernille Johnsen | Photos: Ian Brodie
The sabotage act is known to be one of the most successfully committed during WWII. In Rjukan, you can experience the story where it actually happened. “We have experienced a spike in interest due to the TV series, and a shift from tourists wanting to pass through Rjukan on the way to the fjords, to those who are treating it as a base for further exploration,” says Hege Sætre Næss of Visit Rjukan. “We recommend tourists to stay for two days or more, to be able to experience everything that Rjukan has to offer.” From 1907 to 1920, Rjukan experienced exponential growth, developing from a farming community of 50 farms to an industrial town with a population of 10,000. The reason for this unsurpassed development was the founder of Rjukan
and Norwegian Hydro, Sam Eyde’s invention of artificial fertilisers. Contrary to popular belief, this, not the paperclip, is Norway’s greatest ever invention for the international market. Along with Notodden, Rjukan is Norway’s newest addition to UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites, due to this industrial heritage.
Sun mirror Rjukan is known for being without sun in winter. This has made the conditions optimal for ice climbing. Large mirrors have been installed on the mountainside, reflecting the rays of the sun and directing them towards Rjukan’s market square. 100 years ago, Sam Eyde had the idea of the sun mirror – but not the technology.
Krossobanen was an alternative, built to carry inhabitants in need of sun closer to the mountain. Krossobanen is still open and runs every day, the whole year round. Aside from its industrial heritage, Rjukan is famous for its hiking trails. On one side of the valley sits Norway’s largest national park, Hardangervidda, and towering on the other side of the valley is the Gaustatoppen mountain, which rises 1,883 metres. From the top, you will have Norway’s most far-reaching view, displaying an impressive one-sixth of all of Norway. The summit is accessible and the mountain easy to climb, with a combined tramway running inside the mountain. Gaustabanen, as it is called, can bring you up to 1,800 metres in just 15 minutes.
For more information, please visit: www.visitrjukan.com You can also scan the QR code:
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 77
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norwegian Top Destinations
From Rampestreken viewpoint, 580 metres above sea level, you will have breathtaking views of Åndalsnes and the Romsdalsfjord. Photo: Stein Lindseth Olsen, Anunatak
Be at one with nature With some of the most spectacular nature-based attractions in Europe, the Åndalsnes and Romsdal region in western Norway is a nature lover’s paradise. Visitors can experience everything from mountain climbing and challenging hikes to fishing, cycling and the most scenic train journey in Europe – the region offers unforgettable experiences in every season. By Linn Skjei Bjørnsen
Norway is known for its breathtaking nature with sky-high mountains, emerald fjords, beautiful waterfalls and wild rivers, but very few places can offer all of this within a small radius. Åndalsnes, however, is home to all of this and more. A visit here, to one of the most unspoiled regions in Norway, allows you to step right into the wild. 78 | Issue 98 | March 2017
Located in the Romsdalen valley, with majestic mountains towering on both sides, it is no surprise that the area is well-known, and loved, among rock climbers. In fact, European rock climbing started in the Romsdalen mountains back in 1830. Trollveggen (the Troll Wall) is the most popular and spectacular climbing destination in the area, and at-
tracts climbers from all over the world. Rising 1,788 metres above sea level, of which 1,000 metres are straight up, it is the tallest vertical rock face in Europe. “We are very proud of our long climbing history, and it is not for nothing we have named Åndalsnes the peak capital of Norway,” says Hilde Gråberg Bakke, tourism manager of Visit Åndalsnes. Visitors can really witness the rich climbing history come to life with a trip to Norsk Tindesenter, a modern adventure centre dedicated to mountaineering that opened in Åndalsnes town last year. Here you can learn all about climbing and mountain sports through an interactive exhibition,
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norwegian Top Destinations
pictures and films, and try out the tallest indoor climbing wall in Norway.
The world’s most beautiful hike If you are not much of a climber, there are still plenty of ways to experience Romsdalen valley’s countless peaks and mountains. A number of hikes are easily accessible from Åndalsnes town centre, and one not to miss is the Romsdalseggen ridge. Voted one of the world’s most beautiful hikes by National Geographic, it is sure to take the breath away from even the most experienced mountain hiker. “Romsdalseggen truly is a spectacular hike, and from here you will get 360-degree views of some of the wildest mountains in the country, including Trollveggen, as well as the Romsdalsfjord and all the way to the Norwegian Sea,” explains Gråberg Bakke. Another popular attraction is Trollstigen, a dramatic road that twists through 11 hairpin bends up the steep mountainside, climbing up to 858 metres above sea level. Driving amongst
snow-covered mountains and passing the impressive waterfall Stigfossen makes for an experience of a lifetime.
over the wild Rauma River and waterfalls at Ville Verma is sure to get the adrenalin pumping.
Action-packed activities
Festivals and one of the toughest triathlons around
The Åndalsnes region is also an attractive destination for activity-based holidays. “We offer a wide range of activities, in both summer and winter – everything from cycling, fishing and stand-up paddle boarding to skiing, zip lining and river walks,” Gråberg Bakke says. Fishing in particular has become a popular activity and the Romsdalsfjord, which is one of the cleanest and most species-rich fjords in Norway, offers excellent fishing experiences. There are also opportunities for lake fishing in the mountains and fishing boat excursions on the fjord. For the more adventurous, stand-up paddle boarding is an excellent, and unique, way of exploring the emerald rivers of Istra and Rauma, while surrounded by the beautiful Romsdalen nature. For the true daredevil, zip lining
As well as the spectacular nature and adventures, Åndalsnes offers a range of cultural experiences, including several festivals coming up in 2017. Rauma Rock, which takes place in August, has previously hosted some of the biggest names in Norwegian rock, as well as international stars such as Bryan Adams, Danko Jones and Lissie. In July, outdoor enthusiasts from near and far will gather in Åndalsnes for the 19th Norsk Fjellfestival (Norwegian Mountain Festival) – the largest and most significant festival for people with a love for the mountains. The festival is one of a kind in Norway and offers a versatile programme including hikes, mountaineering, family events, cultural evenings, exhibitions and concerts.
Top left: Fjord fishing in the Romsdalsfjord is a popular activity. Photo: Måna Camping. Top middle: Experience Norwegian climbing history at Norsk Tindesenter. Photo: Sigrid Sundvor, Visit Åndalsnes. Top right: Visit Vineyard Tuen, the northernmost vineyard in the world. Photo: Vineyard Tuen. Bottom left: Romsdalstrappa (Romsdal Stairs) leads up to Rampestreken, and was built by Nepalese Sherpas. Photo: Matti Bernitz. Bottom right: Romsdalseggen has been voted one of the world’s most beautiful hikes by National Geographic. Photo: Mattias Fredriksson
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 79
Foto: Ole Walter Jacobsen Leif J. Olestad
The Rauma Railway – The most beautiful train journey Gardermoen
Åndalsnes - Dombås A trip on the Rauma Railway is a unique opportunity to experience one of the most spectacular scenic areas in Norway. Once aboard the train, just sit back and gaze out of the train’s large windows and enjoy the journey through contrasting, wild and magnificent scenery.
route. Past famous attractions such as Trollveggen and Kylling brigde, the train will run at reduced speed.
For more information and to book tickets, see nsb.no/raumarailway, call +47 815 00 888 or contact a From 24th May to 24th August the train has specialist on Scandinavia. an electronic guiding system that provides information on the scenic sights along the Europe’s most spectacular train journeys
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norwegian Top Destinations
“We are also excited to arrange the Trollveggen triathlon during the festival,” Gråberg Bakke says. “Participants have to endure 1,200 metres of swimming in ice-cold water in the Romsdalsfjord, 34 kilometres of cycling beneath Trollveggen and up to Trollstigen, climbing to more than 700 metres, followed by 5.7 kilometres of running up to Stabbeskaret mountain, 1,450 metres above sea level – it’s easily one of the toughest triathlons out there.”
Local flavours The cuisine of Romsdalen offers some real treats as well. Visit Vineyard Tuen, the northernmost vineyard in the world. Here, hand-picked berries, plants and
sap from the wild nature in Romsdalen have been carefully developed into fantastic wine. Take a trip to Hotel Aak, where culinary experiences based on carefully selected local ingredients are available. Sødahlhuset, a cosy retro café, has a passion for authentic and locally produced food, while Eldhuset at Devold Gård offers storytelling in addition to good food and local dishes. “The Åndalsnes region truly offers something out of the ordinary – the nature provides an opportunity for a very active holiday, but also the chance to disconnect and be one with nature, far away from the hustle and bustle,” says Gråberg Bakke. At the same time, Åndalsnes is very
accessible and can be reached by car, train and air. Ålesund and its international airport is only two hours away, while Molde, which also has an international airport, is one hour away. If you do decide to come here by train, you are in for a treat; the Rauma Line, which connects with the train to Oslo, runs through the heart of the region, and has been named the most scenic train journey in Europe by Lonely Planet. Sit back, relax and enjoy one of the wildest and most unique parts of Norway.
For more information, please visit: www.visitromsdal.com
Top left: Zip lining at Ville Verma is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Photo: Erik Birkeland. Top middle: Explore Rauma and Istra rivers with stand-up paddle boarding. Photo: Sigird Sundvor, Visit Åndalsnes. Top right: The Trollstigen viewpoint offers spectacular views of the unique road. Photo: Sigrid Sundvor, Visit Åndalsnes. Bottom: The scenic drive Trollstigen twists through 11 hairpin bends. Photo: Øyvind Heen
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 81
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norwegian Top Destinations
Kjerringøy Rorbusenter is located near the sea, and you can listen to the waves or look for the northern lights from your lovely fisherman’s cabin. Photo: Kjerringøy Rorbusenter.
Adventures await in beautiful Bodø Bodø was recently named Norway’s most attractive city, which is no surprise when you ask the locals. With proximity to some of Norway’s most incredible natural wonders and a consistent city development, it is really no coincidence that this northern city has secured the number-one spot. By Karen Langfjæran
When you land at Bodø Airport, you are only five minutes from the city centre, where the magic begins. The secondbiggest city in northern Norway has a wonderful charm as it meets the ocean, where you can see some of its exceptional mountains surrounding the city in Norway that has been awarded as the most attractive. 82 | Issue 98 | March 2017
A short drive away, you can explore a number of natural wonders in the Salten region, including Saltstraumen and Svartisen, and landmarks as well as a range of activities such as fishing, mountain biking, paragliding, kayaking, diving and unique ocean safari trips. The impressive mountains are just one of many attractions, as you can visit the unique
archipelago, grottos, national parks and exceptional island groups as well as the nearby Lofoten and Vesterålen.
