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 17 ANNA EL ZER OSCARSON KEEPS THE TR ADITION ALIVE Rörstrand Center also contains what is possibly Sweden’s smallest porcelain factory - Porslinsfabriken i Lidköping – which keeps the tradition alive after the large-scale production has moved abroad. By way of close collaboration with contemporary designers like Anna Elzer Oscarson, they produce modern ceramics in a tradi- tional setting. Her collection Dancing Dune is a playful, stream- lined series in earthy colours. Also produced here are Svenskt Tenn’s timeless pots, and since 2007 Hackefors Porslin’s fine dinnerware, a luxurious addition to Swedish design for nearly a century. C O N T E M P O R A R Y A R C H I T E C T U R E I N A N AT U R A L S E T T I N G When you visit Lidköping, you simply must get out to Kållandsö, a peninsula just north of town. It’s another chapter in the Swedish design history. Architectural firm White Architects has taken inspiration from the pine forests of the Lake Vänern archi- pelago, creating the beautiful building ‘Victoriahuset’. With its ribbed wooden façade it almost disappears into the surrounding forest. It’s a striking example of how Swedish architecture is in- formed by what is around it. The building is dedicated to the Duchess of Västergötland, the Swedish Crown Princess Victoria. The regional government gave her the building on the occasion of her thirtieth birthday in 2007. As you enter the building, the nature-inspired façade follows you in, where you’ll find a nature Hello there, Anna Elzer Oscarson! Gothenburg designer who combines modern 3-D technology with traditional ceramic craftsmanship. Elzer Oscarson is the artist behind works such as the porcelain collections Dancing Dune and Dusty Diamonds. You design your collections in 3-D before having them manufactured at the traditional porcelain factory Porslinsfabriken i Lidköping. What is it about this combination of old and new that appeals to you? “Allowing new technology and time-honoured crafting tradition to come together is exciting. Sculpting in 3-D creates a flawless result that suits Porslinsfabriken’s manufacturing capabilities well. After the design process transitions to the manufacturing phase, everything is done manually, and you can really feel the touch of the artisan’s hand in the final product. Manufacturing by hand and the glazing process make each piece unique and give them a special charm.” How important is the crafts expertise that has long resided in Lidköping? “Enormously important! The people who work at Porslinsfabriken worked at the Rörstrand factory for many years and it’s truly inspiring to be able to play a part in keeping the town’s long history of craftsmanship alive and well.” What inspires you as a designer? “Nature provides me with a wealth of inspiration. I live out in the countryside and am completely dependent on my walks by the seaside. They help me breathe and gather inspiration. I can also find inspiration in the shapes and lines of charming old cars, such as the Volvo P1800, for example. I’ve come to incorporate streamlining’s legacy in my production.” ANNA ELZER OSCARSON DESIGNER