"I always have some romantic idea of places that I've never been to, so this idealist version of Gothenborg manifested in my head. I did some research on what I wanted to visit, and I got to see some well known area's, but soon it felt somewhat touristy. I loved the city center and museums, I adored Haga with the antique shops and old buildings, in general the more authentic architecture was very alluring. But I did not yet feel the magic that I was looking for and I realized that my imagined Gothenborg might outshadow reality.

Last on my wishlist was Landala Egnahem, a residential area from the early twentieth century which, as an architectural project, was its own reaction to changing times. I took a walk there, through the snow, thinking I might discover things on my way there. Older Victorian era villas, repurposed as schools, felt like breadcrumbs to something good. As soon as I, slowly in a turn on the road, climbed that last hill, I saw the neighborhood appear with its dark wooden houses and natural feel and was instantly in love. The trees, & gardens all kept in natural style, the homes, the residents, everything seemed in perfect still symbiosis.

Landala Egnahem impressed me the most, because it's so well preserved; built between 1913-1922, it was an example of idealistic healthy living without industrial influences, simple and harmonious with the surrounding nature. The first industrial revolution brought Europe some counter-movements with romantic desires for natural traditional materials, purity and simple handmade design. So is this district; sober, rooted in earth, simple, functional and away from polluting influences, nothing visually disruptive is present.

With drawing in Indian ink, and coloring for the screen print, I wanted to capture that austere beauty that I experienced; the dark hues of the wood and trees against a blue winter sky, the warm colors of the sun reflecting in the windows, the quiet, and all the mystery and timelessness it exudes. I felt like the trees and houses were in a silent close relationship, like the architects meant to have nature and daily life go hand in hand, that's why I merged different aspects of the architecture with the trees, like a dark rustic treehouse sculpture that protects itself from harmful influences and looks outwards while containing endless secret stories behind the mysterious windows."

Thursday, December 8, 2022

Yesterday I arrived in a snowy Goteborg, today the snow is a little less and a walk is far easier. I went for a stroll towards the centre and the highlight of my day was there near Haga the oldest neighborhood in town. It was Västergatan 1, 411 23 Göteborg, Gårda Textil is a huge fabric store in a Victorian era building, with a mostly wooden exterior, mirrored as a former split residence. Nowadays the whole building is one maze of rooms and hallways filled to the brim with fabrics.

The second floor is a treasure trove of vintage fabrics for both clothing and interior. When you let your eyes wander beyond this massive amount of patterns and textures, you'll notice the old ornamental fireplaces, each one of them is so different and fully original. Excessively decorated with tiles every piece is an artistic statement by itself and draws all the attention in the room. The building has original wooden herringbone floors throughout, random detached doors lean against walls and antique wooden cupboards are all around hidden between piles of fabric. I could easily get lost here and forget time, it makes you want to explore everything in that building, what would the attic be like, what stories have played out here… It really speaks to the imagination. 

Friday, December 9, 2022

I started my day with a walk past some original wooden houses near my residence, they are such alluring structures, very romantic and fairytale-like.  After that I spent the afternoon roaming through the Göteborgs Konsthall, Göteborgs konstmuseum, Hasselblad Center & Röhsska museet.

Much of what I saw today is from around the Industrial Revolution, a lot of Impressionism. I have seen relatively little modern art, the highlights were the very vibrant and collagelike Eric Magassa room, Göteborgs Konsthall with an exhibition that had a red thread of destruction, boredom and loneliness translated in poetic installments. The grand hall of Göteborgs konstmuseum was mainly interesting because of its contrasting subject matter of a pole dancer, grimm reapers and abstract statues that looked like they had forgotten their human features.

Saturday, December 10, 2022

This saturday I went to a local thrift store and that set me on a path of more fairytale-like themes. I went to Haga and visited local antique stores where I came across silver plated wolf cups, a dollhouse, the story of red ridinghood and other fantastic creatures and figurines.

I ended up purchasing a vintage Swedish silver pendant with a stone in the center like something of magic powers. Even though crowds of tourists were a bit overwhelming, those whimsical items, combined with the wooden historical buildings made it worthwhile.

Sunday, December 11, 2022
Today I took a walk, which has been the highlight of my trip: the idealist neighborhood Landala Egnahem, an area with dark wooden villas and houses in the district of Guldheden in Gothenburg. According to architectural drawings by Carl Westman these dwellings were built in 1913-1922 and the first people moved in April 1st, 1914. It was an example of idealistic living, modest and in accordance with nature.

It made me think of A 1920s cult movement The Kindred of The Kibbo Kift that, although more complicated, had the same vision as a starting point. After the first industrial revolution there was still a strong countermovement and romantic longing in Europe to live in harmony with nature and honor natural traditional materials and simple design. The site for the construction was chosen because of its "extremely healthy and pleasant situation". The coloring was to be uniform, the freehold owners were given two colors to choose from; gray and brown. And although initially meant for working class families it quickly became a middle class neighborhood.