No time to waste in Bodø For the culturally minded, Bodø is a natural choice for its wide range of cultural events throughout the year, including art exhibitions, festivals and concerts. The brand new Stormen culture quarter with a library and concert hall has made downtown Bodø a whole new experience. At Stormen concert hall, award-winning for both its architecture and acoustics, you can experience the world’s northernmost professional orchestra, the Arctic
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norwegian Top Destinations
Philharmonic, at one of their weekly performances ranging from symphonic and opera to chamber music. “There is a unique opportunity in the area to learn more about aqua culture, one of Norway’s most important industries,” says managing director of Visit Bodø, Ann-Kristin Rønning Nilsen. A visit to Salmon Centre Bodø, located in the city centre, can include guided tours and an interactive introduction. If water is not your preferred choice of element, Rønning Nilsen suggests visiting Newton Flight Academy where you can test full-motion flight simulators – the first of its kind in the Nordic countries. Three full-motion simulators guarantee an experience as close to real life as it gets. Make sure to also visit the Norwegian Aviation Museum next to Newton Flight Academy. At Bodø Golf Park, you can test your golfing skills at an 18-hole golf course located a short drive from the city centre and with a view of the extraordinary Lofoten wall. “The first nine holes are located in wonderful landscapes close to the ocean, and during the midnight sun period you can play all night long,” says Rønning Nilsen. Golf promotes wellness, as does the centrally located clinic
7.himmel, where you can wrap up your golfing adventure with a well-deserved classic treatment. The clinic also has an affiliated spa in the indoor waterpark Nordlandsbadet, where you can book treatments and relax.
The many tastes of northern Norway You quickly understand why Bodø earned the top placement as Norway’s most attractive city when you start to get peckish, as there are fantastic food experiences to enjoy. Both Bodø and the surrounding areas in Salten have a tradition of creating unique products, such as local salts, cheeses and marmalades as well as exclusive chocolates with unique combinations. Chocolate lovers will particularly love Craig Alibone Chocolate, where world-class handmade chocolate is produced with only the best ingredients. Here you are served cakes, macaroons, truffles and chocolate with exciting variations. Do as the locals do and take a break at the Mon Ami restaurants, where homecooked and tasty food is served with a side of love. “French and Nordic flavours meet in a sensuous experience in a lovely atmosphere, either at Glasshuset in the city centre or at the shopping centre
City Nord, where you can enjoy the sun outside during summer,” says Rønning Nilsen. If you identify as a feinschmecker, the centrally located restaurant Nyt – a fine-dining restaurant with set menus of four to seven-course meals – could very well be just what you need. You will be served delicious meals with a proven passion for local ingredients and innovative tweaks, inspired by the landscapes of northern Norway. Another alternative is the pub and brewery Hundholmen Brygghus, where you can choose between a range of à la carte meals, pub food and the traditional dish of the day served with the drink of your choice – perhaps one of their homebrewed beers. In the evening, the pub turns into a lively and popular place for locals. A meeting of Nordic and Asian sensation, Ohma Restaurant is another preferred choice among both locals and visitors. The restaurant is located across from the library, perfect for some people watching by the newly established cultural building, and serves a variety of Asian-inspired dishes and sushi. “A third recommendation is Bjørk, a centrally located restaurant in Glasshuset in the city centre. The pizza is often described as the best in the city, and all menu options
Top left: How about some sugary delights from Mon Ami? Photo: Mon Ami. Bottom left: Treat yourself after an active day in Bodø at spa 7.himmel. Photo: 7.himmel. Right: The local treasure Ohma Restaurant is the perfect place for dinner and people watching. Photo: Ohma Restaurant.
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 83
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norwegian Top Destinations
Above: Head to Bodø’s concert hall, Stormen, to catch one of the Arctic Philharmonic’s weekly performances. Photo: Yngve Olsen Sæbbe. Below: Spend a day at the authentic Kjerringøy Handelssted, where you are taken back to the 19th century. Photo: Nordlandsmuseet.
are made from scratch,” the managing director of Visit Bodø says.
Beautiful Kjerringøy and Salten – just a short drive away When you visit Bodø, make sure to put time aside to see the wonderful Kjerringøy peninsula, with landscapes widely known from films, arts and music. “Its impressive mountains, beaches and lovely small villages are perfect for challenging mountain hikes, relaxed boat trips and other nature experiences,” says Rønning Nilsen of the peninsula area located only 60 minutes by car or ferry from Bodø. Visit Kjerringøy Handelssted for a historical view into the 19th century lifestyle, where activities, events and guided walks are arranged throughout the summer. Kjerringøy Trading Post is a unique example of coastal heritage set in magnificent scenery. It consists of 15 old 84 | Issue 98 | March 2017
buildings retaining many of their original contents, and is one of the country’s most important collections of buildings from the 19th century. If you choose to stay longer, the nearby Kjerringøy Rorbusenter, located in Tårnvik at the end of the peninsula, is the perfect choice. Listen to the sound of the ocean waves from your fisherman’s cabin, enjoy a nice meal in the pub or relax in the Jacuzzi after an active day in the nearby area. The nearby Salten region is another area to put on your must-visit list. Less
than an hour south of Bodø, you will find Misvær. “Located in the middle of the region’s nicest hiking areas, Arctic Cabins in Misvær is perfect if you want to wake up in a lovely cabin, eat local breakfast prepared on a bonfire and then walk straight outside and explore the glorious nature of northern Norway,” says Rønning Nilsen.
For more information, please visit: www.visitbodo.com/en
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norwegian Top Destinations
There are several fantastic opportunities for unique conference breaks. Why not take your guests on a RIB boat up Saltstraumen? Photo: Tommy Andreassen.
Choose Bodø: Make your conference count Bodø can offer you an unforgettable conference, which your participants will talk about for years to come. It has an unbeatable combination of nature, gastronomy and capacity like no other destination. By Karen Langfjæran
Just 80 minutes by flight from Oslo, you will find a city surrounded by mountain landscapes and the ocean, perfect for those fresh breaks every conference needs. Being a compact city is something the Bodø locals appreciate and take advantage of, and having the airport just two kilometres away from the city centre is a lovely benefit for locals and visitors alike. You can enjoy local produce at centrally located restaurants and combine a conference with adventurous fishing or RIB safaris on the sea or towards the exciting Saltstraumen – the world’s strongest maelstrom – then finish with a cultural evening in the city’s new culture hall right by the sea. Bodø is a compact city where you have nature on your doorstep. You can enjoy the northern lights or the midnight sun,
the world’s strongest tidal currents, hike up one of the 150 peaks surrounding the city, go fishing on the open sea, or go kayaking, ice fishing or downhill skiing. The possibilities are endless. If you are looking for a dinner venue like no other, Bodø has plenty to offer. One can dine on a beautiful beach with white table cloths and the best local food you can imagine; in a ‘lavvo’ tent under the open sky, along with a bonfire, history and culture; at the National Aviation Museum with aviation history setting the stage for an unforgettable evening; or on a private island a short ferry ride from the city centre, where the biggest seafood buffet imaginable awaits you.
creating good experiences in all fields. It has venue capacities ranging from 100 to 1,000 people. One of the biggest is the new Stormen culture quarter in the heart of Bodø, which has garnered international attention. All the biggest hotel chains are represented in the city, but it also offers smaller, more intimate boutique hotels. “In the past few years, a number of successful events and conferences have been arranged in Bodø, and we have several great hotels that are happy to arrange more,” says Ann-Kristin Rønning Nilsen, managing director of Visit Bodø. Many conferences have been arranged in Bodø. Here from Norwegian Travel Workshop 2016. Photo: Salmon Centre
Having recently been announced as Norway’s most attractive city, Bodø excels at Issue 98 | March 2017 | 85
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norwegian Top Destinations
Go all out in Uvdal Yearning for an adventure in true Norwegian wilderness? From the village of Uvdal, located a few hours’ drive from Oslo, you can easily head west onto the vast, aweinspiring mountain plateau Hardangervidda – the largest in Europe – to find lakes, rivers and streams flush with sprawling fish, herds of wild reindeer roaming freely and well-kept trails in every direction. The valley of Numedal, where Uvdal is situated, is perhaps most famous for its four stave churches dating back to the 12th century, but it is often the surrounding nature that gives visitors a near-religious experience. Fishermen, hikers and adrenaline junkies alike travel to the Norwegian village to access Hardangervidda, the largest mountain plateau of its kind in Europe, on foot, horseback, bike or by skiing swiftly through freshly prepared tracks. “Hardangervidda was shaped by retreating glaciers during the Ice Age. The average elevation is 1,100 metres and there are several stunning peaks, but large areas are still quite flat. The varied landscape, together with the extensive network of trails and cabins, makes the plateau perfectly
suited for long hikes,” says Jenny Torke, trainee at the destination company Uvdal – Closer to Nature. The region, which can be explored on a draisine, is also home to several ski resorts, museums, the nature park Langedrag – where you can witness both wolf and lynx – and local companies offering exhilarating activities including rafting, canyoning and
Photo: Bernt Nor
By Eirik Elvevold
paintball. If you are a fishing enthusiast scouting for your next great catch, Torke has some good news. “The two neighbouring municipalities Nore og Uvdal and Hol are currently working together to offer all-inclusive fishing trips on the plateau,” she says. “You can fly fish in rivers, go out on lakes in a boat or try fishing in deep puddles – a dream holiday for the eager fisherman.” For more information, please visit: www.uvdal.no or www.visithardangervidda.com
Photo: Destinasjon Uvdal
"I am incredibly fascinated by our domestic animals and especially sheep which for thousands of years have shaped the landscape, contributed to fertile soil and kept us humans fed, warm and well-dressed". Welcome to Helgum farm, where you get to experience country life on the beautiful landscape of Granavollen! Helgum is a family farm from 1840 which produces, partly organic, both cereals and grasses, Norwegian pelt sheep and limousin cattle. The unique products sold here are based on the farm’s resources, and in the shop you can also find other local specialties as well as natural wellness products. www.helgum.no | Telephone: 0047645838 | Email : post@helgum.no | Helgum Gård, Helgumsdalen 7, 2750 Gran - Norway
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Authentic Norwegian Farm Shops
Blooming at Beite Some students work hard to become the farmers of the future. To help them grow, a Norwegian senior high school in Hvam has established Beite, its very own farm shop and café, where everyone can get a taste of the students’ healthy, local produce and simultaneously support them in doing things right.
innovative ways of making a living in the agricultural sector right now, so we want to involve the youth in that creative process as early as possible,” she says.
By Eirik Elvevold | Photos: Beite Hvam VGS
One such creative idea is the café Godt Beite (Good Grazing), where up to 40 people can enjoy a nice lunch, organise events or just kick back with a book. “Godt Beite is situated in the greenhouse – both inside and out. It’s the perfect place to relax with a cup of coffee and some homemade carrot cake,” Østreng suggests.
