Just Swedish

February 28th – April 19th 2009

In the early 20th century, Swedish craft was influenced by function. Today a new generation of makers is exploring boundaries between art, design and craft. We are hosting this diverse exhibition ‘Just Swedish’ that is curated by Sweden and London based curators.



‘Just Swedish’ brings eight artists together at Walford Mill Crafts in Wimborne, Dorset, working in different materials, showing the diversity in Swedish crafts. The exhibitors include; Eva Hild, Anders Ljungberg, Per Brandstedt, Karin Ostberg, Tore Svensson, Mia Olsson, Elizabeth Henrikssen and Nicklas Ejve.



Eva Hild, one of Sweden’s best known sculptors whose distinctive works epitomise current trends in Scandinavian ceramics explores the relationship between the internal and external realities; the dualism between content and form, feeling and shape, impression and expression.



Whilst silversmith Anders Ljungberg mixes the contemporary with the customary, Niklas Ejve also a silversmith makes beautiful jewellery.



Per Brandsted creates burnt oak vessels and works with the imperfections of the wood. I feel a great freedom in hand building. It grows slowly, I have time to reflect, and I can change direction, make connections and have a smooth surface with the same thickness. I build big forms; the clay will dry slowly and not collapse. When the form is ready and the clay is dry, I sand away at the surface and then spray it with a slurry of kaolin. The pieces are finally fired in stoneware temperature, about 1250°."



Karin Ostberg looks for rhythm and balance, trying to discover the mystery of repeating patterns in her ceramic forms.



Mia Olsson makes beautiful almost transparent sculptural wall pieces in sisal fibres and sometimes coir.



Elisabeth Henrikssen’s glass vessels and sculptures draw inspiration from nature and she says “I want my works to feel alive like living organisms with every product being very individual.”



Tore Svensson only makes a few iron bowls a year. It is a painstakingly slow process. For nearly two decades he has been making the same simple form: the few bowls he makes each season hardly vary in size and form from their predecessors. They derive their appearance from such lengthy work. Fired with linseed oil, their iron is black. A streak of gold on some bowls pierces this darkness. “I don’t see them as things for material use, but as holders for your thoughts” he says.



Niklas Ejve's designs are mathmetical and fluid. In his work, he frequently combines precious stones with a precise artistry in silver. He playfully lets simple geometrical forms in black and white, silver and stone, change places with each other to create a new and expressive collection of necklaces.




Come and see this diverse exhibition here at Walford Mill, which will be on show from
February 28th until April 19th.

For more information about our Artistic Policy please click here.