Kulturista - Cultural Experiences in West Sweden

C U LT U R E E X P E R I E N C E S I N W E S T S W E D E N 15 Emma von Brömssen, pattern designer from Gothenburg, whose wall- papers and porcelain collections are attracting attention both at home and abroad. Recognised as a “Rising Star of the Year” at the Elle Decoration Awards, von Brömssen is the woman behind wallpaper motifs such as Dancing Crane and Stäpphöna (Pallas’s sandgrouse). EMMA VON BRÖMSSEN PATTERN DESIGNER with Josef Frank she dared to go against the grain and transform Functionalist style – usually very bare and austere – into some- thing playful and homely. Then follow the scent of smoked Vättern whitefish from Hjo Sik (better known among locals as Feskeboa) to the cosy marina. In the summer it will be full of leisure craft, with the listed old steamer S/S Trafik ready to take passengers out to Visingsö, while crowds buzz contentedly at outdoor tables late into the warm night. Moster Elins, one of the town’s three well-frequented ice cream cafés, is also here. The other two, Gula Paviljongen and Österhagen Glass, both sell their own ice cream made with cream and eggs from local farms. Beyond the marina is Guldkroksbadet, with several pools and a beach where you can sink your feet into Hjo sand and enjoy refreshing dips in Lake Vättern. Access to the swimming area is free and this is a popular place, along with the waterfront pro- menade on the town’s south side, during warm summer days. W I N D D O W N I N T H E T O W N P A R K The brightly coloured bathing huts by Guldkroksbadet have be- come an iconic image of Hjo, and are a significant part of the town’s history as a spa and health resort. Even if the spa is no longer there, memories and impressions live on. Some of the town’s best-preserved early 20th-century villas are in the park. They include Villa Eira, a B&B with individually decorated rooms that reflect historical figures from the town and are inspired by – who else – Estrid Ericson P O P U L A R A R T S A N D C R A F T S F A I R At the beginning of July every year the town park fills up with wood carvers, potters, weavers, tanners and smiths – along with thousands of visitors – at the annual arts and crafts fair, one of the biggest in Scandinavia. In closing, we can’t talk about Hjo’s charm without mentio- ning the slogan – a real killer, in the view of many – devised for the small-town idyll by Lake Vättern to make its international mark: I love Hjo. (Yes, Hjo is pronounced ’you’.) Apart from wallpaper, your Dancing Crane pattern has also been used for cushion covers, some of which are sold in the souvenir shop at the Trandansen information centre by Lake Hornborga in conjunction with the cranes’ return to Sweden in the springtime. Why are birds such a major source of inspiration for you? “My dad is a bird-watcher, so I’ve been fascinated by their calls and appearance ever since I was a child. When cranes arrive in flocks there are so many of them that they almost form a pattern in themselves. I like designing patterns that fill a space entirely, so that I can play around with the shapes a little bit. Cranes’ dancing and theatrical displays lend themselves very readily to this kind of approach.” Other than birds, where do you find inspiration? “I get asked that question regularly and find it just as difficult to answer every time! There’s no simple answer; you can find inspiration in almost anything, really. Travelling to far-away places can be very inspiring. The natural environments in Asia and Africa have a completely different light than here at home in Sweden. Just that in itself can spark new creative ideas.”