For teenagers dreaming of a career in farming, gardening or animal use, Hvam senior high school is known to be an excellent educational choice. At first sight, the renowned school, located in the village of Hvam about 50 kilometres northeast of Oslo, may come across as a sizeable Norwegian farm – and it actually is. Numerous red farm buildings housing cattle, pigs, poultry and horses surround a large, characteristic brick house in an endless sea of green fields, where versatile farming activities are carried out by the students themselves. Inside one of the red buildings, in conjunction with a greenhouse, the farm shop Beite sells the fresh produce made alongside a wide range of local products from eastern Norway. “Starting in the autumn, we sell potatoes and vegetables that are produced right
here. Freshly laid eggs from the henhouse, whole grain rolls, lettuce, herbs and seasonal flowers from the market garden can be bought all year round. The shop also stocks products from 40 different regional suppliers, including the unique sour fresh cheese Nyr from Grøndalen Gårdsmeieri, moose and deer meat from Max Ivan, and potato flatbread from Holmen Crisp, which can easily be combined in our signature gift baskets,” says Beite’s manager Kristine Østreng. Together with the high school students, Østreng is always trying to come up with new ideas of alternative farming. “This autumn, we’re going to increase our production of organic vegetables. We’re making marmalade and jam from the fruits, vegetables and berries growing at the school, and we’ve also thought about grinding our own flour. There are so many
For more information, please visit: www.gaardsbutikken.no or follow Beite Gårdsbutikk and Gartneri on Facebook.
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 87
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Authentic Norwegian Farm Shops
The miracle store in the stable Leave Oslo and drive north-east for about an hour, and you will arrive at Eidsvoll in the traditional district of Romerike. Head deeper into the countryside, and you will soon find a stable full of sensational surprises. Inside a former therapy centre for race horses, May-Lis Ekstrøm Hoel has created her own farm store and café named Loftet Gardsbutikk, after the Norwegian word for ‘attic’, in which a crowd-pleasing combination of picturesque nature, new trends, nostalgia, local food and intimate concerts have made her life far busier than expected.
of healthy, local ingredients like lamb, chicken, onion, potatoes, eggs and flour. You can also order lamb to be delivered home in the autumn, but you’d better sign up early! The same goes for our intimate concerts – you can’t hesitate too much if you want a ticket,” says Hoel.
By Eirik Elvevold | Photos: Loftet Gardsbutikk
“The unique atmosphere out here in the Eidsvoll countryside, coupled with our original products, quality food and beautiful animals, has made Loftet Gardsbutikk a real hit. It’s almost a bit too crazy sometimes,” admits May-Lis Ekstrøm Hoel, who has just organised another meeting on how to cope with Loftet Gardsbutikk’s success. Hoel first opened the shop in 2010, after she fought her way back from a horrific accident that ended her career as a race horse therapist. “Me and my husband had just invested in an expensive new stable, so we turned the conference room on the second floor into a store for interior design and homemade products from our active farm of 1,000 decares,” she says. Norwegians and tourists alike 88 | Issue 98 | March 2017
immediately fell in love with the concept. “Our homemade sheepskins and cowhides, for instance, are extremely popular. I’m also quite good at hunting down rare treasures – most of them from Scandinavian farms or fairs – and telling the stories behind them,” boasts Hoel. Last year, after the number of visitors had exceeded the relatively small attic store’s capacity, Loftet Gardsbutikk grew to include the first floor, where a brand new café, with its very own chef and confectioner, now serves delicious lunches and freshly baked goods. “We believe in Norwegian farming, so all our popular dishes and baked goods, named with farming terms in dialect to give the menu a fun twist, are made
Loftet’s opening hours: Wednesday: 11am-5pm Thursday: 11am-7pm Friday: 11am-5pm Saturday: 11am-4pm Sundays (only in December): 11am-4pm
For more information, please visit: www.loftet-gardsbutikk.no
ScanTheme Magazine | Business | Spotlight Keynote Scan Magazine | Special | Danish Business
Scan Business Keynote 89 | Business Feature 90 | Business Profile 92 | Business Column 95 | Business Calendar 95
90
92
Why share my contacts? Why indeed, now that I have achieved a favourable position by having attractive and important contacts in my networking portfolio? The most logical scenario would be to keep those cards close to your chest. Some time ago, I had a meeting with an employee in a big organisation. He was to arrange an important event for the greatest contributor to the company. To make the event successful, he had to ask for help from colleagues who had some of the most important contacts. But he found that they were reluctant to cooperate. The event ended up being attended by fewer and far less important participants than had been expected – which again resulted in a lower overall result for the event. Although plentiful resources had been spent on the event, the return on the arrangement was dramatically reduced. Is this a unique story that applies to this organisation only? Unfortunately not. This is more common than it is rare – it happens in all sorts of companies. Some employees regard important business relationships as private property that can be activated when it suits them and create value to their own advantage.
94
By Simone Andersen
It is quite understandable that people should want to keep their golden eggs to themselves. They have probably been working hard to acquire them! On the other hand, why would your contact drop you, or reduce your value, if you are worth having in your network? If you have built a good and stable network, the likelihood of losing your contact is almost nonexistent. Consider the situation from your contact’s point of view: how will she react to the fact that you appreciate her so much that you recommend her to others? Or from your colleague’s point of view: what kind of relationship would he like to establish to you if you share one of your great contacts with him? You do not seem to run any risk by sharing good contacts. On the contrary, it is likely to be a win-win situation for everybody. Objectively, there are big gains for both the individual employee and the entire business if you pool and share your contacts. Generally speaking, you can achieve almost anything if you join forces – not least because many companies do not have the courage to do it! In other words, pooling good contacts facilitates a growth potential free of charge – for the individual employee as well as the entire company.
Simone Andersen is a journalist and has 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. She is an expert in business networking and building relationships, has just written the bestselling The Networking Book, and gives talks on this subject.
Contact: sla@strategisk.dk +45 26161818 www.thenetworkercompany.com
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 89
Skuespilhuset. Photo: Ty Stange.
The smart city of Denmark What makes a ‘smart city’? With the Smart City Summit kicking off in Oman this month, and the Smart to Future Cities conference hitting London in May, Copenhagen has some answers. By Andrew Mellor
Livability and technology collide in the Danish capital – but is that such a coincidence? Copenhagen is never far from the top of worldwide livability rankings, which list the most convenient and enjoyable world cities in which to dwell. But the Danish capital’s unwavering status as an efficient, friendly metropolis has less to do with candles and canals and more to do with good old-fashioned planning. And that is certainly old-fashioned planning. In the early 17th century, King Christian IV of Denmark decided that the burgeoning city should be extended to the south-east with a major new development, Christianshavn – now the thriv90 | Issue 98 | March 2017
ing waterside district just a bridge away from the city centre. Three and a half centuries later, a Copenhagen fearful of missing out on commerce and popularity to Stockholm and Hamburg spawned another entirely new district, Ørestad – part of a master plan that would sow many of the seeds of Copenhagen’s success and efficiency today. Ørestad has only started to flourish in the last decade, but it neatly encapsulates Copenhagen’s attitude to town planning past, present and future. Like Christianshavn, it was conceived with accessibility at its heart (in Christianshavn canals; in Ørestad, Copenhagen’s new
Metro system). But while Ørestad looks impressive on the surface – many of the most creative architects in Europe were engaged to design its buildings, all of them given free reign – it is the more subtle and invisible elements of Ørestad’s concept that shine a light on Copenhagen’s onward quest for efficiency. Given the large number of corporations based in the area, you might wonder why there are so few car parks. The answer is that residents and workers share the same parking facilities in concealed garages; workers use them during the day, vacating them for residents in the evening. The result? Far fewer parking spaces are needed. Ørestad is full of urban planning solutions like this, many of which are tied to environmental ideals – Ørestad’s canals, for example, double up as rainwater res-
Scan Magazine | Business Feature | The Smart City Capital
ervoirs. But Ørestad also served as an ideal early testing ground for so-called ‘smart city’ technologies that are becoming globally prevalent, and will certainly be under discussion at the Smart City Summit in Oman this month and the Smart to Future Cities conference in London in May.
Smart-city thinking The term ‘smart city’ can refer to a city in which users, both citizens and visitors, are made to feel that living is as easy as it can be – the things that keep getting Copenhagen standard of living awards. But it can also refer to the technological transformation of the way city authorities operate, where informatics gathered from censors and detectors help organise everything from rubbish collection to traffic management. Back in 2008, Ørestad was pioneering the latter idea, providing a common webbased platform for contacts all over the district, from the biggest corporations to the smallest households. Similar informatics-based systems were trialed in Amsterdam, Barcelona and Manchester. But the latest smart city thinking is concerned with exploring ways in which
real-life data can be used to improve physical services. In 2014, Copenhagen won the World Smart Cities Award for the ambitious scheme Copenhagen Connecting, a game-changing plan to improve city services, ensure quality of life and create growth opportunities. Some smart city technologies already exist in Copenhagen. The sleek-looking new traffic lights in the city do not just look pretty; they form part of a smart traffic system that uses GPS technology to monitor and then lubricate traffic flow.
Ideas from the lab But with Copenhagen Connecting, the Danish capital is going a step further. One way of doing so is via the so-called Street Lab, a test area not far from Copenhagen’s city hall that observes real situations in a real environment in order to identify solvable problems. This offers analysts at Copenhagen Solutions Lab (CSL) the chance to observe citizen behaviour from parking to noise monitoring and tourist movement. “Every city is different, so experiences are not always translatable from one city to another,” says Rasmus Bertelsen of CSL. “We have created an urban labo-
ratory in an ultra-realistic setting in the middle of Copenhagen, where we can match the main issues for the city with solutions from the market.” In a sense, it is just like the sharing of data that Ørestad pioneered. But as Bertelsen illustrates, the process can be traced back further still – to the impulses that saw the creation of Ørestad and even Christianshavn. “Cities have always been greatly influenced by technology. Look at the way the automobile has shaped the urban landscape,” he says. “Now we need to look ahead of the technology curve to ensure we can make smart decisions to best shape the city and the services we provide.” That will focus on classic areas such as mobility, waste and air quality – just the things, in other words, that get Copenhagen to the top of those livability rankings. If all goes to plan, the Copenhagen of the future will be so technologically smart, you will not even notice it. Curious about smart cities? For more information, please visit: www.cphsolutionslab.dk www.copenhagenconnecting.com
The yard of the Tietgen Student Residence seen from the outside. Photo: Nicolai Perjesi.
Harbour bath in Copenhagen. Photo: BIG.
Cykelslangen: the Bicycle Snake. Photo: Thomas Høyrup Christensen.
The yard of the Tietgen Student Residence. Photo: Nicolai Perjesi.
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 91
Scan Magazine | Business Profile | Beckhoff
New automation technology Beckhoff Automation is one of the world’s leading companies when it comes to implementing open automation systems based on PC Control technology. By Nicolai Lisberg | Photos: Beckhoff Automation
It might sound very technical, but what Beckhoff Automation excels at is actually making complicated issues and big data both simple and available for their clients. Many of the automation technology standards that are taken for granted today were conceptualised by Beckhoff Automation at an early stage and successfully introduced to the market. “Right now we are working a lot with Internet of Things (IoT), Industrie 4.0 and big data. What we do is that we take the available data directly from the machines and components and put them into a cloud. We can deliver real-time data down to micro seconds so that it can be analysed right away,” explains Michael Nielsen, managing director at Beckhoff Automation Denmark. The German-owned company’s clients are typically machine builders. Beckhoff Automation has bases in 70 countries, 92 | Issue 98 | March 2017
over 3,500 employees and, in 2015, had a turnover of 620 million euros.
An intelligent future One of the projects Beckhoff Automation has been involved with lately is a student block in Aarhus. Alongside Grundfos, who built the dorm, and Microsoft, Beckhoff Automation installed a small system in all 156 apartments, providing information about everything that goes on in the building. “With this system we can log all kinds of information, such as temperature, humidity, and use of cold and hot water, in the cloud automatically every five seconds. Instead of just assuming that people usually get up at eight and take a shower at half past, we are now able to read the actual data and analyse it. Based on this data, it has been possible to improve the energy consumption
in the house,” says Nielsen. “This is, in many ways, the way to go when it comes to smart cities, where we optimise our infrastructure in a more ideal way. Beckhoff can deliver the hardware and make data available in a very simple way with the help of IoT, big data and Industrie 4.0. These tools are the future for automation technology and at Beckhoff we are well prepared for this future.”
For more information, please visit: www.beckhoff.dk
Scan Magazine | Business Profile | Albertslund
Photo: Jeppe Carlsen
Illuminating the future Albertslund Municipality is at the forefront of developing and instigating new technologies, creating a real-life example of what cities on a local and global scale could be doing to secure the future not only of its inhabitants, but also of the environment.
and prosper on an economic and social level, while also providing greener and more environmentally friendly solutions worldwide.
By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photos: Albertslund Kommune
“Photonics, or rather the science of lights, is one of the key enabling technologies and has a huge impact on safety and wellbeing,” explains Carsten Bluhme, area director of Albertslund. To further explore photonics, create jobs and green technologies, Albertslund, together with Denmark’s Technical University and the organisation Gate21, opened the Danish Outdoor Lighting Lab (DOLL) in 2014. The DOLL initiative works to find new LED technologies for a sustainable future. Albertslund’s industrial park is a showroom for the different outdoor lighting developed there, so that national and international companies and organisations can see the fully functioning products. “Our world is becoming more automated, and we have to think about how technology can help to benefit us and our city,” says Bluhme. “The council plays an incredibly important role as we can bring together the local and the global.”
Benefitting the locals The locals play an active role in the regeneration of the city, with schools and
colleges helping to solve problems and the elderly participating in research. “Companies frequently visit schools with their projects, and the students often do work experience at DOLL.” As new technologies are created, they are implemented across the city. “We’re currently changing the lighting in care homes, as we’ve done research with the elderly that found that lighting can have a huge impact on their daily routine as well as being more energy efficient,” explains Bluhme. The project and technologies are recognised globally and Albertslund is often visited by big companies and other municipalities looking to better their cities. “We’re embracing the new globalised world and welcoming people from all walks of life to come and see what we’re doing here.” Albertslund Municipality has taken a step into the future and is providing the political encouragement required to ensure that the area will continue to grow
Carsten Bluhme, area director of Albertslund.
About Albertslund: - 28,000 inhabitants - Covers 23 square kilometres, of which 60 per cent is forest or parks. - It was built in the 1960s as a city of the future. - DOLL = Danish Outdoor Lighting Lab
For more information, please visit: www.business.albertslund.dk www.lightinglab.dk www.albertslund.dk
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 93
Scan Magazine | Business Profile | Eltronic
Big data optimises businesses anytime and anywhere Digitalisation now enables details of production and product performance to be measured and optimised in ways that would have been impossible only ten years ago. The engineering pioneers at Eltronic, a business that has worked with some of Denmark’s largest companies, can save all types of organisations significant amounts of time, money and resources by determining anything from ideal production routines to optimised energy use.
programmed to create easily accessible analyses to fit individual company needs. Finally, a secure, specially developed app can alert specific employees or departments when irregularities occur, preventing problems.
By Louise Older Steffensen | Photos: Eltronic A/S
DIAP has huge potential outside of traditional production environments too. One of the company’s most challenging projects has been to create a lifting system for windmill construction. “Working out exact carrying capacities and determining wind speeds are crucial when raising windmills, as the wind can easily bring construction to a halt, wasting huge amounts of resources,” Rantala notes. “Now our clients know exactly when and how to strike.” Furthermore, DIAP can be used to predict equipment failure in offices, to easily carry out daily temperature adjustments to save energy, to measure beach water contents or building site noise, and for just about anything else.
The future is here: the Internet of Things (IoT), based on smart technology and smart objects, is already changing the world. Data intelligence collected on a massive scale and honed to fit the exact requirements of a company allows businesses to accurately measure and quantify almost anything. Recording patterns and revealing areas of weakness and strength allows businesses to make adjustments to equipment, spaces and schedules accordingly, letting them realise their business’s full potential.
Very smart data intelligence analysis Jesper Rantala is the director of Eltronic’s data intelligence department, which develops embedded smart hardware and software. He is full of enthusiasm for the 94 | Issue 98 | March 2017
endless opportunities that data-aided optimisation brings. “So many different areas have the potential for improvement with this,” Rantala explains. “We’ve worked on some really interesting projects for both private and public entities.” The department usually works with clients to set up platforms developed from scratch from the clients’ initial idea through production; but in the autumn of 2016, Eltronic launched DIAP, its own ready-made Data Intelligence & Analysis Platform, which can be modified easily and quickly to fit into a pre-existing network or environment. The huge amounts of data picked up by its sensors are uploaded securely to the Cloud or the company’s own database, and DIAP is then
For more information, please visit: www.eltronic-di.com
Scan Magazine | Business | Column / Calendar
From workplace learning to a learning society By Steve Flinders
What goes on in your head when you are learning? It might seem a tricky question, but you should give it some thought because understanding learning and a resolve to continue learning are becoming increasingly important in the 21st century job market. This is because not only unskilled jobs are being lost to machines. Even highly qualified professionals are becoming threatened with obsolescence. Lifelong learning is now an economic imperative as we learn to reinvent ourselves on a regular basis to meet the demands of a rapidly changing work environment. Indeed, a recent report on learning in The Economist argues that it is the skills that machines are not so good at, such as creativity, empathy and problem-solving, that will give people a better chance of staying in work in the future. Ironically, all this coincides with a drop in the amount of money companies spend
on training, partly because they fear that better-trained personnel will leave. In fact, the opposite holds true: good training should lead to lower churn and lower replacement costs. Lifelong learning brings not just career benefits and higher productivity. For lowskilled adults in particular, there are also big personal pluses in terms of health, and increased self-esteem and self-confidence. That is why union learning schemes in the UK – a country where just under 20 per cent of the adult workforce is functionally illiterate – deserve all the support they can get. They bring back into education and training countless workers who dropped out of learning long before they even left school. In my ideal world of learning, companies pay training levies to provide universal access to Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), nanodegrees and other modern
learning opportunities. Individuals have their learning credits topped up regularly throughout their lifetimes; vocational and academic programmes integrate seamlessly. The result is a learning society peopled by more discriminating, creative, curious individuals enriched by the joys of learning. 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 Scandinavian business events you do not want to miss this month By Heidi Kokborg | Photo: DUCC
Link Up Drinks at Aquavit The Link Up Drinks is the official networking reception for the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK. This time, the event is hosted by Aquavit London – a recently opened morning-to-midnight dining experience. It is going to be a brilliant and fun evening with plenty of networking in true Nordic style. Date: 15 March, 6.30pm Venue: Aquavit London, St James’ Market, 1 Carlton Street, London, SW1Y 4QQ www.scc.org.uk
DUCC Art Event If you are an art lover, this event is just for you. SEB is working together with Marianna Frank and Ann Sanger on this art event, which brings together art, architecture, interior design, and business. Nina Sørlie, SEB’s Norwegian curator, will explain the history of the paintings and their significance, and
there will be time for a drink and networking after the tour and talk. Date: 16 March, 6pm Venue: SEB HQ London, One Carter Lane, London, EC4V 5AN www.ducc.co.uk
Nordic Drinks at Radisson Portman Every last Thursday of the month, members and friends of the Danish, Finnish and Norwegian Chambers of Commerce gather for Nordic Drinks in a nice venue somewhere in Central London. This month, the drinks will be held at Radisson BLU Portman Hotel. The first 50 guests get a free drink, so bring your colleagues, plenty of business cards, and your party spirit. Date: 30 March, 6pm Venue: Radisson BLU Portman Hotel, 22 Portman Square, Marylebone, London, W1H 7BG www.nbccuk.com
The Power of Purpose This one-day symposium will explore Hickman and Sorenson’s concept of the Power of Purpose, and its application in the corporate world. The discussion will cover the business case for organisational purpose and how the power of invisible leadership can propel your organisation to success. The purpose of the symposium is to enable leaders to create more flexible, creative, profitable, and sustainable businesses in a complex macro economy through implementing a purpose-driven agenda. Date: 21 April, 8.30am Venue: The Møller Centre, Storey’s Way, Cambridge, CB3 ODE www.ducc.co.uk
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 95
Scan Magazine | Conference of the Month | Norway
Guests can dine while enjoying endless views of the North Sea.
Conference of the Month, Norway
Find inspiration with endless ocean views and rugged nature Spectacular beach and ocean views in serene surroundings, freshly caught seafood, local meats and produce, a wine cellar below sea level and a relaxing, harmonious atmosphere, all just a short drive from one of Norway’s largest cities – this is the reality at Strandhuset, a restaurant and conference venue situated by the sandy stretches of Ølberg beach, just outside of Stavanger.
you visit us on a sunny, calm day or on a rough, stormy afternoon, you are guaranteed an experience out of the ordinary as the views are spectacular regardless,” says owner Christian Waage.
By Linn Skjei Bjørnsen | Photos: Roy Mangersnes
Venue with long traditions
Since opening its doors in October 2015 on the grounds of a 70-year-old beach kiosk, Strandhuset has become a muchloved venue for local food and nature lovers as well as companies searching for inspiring and scenic surroundings for
Waage saw the opportunity for developing a restaurant and conference venue in truly untouched, natural surroundings when a little kiosk on the beachfront of Ølberg on the southwestern coast of Norway came up for sale in 2013. He wanted to keep the kiosk, an iconic,
96 | Issue 98 | March 2017
their meeting and conference activities. Literally on the beach, with endless views of the North Sea and a charming fishing harbour right outside the door delivering fresh fish and seafood to the restaurant daily, it is a truly unique venue. “Whether
Scan Magazine | Conference of the Month | Norway
much-loved pit stop for beach dwellers looking for a quick bite or ice cream, while expanding the venue to include a restaurant, wine cellar and conference centre. “All the locals know the Ølberg kiosk, and the two signature products, Ølberg French fries and soft ice, have been served here for 70 years. We wanted to keep this tradition alive, while also offering something completely different,” Waage explains. The kiosk looks more or less the same as it always did, still selling the signature French fries and soft ice. For the rest of the venue, however, Waage wanted to design a space where guests can let their hair down and feel at ease. With nuances inspired by the location and surrounding nature, every part of the interior has been
Strandhuset emphasises local, fresh ingredients prepared by award-winning head chef, Andreas Myhrvold.
carefully selected to create a harmonious, relaxing atmosphere.
Inspired thinking and team-building Today, Strandhuset welcomes companies and groups of all sizes every day of the week for meetings and conferences, company parties, kick-offs and other events. What better place to gather the troops and get inspired than a peaceful haven on the beach with views of endless skies and ocean? With top-modern business facilities, five meeting rooms and capacity for 150 people, companies can take advantage of one of Strandhuset’s conference packages, or have a fully customised programme with team-building activities, entertainment and tailor-made food and wine menus. “We work with some of the best event and artist agencies in the area
and can arrange activities such as sea rafting and beach hikes, as well as performances from well-known musicians, comedians and magicians,” says Waage.
Locally sourced fresh food and award-winning head chef But it is not only companies that can enjoy the stunning venue by the sea. Strandhuset is available for private events and special occasions such as weddings, birthdays and other celebrations. The restaurant is open seven days a week, offering both lunch and dinner made with locally sourced ingredients. Head chef Andreas Myhrvold, who is a gold medallist in both the Culinary World Cup and the Culinary Olympics, has put together a menu especially focused on fresh seafood and fish, caught daily by
With its location right on the beach, Strandhuset offers spectacular views in any weather.
Strandhuset boasts a restaurant open seven days a week, as well as a conference and events centre.
The wine cellar has an extensive selection of fine wines.
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 97
Scan Magazine | Conference of the Month | Norway
the local fishermen who are based at the small fishing harbour right outside the restaurant door. Every Sunday, the restaurant serves a hugely popular buffet, consisting of local delicacies such as fresh shrimps, mussels, halibut, veal, smoked salmon, herring and much more. Strandhuset also has an extensive wine cellar, which is located below sea level, offering a large variety of wines from all over the world. “Our talented and experienced staff can get their hands on almost any wine, and is happy to create a customised wine experience with tastings and food pairings for our guests,” says Waage.
Easy to get to from near and far With its spectacular natural location and tranquil surroundings, one would think that Strandhuset must be located in a remote location, far away from the hustle and bustle of the city – but this is very far from the truth. Only a 20-minute drive from the city of Stavanger and 15 minutes from Sandnes, Strandhuset is easily reachable. “In fact, we are no more than one hour away from Copenhagen, and one and a half hours from London,” Waage affirms. “With Stavanger Airport just five minutes away, we are very well connected and excited to welcome guests from both near and far.” For more information, please visit: www.strandhuset.no/en
98 | Issue 98 | March 2017
Top: A charming fishing harbour is located right outside the door, providing the restaurant with fresh fish and seafood daily. Middle: Strandhuset specialises in fresh seafood and local ingredients. Bottom: Head chef Andreas Myhrvold, general manager Raymond Helland and owner Christian Waage on the sand dunes in front of Strandhuset.
Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Denmark
Hotel of the Month, Denmark
Time to get down to business and leisure Juelsminde is a beautiful little town right by the Kattegat Sea in Jutland, Denmark. Nestled in between Aarhus and Kolding, close to Funen, LEGOLAND and many other attractions, Juelsminde makes it easy to explore Jutland. The town’s old, close-knit community atmosphere is also worth experiencing. With the beach, harbour, town centre and forest right on its doorstep, Hotel Juelsminde Strand provides the perfect setting for a leisurely, affordable seaside break, while its up-to-date facilities, newly renovated rooms and central location within Denmark lend themselves equally well to business trips and conferences of up to 180 people. By Louise Older Steffensen | Photos: Hotel Juelsminde Strand
“I’m a local boy,” restaurant manager turned hotel manager Alexander Mateev says with pride. “I grew up in this region and began my work as a waiter in the area.” Mateev went on to become restaurant manager at a large, well-known hotel in Aarhus before taking on Hotel Juelsminde Strand in 2015. “It’s a dream come true for me. I love the town and its people. The businesses work together very well and Juelsminde’s inhabitants take good care of our visitors.” Juelsminde Strand first opened in 1870 and has been part of the town ever since – first as an inn and later as a school. After going back to its hospitality roots, the hotel underwent a thorough restoration in 2015, bringing the hotel’s facilities and
rooms completely up to date. To top it all off, the restaurant features a high-quality assortment of delicious Danish-French dishes, all made with love and care from scratch at the hotel.
ences and events: “Last year, we filled up the basement floor with sand and loungers for a Hawaii-themed party. Our clients loved it and are coming back this year, which I take as a compliment,” says Mateev. For conferences, the hotel has all the latest technology, including high-speed Wi-Fi, AV equipment and set-ups for virtual meetings in its seven conference rooms. “Most importantly, we provide good service and excellent food for our guests, whether they’re here for pleasure, business or a bit of both,” Mateev concludes.
The hotel has retained its sense of history and ties with Juelsminde. A local photography competition adorned all 70 spacious en suites with images of the area, and the restaurant’s unique crockery was designed by a local potter, while a young local graffiti artist has been commissioned to depict Juelsminde in the reception. The friendly and welcoming staff will, truly, do everything in their power to accommodate special wishes for confer-
For more information, please visit: www.jmstrand.dk
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 99
Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Norway
Hotel of the Month, Norway
Digital detox? Take it one step further With proximity to some of Norway’s most beautiful fjords, mountains and landscapes, the beautiful Hotel Aak in Åndalsnes in western Norway opens its doors for a celebration of the local Norwegian heritage through traditional food, historic atmosphere and tailored packages. By Karen Langfjæran | Photos: Egon Gade
Established in 1860, Hotel Aak was the first tourist hotel in the Norwegian countryside, attracting salmon fishers, mountain skiing pioneers and international guests from near and far. More specifically, it was widely visited in the 1800s by British travellers such as Winston Churchill’s grandfather and writer De Beauclerk, the latter of whom wrote a book about Norway where she referred to the hotel as ‘Norway’s pearl’. The hotel would serve traditional dishes and accommodate visitors in comforta100 | Issue 98 | March 2017
ble, classic rooms in the idyllic farmyard close to the beautiful river Rauma.
With love, via Alta 157 years later, the historic houses have been in both private and public ownership as well as under Nazi possession during World War II before returning to its true purpose. The current managers of the hotel, Kristine and Odd Erik Rønning, aim to preserve the historic character and recreate the atmosphere of the 19th century hotel within a modern
framework. This includes individual tailoring by facilitating exceptional stays in the region. “We are located just minutes away from some wonderful landscapes and a short drive from some of Norway’s most spectacular mountains and mustsee places,” says Kristine Rønning, adding that they often tailor hotel packages for groups, which can include transport and dining as well as facilitating activities. The managers work together with four local owners in providing only the best, resulting in great reviews and returning guests, who praise them for the intimacy and ‘kos’, the Norwegian equivalent to ‘hygge’. Kristine Rønning grew up in the area and was thrilled when she was called about a management position only 30 minutes
Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Norway
away from her childhood home. “I have fantastic memories of growing up here and always wanted to come back,” says Rønning, adding that she would always ask her teenage crushes whether they would move back – if not, she would lose interest. Luckily, she met the chef and her now-husband, Odd Erik, in one of the northernmost cities, Alta – and he had no objections to moving closer to her roots. As the job openings were confirmed to be theirs, the couple moved down to western Norway in 2013, fulfilling Rønning’s long-time dream of returning to the mountainous landscapes of Romsdalen. With their two young children, they continue to see the hotel as a second home, and love spending time with visitors looking for unique experiences.
Rustic gourmet and historic atmosphere Hotel Aak’s kitchen hero, chef Odd Erik, constantly develops his popular ‘rustic gourmet’ restaurant concept, securing Nordic trends and seasonal ingredients on the menu. “One of the truly unique elements of a stay at Hotel Aak is our long-table dining, where visitors can share experiences and tips while eating,” says Rønning, who has often seen visitors
engaging in conversation with people they have never met before. “In that respect, it can get quite personal and relaxed.” In the evenings you can sit by the fireplace and taste some of the finest Norwegian beers, either in your own company or continuing the conversation from the dinner table. Creating a social and homely atmosphere with presence as a keyword, the Rønning couple has excluded TVs from the rooms and created a separate TV corner where people can watch evening shows together. “It is perfect for a digital detox as the atmosphere, setting and scenery create a calmness that is rather unique. But in a way, it is beyond that,” says Rønning, adding that the Romsdalen region often creates a feeling of not wanting or needing any digital stimuli. In a way, the range of exploration opportunities in the area really leaves no time for checking your email.
Adventures and relaxation – no need to choose Not only can you start trekking the famous Romsdalseggen within minutes from the hotel; there are walking paths starting just outside the hotel that take you up towards the blue skies, inviting one
to view the fjord and the nearby mountains. “There are hiking routes ranging from 30 minutes to day-long trips for all levels of hikers, and the region is regarded as one of Europe’s best for mountain skiing,” says Rønning. The hotel is easily connected to the region’s range of attractions, such as the aforementioned Romsdalseggen, the UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjorden and dramatic Trollveggen, as well as local activities such as canoeing, stand-up paddle boarding and climbing. “We would also recommend renting electric bikes from us and cycling the incredible Trollstigen,” says Rønning, referring to a spectacular mountain road leading up to a viewpoint that displays nothing less than extraordinary views of Norwegian nature. “By using electric bikes, you can just sit there taking in the views,” she continues. As you come back to the hotel, your heart rate might not have even changed all that much. “Regardless, as you return, our staff will do our very best to make sure you have a unique, relaxing stay with us,” Rønning adds. For more information, please visit: www.hotelaak.no
Top left: Exciting adventures await all year close to the historic hotel in Romsdalen, western Norway. Try mountain skiing or trekking Romsdalseggen when visiting. Photo: Odd Erik Rønning. Below left and right: Expect a charming and historic atmosphere in wonderful surroundings at Hotel Aak.
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 101
Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Norway
Restaurant of the Month, Norway
Fresh Asian fusion above the Arctic Circle Due to its favourable location on the Norwegian coast, Tromsø has been an international city for ages. But during the last decade, tourism has been booming like never before. If you are planning to jump on the travel trend and head up north, but are reluctant to skip those tasty Asian meals, there is no reason to worry. Suvi’s delicious and affordable Asian food is your savoury saviour. By Eirik Elvevold | Photos: Suvi
Back in January 2016, film fans from all over the world, who had gathered in Tromsø for the annual Tromsø International Film Festival, got to witness a food premiere when Suvi opened in a minimalistic space with floor-to-ceiling windows in the city centre. Since then, the café and restaurant, which offers a wide variety of Asian cuisine, including Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese and Thai, has attracted droves of curious tourists and returning locals. “The name Suvi, drawing on the two first letters in Sushi and Vietnamese, represents our concept. We’re proud to be the only authentic Vietnamese restaurant in Tromsø, and we serve up a delicious 102 | Issue 98 | March 2017
sushi! But that’s not all. In our kitchen, which is divided in two for hot dishes and sushi, we’ve gathered an international team of chefs that can truly master Asian fusion,” says restaurant manager Thi Nhung Nguyen. Nguyen is not joking around. Naturally, you can order Vietnamese classics such as summer rolls and pho noodle soup or, as many locals do, share a large maki sushi mix. But you can also feast on Thai specialties including red curry, tom yum and tom kha gai or have a Chinese evening with some dim sum followed by crispy duck. If all the tasty options leave you staring at the menu, you can just say ‘yes to everything’ with the Suvi Appetizer Platter and the Suvi Tapas Platter.
“We also have an extensive vegetarian menu – it’s one of the best in town – and homemade sodas that can be topped by a scoop of ice cream. In general, we’re always looking out for the next food trends and often travel to discover new flavours,” explains co-owner Knut-Åge Vargren, before Nguyen enthusiastically adds some hot examples. “Right now, the Hawaiian poke bowl salad is in fashion. So are Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches – we might add them to our lunch menu.”
For more information, please visit: www.suvitromso.no
Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Sweden
Restaurant of the Month, Sweden
A taste of nature in the city Stadshuskällaren is a modern treasure in a historic setting, serving fantastic food with inspiration drawn from the wildlife of the north, via the west coast’s fish and seafood, to the rich crops of the southern regions. Guests also have the rare opportunity to savour one of the famous Nobel Banquet menus. By Malin Norman | Photos: Björn Lofterud
In the basement of Stockholm City Hall, Stadshuskällaren has been serving classic Swedish dishes since 1922. The setting is nothing short of spectacular, with a mix of fine old traditions and modern cuisine. The restaurant was refurbished in 2012 in collaboration with the Stockholm City Museum and renowned architect Jonas Bohlin.
ed young team managed by chef Magnus Santesson creates contemporary dishes with classic flavours inspired by nature. “Our philosophy is to make use of what nature provides,” says branch manager Madeleine Björk. “We work a lot with local produce according to the seasons, both meat and vegetables, and adapt our menus accordingly.”
Stadshuskällaren breathes an air of Nobel mystery unlike any other restaurant. The Nobel Banquet takes place every year on 10 December in the Blue Hall at the City Hall, with an exclusive menu for the 1,300 prominent invitees. Stadshuskällaren is the only restaurant in the world where guests can try the Nobel Banquet dinners through the years, dating all the way back to 1901 and served on the original china.
The goal is to bring the countryside to the city. For instance, Stadshuskällaren uses lamb from Kjulsta Farm in Järna, cheese from Lövsta in Vallentuna, meat from Värmdö and vegetables from Norrtälje – all local produce in close proximity to Stockholm City. The restaurant also works with hunters nearby to provide the best game for its guests. The hunt for the perfect ingredients continues, as the team constantly look for interesting flavours and new culinary trends.
Young team on the hunt Not only is the historic backdrop fantastic, but also the modern food. The talent-
Stadshuskällaren’s Magnus Åkerström has won the Swedish final of Young Chef
of the Year 2017, as organised by Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, and will take part in the world final in September. The restaurant also has two nominees in the Industry Star of the Year 2017 award, arranged by Visita Stockholm: Anna Vånsjö and Magnus Åkerström. As Björk explains: “We are very proud of our talented and ambitious young chefs!”
For more information, please visit: www.stadshuskallarensthlm.se and follow @stadshuskallaren on Instagram
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 103
Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Denmark
Restaurant of the Month, Denmark
Less talk more craft Expect no reveries at Restaurant Gl. Mønt but a simple menu that exudes quality, craft and the best of Danish and French traditions. By Thomas Bech Hansen | Photos: Anders Hjerming
Turbot, Dover sole, lobster and dry-aged beef. There are fresh additions to the menu at Restaurant Gl. Mønt in Copenhagen. “We have a few lunch staples such as herring and pickled salmon, but otherwise we like to keep the menu simple and ever-changing. It can change from day to day,” explains head chef and owner Claus Christensen.
est offerings. Just because the menu changes, it does not mean the principles do. Restaurant Gl. Mønt is founded on the firm principles of Christensen, entailing an unwavering focus on quality, craft and classic Danish dishes such as butter-fried fish fillets and traditional French offerings like foie gras.
In fact, the restaurant’s website encourages customers to phone in for the lat-
Everything is sourced from local suppliers that Christensen knows and trusts.
104 | Issue 98 | March 2017
Make an effort every day
“It is important to work with people you know and trust. I have spent a lifetime building relationships with these suppliers; they know what I want, and that is how you get the good produce,” he says. In the digital age of disruption theories, celebrity chefs and stylised concepts, life at Gl. Mønt in the very heart of Copenhagen’s Latin Quarter goes on remarkably unflustered. Christensen has spent 45 years in the business, 27 of those at Gl. Mønt, and has an understated view of what he does. “You have to do your best and make an effort every day. This is a way of life for me. I love what I do but, as with all kinds of love, it is re-
Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Denmark
ally hard to describe. I just do it. I prefer to think less and do more.”
big stories about the food. We let the menu speak for itself.”
Relaxed atmosphere
The building itself, a timbered, red house with flower baskets on the outside walls, dates back to 1732. Some might call it the perfect setting for the enduring, gastronomic virtues of its occupant. Christensen agrees in typical laconic fashion. “Well, it is an old piece of junk,” he laughs. “But it is a good place.”
He has nothing against new players on the scene, but prefers to do things his way and sees no reason to pinpoint exactly why it works so well. The message seems to be that if it works, great. Why waste precious time dissecting it? “I simply hope that people will relax, enjoy themselves and have a nice experience,” he says. “I hate it when people sit down in a restaurant and feel tense. I don’t want that sacral ambiance. We are certainly not going to create a stuffy atmosphere by bothering people with any
Gastronomy and art Christensen has two great passions in life: gastronomy and art. The latter married the former in 1999, when Gl. Mønt introduced a gallery. “Some good friends of mine are artists, and they backed the
idea to open a gallery. So we did. Normally, people come first and foremost to eat. There is art on the walls, and some people notice it and come and ask about it, or they comment on it,” he says before elaborating on his firm stance never to interfere with the customer experience unnecessarily. “We don’t want to start a discussion about art unless people ask.” For those wishing to add visual impressions to the sensation of the taste buds, Danish artist Christian Lemmertz will display works until 1 May. The wine Like with the food, Restaurant Gl. Mønt does not have a large wine menu. Instead, there is an affordable range of quality wines as well as real gems from the treasure trove. Functions Restaurant Gl. Mønt can host functions of between eight and 32 people. Advance booking and ordering is required. Opening hours Tuesday: 12pm to 4pm Wednesday-Friday: 12pm to 10pm Or by appointment.
For more information, please visit: www.glmoent.dk
Claus Christensen
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 105
The Ma Tilla philosophy is to design quality clothing and accessories for women of all ages
Ma Tilla use quality materials such as cashmere, merino wool, lambswool, silk and cotton, which are all natural. We produce high quality products with a good fit, that feels great on the skin You can find us on: FACEBOOK - Matilla INSTAGRAM - matillanorway WEB PAGE - www.matilla.no
Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Sweden
Photo: Lina Wennström
Photo: Strandverket
Photo: Greta Vocar
Attraction of the Month, Sweden
Outstanding Nordic outsider art “We knew from the beginning that we wanted to offer art of the highest international standard,” says Mia Kristiansson-Klein, director of the ambitious Strandverket Art Museum. This summer’s exhibition, Mystrium, is no exception. Putting a spotlight on the parallel world of self-taught and anonymous artists, it broadens and immerses the discussion of what qualifies as art. By Sara Wenkel
Strandverket Art Museum is situated in an old fortification with a history dating back to the mid-1800s. The building and the contemporary art, mainly photography and sculpture but also painting and digital art, together create an exciting experience for its visitors. Permanent sculptures are placed in the courtyard as well as outside the fortification in an aim to make Marstrand, just outside of Gothenburg, a unique location for public art. Kristiansson-Klein and the team behind Strandverket hope that the art they exhibit will give character and identity to its surroundings. “We want Strandverket to be a space where everyone can enjoy art based on their own prior knowledge and interests,” says Kristiansson-Klein. For the
more well-grounded visitors, there are plenty of immersive catalogues, texts and films, and Strandverket also organises talks aiming to deepen the discussions around the current exhibition. There are two daily introductory tours, included in the admission, and the hosts are always available to answer any questions and encourage conversations.
artists have worked with a wide range of materials, such as parts from an old tractor, copper mounted cement, drug cans and tree branches. At Strandverket, visitors will also find a well-stocked museum shop with individually selected design products from small-scale series and a wide range of art books and posters. The perfect end to the visit is a meal at Strandverket Bistro. Indulge in hot and cold dishes or coffee and Swedish ‘fika’. The bistro has seats in the courtyard and inside the fortification with a scenic view across the sea.
Mystrium From 8 April to 1 October this year, the exhibition Mystrium will display art from non-established Nordic artists, mainly from Sweden, Finland and Iceland. An often-ignored artistic genre will, in this exhibition, get the opportunity to be discussed and analysed. “We like to see it as a manifestation of everyone’s right to creativity,” says Kristiansson-Klein. The
Photo: Ella Leino
For more information, please visit: www.strandverket.se/en
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 107
Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Norway
The Polaria building is designed to look like blocks of ice pushed ashore by the Barents Sea.
Attraction of the Month, Norway
A wild, arctic experience with a purpose The arctic maritime experience centre Polaria lets everyone get up close and personal with the wildlife and nature of the high north – right in the middle of downtown Tromsø. But a day at the Polaria is not all fun and games. Through fascinating films and intuitive exhibitions, entertainment is balanced out with important education about the environmental threats facing both the Arctic region and the whole planet. By Eirik Elvevold | Photos: Ola Røe
The Polaria centre, which is designed to look like blocks of ice pushed ashore by the rough Barents Sea, is hard to miss when walking around in the city of Tromsø. Inside, four seals, named Bella, Mai San, Loffen and Lyra, play around in the arctic aquarium next to a range of Arctic fish species. “Polaria has exchanged predators like orcas, sharks, bears, wolves and eagles with curious human spectators from near and far. They all fall in love with the seals’ calm temper and intelligent nature. According to my colleagues in the aquarium, the seals are far smarter than their dogs at home. They’re all full of personality and 108 | Issue 98 | March 2017
have become an important part of everyday life for all of us. It’s hard not to get attached,” admits Polaria’s managing director Geir Stokke. Such intimate meetings with the Arctic mammals are rare. While medium-sized harbour seals, such as Loffen and Lyra, can be found in various parts of the world, larger bearded seals, like Bella and Mai San, are normally not found south of the Svalbard archipelago. Luckily, if you, like many before you, get an icy crush on the smart seals and cannot stand the thought of saying goodbye, you can sign up for an exclusive sponsorship programme to stay
in touch and contribute to their welfare. “If you decide to become a sponsor, all your money will be used for seal toys and accessories for the pool. You get the opportunity to enter the aquarium to greet and pet the seals, and you’ll receive updates about your new friends in the year to come. We currently send newsletters to far off countries like Australia and the United States,” says Stokke.
A priceless panorama of a changing world Before meeting the Arctic seals and fish, however, you will be given an educational experience bound to leave a lasting impression. Polaria was established as a foundation when the Norwegian Polar Institute, a national institution for polar research, was moved to Tromsø and still cooperates closely with renowned researchers at Framsenteret to communicate new knowledge on the polar region in a visual and intuitive way.
Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Norway
The first stop on the educational arctic wandering is usually Polaria’s panorama cinema, where two spectacular nature films, Northern Lights in Arctic Norway and Svalbard – Arctic Wilderness, depict the beautiful and delicate environment in the region, working as an introduction to the exhibition Priceless.
“Priceless is dedicated to melting ice and snow in the Arctic areas, but also demonstrates how dangerous trends on for example Greenland and Antarctica will affect both animals and human societies. In Talking Clams, you can learn about how mussels and clams reveal information on pollutants and toxins. These are not political exhibitions, so we try not to moralise or show one single truth, but we firmly believe in science and will keep showing the relevant data and forecasts. We welcomed around 135,000 visitors last year, and I’m happy
to say that we’ve seen a positive shift in their environmental consciousness,” asserts Stokke. In the last decade, as the various consequences of climate change have become more widely known, the eyes of the world have gradually turned towards the Arctic region. At the same time, Tromsø has developed into a real hot–spot for tourism and international conferences. At Polaria, they have seized on these trends by offering fun and informative package deals for groups. “We offer an arctic dinner menu – often with an international twist – and full access to the aquarium and panoramic cinema. On top of that, we can easily tailor lectures on specific topics together with world-leading researchers working in our proximity. Being in downtown Tromsø, you also get easy access to everything
Tromsø has to offer, from whale safaris and dog sledding to a potential glimpse of the northern lights,” says Stokke.
Become a Polaria seal sponsor and receive the following: - Sponsorship diploma - Picture of the seal with fun facts - Electronic news letters - A meeting with your ‘adopted’ seal - Access behind the scenes at a seal training session - One free admission at Polaria for two people - Ten per cent discount in Polaria’s shop and café
For more information, please visit: www.polaria.no
Top left: Polaria’s four seals are popular among visitors due to their calm temper and intelligent nature. Middle left: If you do not want to leave behind Polaria’s seals for good, you can sign up to become a seal sponsor. Photo: Polaria and Børre With. Bottom left: The viviparous eelpout is notable for giving birth to live larvae and for its greenish bones. Photo: Polaria and Børre With. Right: A day at Polaria often begins in the panoramic cinema, where the two nature films Northern Lights in Arctic Norway and Svalbard – Arctic Wilderness serve as an introduction to the rest of the arctic maritime experience centre.
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 109
Scan Magazine | Experience of the Month | Denmark
Experience of the Month, Denmark
World-class camping Voted one of Europe’s best campsites five years in a row, Feddet Strand, Camping & Feriepark offers a camping experience that is out of the ordinary. Situated in beautiful natural surroundings, it is a holiday destination for the whole family with modern conveniences and fun activities.
Feriepark provides exceptional value for money in a safe, fun and beautiful area of Denmark.
By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photos: Feddet Strand Camping & Feriepark
Feddet is located on a peninsula in the southern part of Zealand in Denmark, 50 minutes from Copenhagen. The peninsula boasts many kilometres of sandy beaches and a rich plant and animal life. A campsite with this backdrop would be sufficient in many regards, but Feddet has much more to offer.
“One of the most popular activities is the electric motorcycles, open to children and adults. As they make very little noise, it’s a great way to explore the surroundings and see wildlife, all while doing something really fun,” says Kristensen.
“We offer convenience and comfort in order for people to have the most relaxing and fun holiday,” explains Kasper Kristensen, managing director. It all starts with accommodation, of which there are eight different kinds, including the option to bring your own tent, rent a cabin or caravan, or bike2tent.
The afternoons can be lounged away at a creative workshop, picking blueberries or in the café with a succulent burger, but the local area also boasts everything from a Michelin-star restaurant to museums and amusement parks. “We’re based in a really exciting area, because there’s so much to see, do and explore. There really is something to suit everyone’s interests,” says Kristensen.
Fun and games
Relax and unwind
Along with numerous types of accommodation, Feddet also has activities for the whole family. Horse riding, kayaking, kite surfing, swimming, a petting zoo and go-karting are just a few of the things to do at Feddet.
Feddet offers the chance to put your feet up, relax and enjoy quality time with loved ones. “We’re open throughout the year, so whenever you’re in need of a break, we’ve got you covered,” says the managing director. Feddet Strand, Camping &
110 | Issue 98 | March 2017
For more information and to book your stay, please visit: www.feddetcamping.dk
Scan Magazine | Experience of the Month | Finland
Yellow leaves and lake. Photo: Emilia Tuomi
Huskies running. Photo: Ile Laine, Final Cut Productions
Experience of the Month, Finland
Experience the wonders of Finnish Lapland From wandering in the wilderness to the wonder of the midnight sun in the summer, Aurora Holidays offers guests an idyllic setting for a peaceful holiday, complete with a private cottage. With activities ranging from husky tours and hiking to camping and berry picking, this is the perfect spot to wind down and enjoy Finnish Lapland’s untouched nature.
es behind to enjoy the stunning nature and quiet. We provide our guests with a unique experience and welcome them into our home.”
By Ndéla Faye
Tiina Salonen and Mika Länsman, along with their friend Emilia Tuomi, run activity holiday tours in Utsjoki, Finland. The village, located by the River Teno, right along the border between Finland and Norway, has a population of just over 1,200. “Utsjoki is a Sámi commune, where Sámi culture is still strong. Our guests also get to enjoy plenty of untouched nature, as well as the picturesque and peaceful scenery surrounded by the fells,” says Salonen. With Aurora Holidays, visitors get to experience the magic of the midnight sun in the summer and the northern lights in the autumn and winter. The couple rents fully equipped self-catering cottages that can fit up to six people each. From midMay until the end of July, Utsjoki enjoys endless days, where the sun never sets below the horizon. “During the summer, our guests get to experience the magic of 24-hour sunlight,” says Salonen. Conversely, during the winter months the sun
does not rise at all. “The autumn is spectacular here, during the ‘ruska’¸ when all the leaves turn various shades of red and yellow – it’s a truly breathtaking view.” Summer and autumn activities include husky tours, hiking, cycling and camping in the fells, as well as berry picking in the nearby forests – and at the end of the summer season, guests might even catch a glimpse of the northern lights. “We’re organising special events, such as a wellness week where guests can partake in a relaxation retreat, unwinding in the wilderness and performing relaxing exercises, as well as a northern lights and nature photography course. We’re constantly brainstorming new ideas,” says Salonen. “During the summer, we tailor holidays to suit our guests’ needs, and in the winter we offer package holidays with plenty of activities,” she continues. “Our guests can relax and leave their everyday stress-
Crowberry during the autumn ruska. Photo: Ile Laine, Final Cut Productions
Northern lights pictured in September 2016. Photo: Tiina Salonen, Aurora Holidays
Emilia wandering in the fells. Photo: Ile Laine, Final Cut Productions
For more information, please visit: www.auroraholidays.net
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 111
Scan Magazine | Humour | Columns
IS IT JUST ME… … who has noticed a big difference in how alcohol consumption is viewed and practised around the world? Maybe my years of living in L.A. have made me extra conscious. Angelinos, notoriously, take health conscience to a completely new level, and thus they are also concerned about their consumption of alcohol (except for the people I hang out with. Now isn’t that a weird coincidence?). Lunch conversations in Beverly Hills are bound to include endless discussions of allergies, juice cleanses, substance abuse and alcohol problems. In the five years we lived in Britain, I don’t recall anybody ever mentioning ‘alcohol problems’. I know a lot of Brits who are heavy drinkers, but I’m pretty sure none of them classify that as ‘a problem’. In fact, the British attitude towards alcohol problems is more along the lines of ‘if we’ve got alcohol, there’s no f****** problem’ – a sentiment that resonates strongly with my Scandinavian heritage. Scandinavians and Brits have roughly the same approach to alcohol: binge drink-
By Mette Lisby
ing is alive and well – although Brits take more pride in their drinking than Danes do. Brits like to boast afterwards, whereas Danes like to big it up before the drinking starts. “We are going to get hammered!” Danish people will say, glowing with excitement. This differs vastly from the Finnish, who never announce that they are going to get hammered, but simply just get on with it, embracing a sort of Nike-inspired ‘Just Do It’ approach. In France, it is not unusual to have a glass of wine with both lunch and dinner. Danish friends of ours once lived in Paris, and throwing a party there they were all fired up: “We are going to get hammered!” they proclaimed with the usual Danish optimism, as they stocked the bar up, having noticed how their French acquaintances enjoyed wine daily. To their surprise, the alcohol was barely touched, and only by themselves. Yes, the French drink often, but never a lot. In fact, viewing consumption of alcohol as an event in itself – an accomplishment
Swedish guests We have Swedish guests visiting, and I have entered full-blown psycho cleaning/fixing mode. This is after I looked around our house – not with the eyes of someone who has lived in the country for over 20 years, but with the eyes of a Swede. At first glance, the house appeared okay; in the need of a dusting, perhaps, but not too bad. On second glance, I suddenly noticed the little things amiss, like the crumbing ceiling plaster and the fact that the bathroom door handle falls off if you try to lock it. On third glance – a filthy death trap! Our Swedish friends are normal, Swedish grown-ups, with a baby to boot, whereas we – by all accounts – are a couple of slipshod savages. There’s a mould-plugged hole in our kitchen counter, but rather than fix it, I have just placed a tile on top of it. Just a loose tile, casually perched on top of what is probably the equivalent of an e-coli/ norovirus speed-dating disco. 112 | Issue 98 | March 2017
even – is a characteristic specific to Brits and Scandinavians. Frankly, I think that calls for a celebration! Skål! 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
inviting welcome, ignoring the fact that the garden gate is only limply held together by a layer of moss. I called my mother for moral support, knowing that she went through similar bouts of panic when she lived in the UK. She, however, has now adopted a more phlegmatic approach. “It’s not your fault, it’s the British climate,” she promised, adding: “You’ll be in the pub anyway, so it won’t matter,” proving once more just what a kind and insightful woman she really is.
With one week to go until our guests arrive, I am now trying to put the house in order, which of course is an impossible task. I’ve been hysterically painting skirting boards, while just above me the wallpaper is peeling off in long curls. I have been scrubbing the front door for a more
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 Feature | Go Royal
Replace your gun with a cinnamon bun Oskar Kongshöj and Gustaf Mardelius are the two musical brains behind Go Royal, the duo whose catchy YouTube creation Swedish Fika went viral, receiving over 500,000 hits in less than a month. Scan Magazine caught up with the two Swedes for a quick-fire round to get to know them. Press photo
When were the seeds for Go Royal sown? We’re both from Stockholm and studied music and dance extensively from early on. We met on the musical artist course at Base23, where we spent a lot of time during the breaks jamming by the piano and trying to come up with catchy melodies. When we graduated, music became a way for us to stay in touch, and we kept sending each other ideas for songs. In the end, we had a few finished songs, and we thought we’d better do something with them.
What’s it like to create music via your phone, distance collaboration style? It’s a bit different from sitting next to each other by the piano, but it works well for us. One of us can sit and work on something and then ping it over to the other, who’ll then add suggestions, tweaks and ideas. We know each other and each other’s musicianship so well at this stage that the distance doesn’t really matter.
What else are you up to now? [Oskar] I’m in Copenhagen working with the musical Saturday Night Fever, so disco music is a big part of my life right now. [Gustaf] I’m working with the musical Billy Elliot at Stockholm City Theatre. As Oskar
Was Swedish Fika meant to be as political as it became? We were very much impacted by the media climate and felt that we wanted to comment on it all. We wrote the lyrics very consciously, but the fact that so many
says, music is something we’re working with daily, and I suspect it’s something we’ll work with until we kick the bucket.
people could relate and liked the tune we could never have anticipated.
What’s the plan for Go Royal? Go Royal is an outlet for our creativity, and we’re hoping that the videos can entertain and spark discussion. The goal is for us to keep enjoying making our own music and for as many other people as possible to enjoy following us on that journey. We’ve only been doing this for a couple of months, so we don’t want to speculate where it might take us; but of course we’ve got dreams. Arrange a fika date with some global politicians for world peace. What would it look like? We’d invite them all, and put on loads of cinnamon buns! But only those who promise to put their weapons down are allowed to taste them. ‘Replace your gun with a cinnamon bun’ as we sing in the song. To listen to Swedish Fika and other tunes, find Go Royal on YouTube.
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 113
Scan Magazine | Culture | Columns
Scandinavian music Swedish artist LIOHN is back with a brand new single – and a thoroughly charming, borderline brilliant one at that! It is Gold, a carefree pop gem that does the job and more in less than three minutes, all via a kitsch set of lyrics throughout: ‘You’re like tonic without gin, like a hipster without Berlin.’ London-based production duo Sondr have gone and recruited one of Sweden’s best new artists on their brand new single. They have put out Live Love Learn, fronted by Peg Parnevik. It is a dance track first and foremost but, thanks to some clear influences from country music and an admirable refusal to shy away from a big and catchy melody, it basically caters to all of your pop needs. It is enormously uplifting, and the most fun that Peg has ever seemed to have on a record. Swedish artist Alex Shield made some waves last year when he was announced as the first signing to Per Gessle’s record label Space Station 12, and now he has
released his third single on the label: The Good Fight. It is a catchy number with the most infectious of melodies and, if you listen carefully towards the end, you will hear Roxette’s Per Gessle unable to contain himself any longer, joining in with Alex on vocal duties. The winner of Rookie of the Year at last year’s Denniz Pop Awards, Swedish artist Alessandra is now all set to release her first EP, and Your River is the first taste of it – an incredible introduction that captivates within the first ten seconds. It is a cinematic soul statement that in places veers between Adele and Kate Bush as reference points. Finally, the glorious debut single from Swedish Idol graduate Frans Walfridsson – Emergency Call. Written together with the brilliant Miss Li, it is a soulful synth-pop heart-wrencher. That chorus is incredible and his vocal delivery of it, from the end of the second chorus in particular, is genuine-
By Karl Batterbee
ly exciting in terms of what we can expect from him. Right now, there is undoubtedly a whole lot of mediocrity on Spotify’s new release list every Friday, but Emergency Call is one of those songs that remind us all why we love pop music.
www.scandipop.co.uk scandipop@gmail.com
Swedish survival guide:
Swedify your English to be understood By Joakim Andersson
English has become the number one lingua franca of the western world, and it is safe to say that the language is influencing other languages to a huge extent. It is used as the professional and corporate language for a great deal of business, even though the employees might not need to speak English to each other. This causes corporate loan words to slip into the day-to-day speech of these people. Furthermore, jargon found in games, on the internet and in pop culture is mostly in English, making its way into the Swedish language. Thanks to the uncomplicated way the Swedish vocabulary system works, by adding endings, adapting foreign words is a walk in the park. 114 | Issue 98 | March 2017
If there is a verb that we would like to use in Swedish, we just add an ’a’ at the end: see ’jobba’, which comes from the English ’to job’. Loans from the internet era include ’banna’ (to ban) and ’chatta’ (to chat). Creating your own noun is even more straight-forward as there is no set rule as to which grammatical gender to use. The widespread ’keyboard’ can for instance be ’ett keyboard’ or ’en keyboard’ depending on whom you ask. The more modern word ’latte’ is always ’en latte’. There are several reasons to why a word may have a more determined gender; it could be introduced by a company with the ability to push it to the public, or be spread through news, social media or niche communities.
If you lack the adopted vocabulary, making up words in Swedish is easy peasy. Borrowing words from English will help you to be understood, and Swedifying the same will take it to the next level.
Joakim Andersson is a Swedish musician, YouTuber, podcaster, and entrepeneur who calls himself an enjoyer of life. He is the founder of Say It In Swedish, which is a podcast, web and mobile app, and YouTube channel that teaches modern Swedish in a fun and easy-going way for free. Check it out at www.sayitinswedish.com
Scan Magazine | Culture | Calendar
Leif Ove Andsnes. Photo: Chris Aadland
Scandinavian Culture Calendar – Where to go, what to see? It’s all happening here! Leif Ove Andsnes and Marc-André Hamelin at Wigmore Hall (30 March)
Five Finnish Photographers (Until 3 April)
Leif Ove Andsnes is one of Norway’s bestknown pianists. He has won several prizes both in Norway and internationally. This month he will perform alongside the Canadian pianist and composer Marc-André Hamelin. 7.30pm. Wigmore Hall, 36 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 2BP. www.wigmore-hall.org.uk
All through March, Purdy Hicks Gallery displays the work of the Finnish artists Ulla Jokisalo, Sandra Kantanen, Milja Laurila, Anna Reivilä and Santeri Tuori. The five artists represent three generations of Finnish photography, and they are all deeply rooted in Finland’s identity. The practices presented in this exhibi-
By Heidi Kokborg
tion reveal Finland’s original voice within the arts. Purdy Hicks, 25 Thurloe Street, London, SW7 2LQ. www.purdyhicks.com
Taival by Cie Nuua (18 April) Nuua was founded by a Finnish circus artist and a Brazilian artist in 2012. The contemporary circus company has takIssue 98 | March 2017 | 115
Scan Magazine | Culture | Calendar
The Royal Festival Hall. Photo: Belinda Lawley
en the international scene of performing arts by storm, and now they come to London. In Taival, they blend contemporary dance, circus, and visual theatre to paint a bold and blistering portrait of the human body. 8pm. Jacksons Lane, 269a Archway Road, London, N6 5AA. www.jacksonslane.org.uk
Santtu-Matias Rouvali conducts the Philharmonia Orchestra (23 April) The Finnish conductor and percussionist is conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra in this classical concert. 3pm. The Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London, SE1. www.finemb.org.uk 116 | Issue 98 | March 2017
Santtu-Matias Rouvali. Photo: Kaapo Kamu
Scan Magazine | Culture | Calendar
Gudrun Sjödén: Four Decades of Colour & Design (25 April–7 May) This exhibition at the Fashion and Textile Museum celebrates over 40 years of colourful and unique expression by the Swedish designer and textile artist Gudrun Sjödén, known for being a pioneer of sustainable fashion, and the display highlights how environmental thinking is at the core of every collection she creates. This exhibition offers a behind-thescenes glimpse into the world of a fashion business, which is today one of Sweden’s largest fashion exports. The Fashion and Textile Museum, 83 Bermondsey Street, London, SE1 3XF. www.ftmlondon.org
Making Nature: How we see animals (until 21 May) This major exhibition at the Wellcome Collection examines what we think, feel, and value about other species and the consequences this has had for the world. On display is Swedish zoologist Carl Linnaeus’ Systema Naturae from 1735, which listed and filed the animal king-
This spring you can see some of Swedish fashion guru Gudrun Sjödén’s designs at the Fashion and Textile Museum in London. Press photo
Issue 98 | March 2017 | 117
Scan Magazine | Culture | Calendar
Outi Pieski’s Falling Shawls. Photo: Johnny Green.
dom, including humankind. Wellcome Collection, 183 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BE. www.wellcomecollection.org
Jacob Kirkegaard. Photo: Katinka Fogh Vindelev
Jacob Kirkegaard at ARoS (11 Feb–28 May) Danish artist Jacob Kirkegaard is internationally known for his fascinating recordings of sounds. In a combination of scientific research and artistic displays, Kirkegaard shows how sounds are often deprioritised and undervalued in our modern and very visual world. Aros, Aros Allé 2, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. www.aros.dk
Falling Shawls by Outi Pieski (Until 31 December) Falling Shawls is an installation of traditional Sami shawl-making, created by the Finnish artist Outi Pieski. The installation is a part of the Nordic Matters series and will be at the Royal Festival Hall foyers for the rest of the year. Falling Shawls is inspired by the gathering of Sami people, the indigenous people of Scandinavia. Southbank Centre, Royal Festival Hall, Belvedere Road, Lambeth, London, SE1 8XX. www.southbankcentre.co.uk 118 | Issue 98 | March 2017
Experience the fascinating exhibition by Jacob Kirkegaard at the art museum ARoS in Denmark. Photo: Jacob Friis-Holm Nielsen
“ Amazing – Brilliant – Spellbinding…” The top reviewed exhibition of the season now on show at the Louisiana Museum. “ Utterly irresistible to audiences of all ages and inclinations.” The Telegraph
“ A dazzling cinematic montage of modern times - original, funny and profound.” The Guardian
Med støtte fra:
Louisianas Main Corporate Partners:
William Kentridge, More Sweetly Play the Dance, 2015, videostill. Courtesy William Kentridge, Marian Goodman Gallery, Goodman Gallery & Lia Rumma Gallery
EN
e
SC
H
W
ED
vi
.s v t t si
TROLLHÄTTAN - VÄNERSBORG Two cities. One destination
39
E 5S PE
RS
K/
ON
15
9
E 5S
PE
RS
K/
ON
COME ALONG ON AN EXCITING ELK SAFARI
GO BIKING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF CARL LINNAEUS
On the plateau of Halle-& Hunneberg, through West Sweden´s most attractive landscapes. Internationally, the mountain is known for its elks and the Royal Hunt. We enjoy enjoy light refreshments in front of an open fire in a Laplanders cot, and visit The Royal Hunt Museum before we look for the elks. Plan and book at visittv.se
Enjoy the beautiful scenery along the Linneaus bike path, where you will be biking in the footsteps of the Flower King. Two overnight stays including breakfast in country estate-like enviroment at Albert Hotell and Ronnums Herrgård. The trail is 70 km and you bike along the Göta Älv, Lake Vänern and the Ecopark Halle-& Hunneberg. Plan and book at visittv.se