Between Gamlastan and Slussen

 

This was hung by the side of this bridge road where there was construction. I wasn't sure if they were trying to show green, in the midst of the long construction work.  But I somehow thought it was very Swedish of them.. the color and the assumed purpose.

Jill Greenburg

Nowadays, many must have seen the crying baby series by Jill Greenburg. This is on exhibit at Fotografinska until February 9, 2014, as well as all over the city of Stockholm (as advertisement).

 

I thought this was an experiment to see how babies react when taken away their toys, and that was its sole purpose. But I learned that it is a political criticism to the US war situation in 2006. I still think the above is the best shot, which can rouse many thoughts in an adult's mind.

 

Check out some of her other works here.

 

Photo credit: Jill Greenburg

Elliott Erwitt at Fotografinska

At the Fotografinska or the photography museum in Stockholm, you can see tons of Elliott Erwitt until March 2, 2013. You must have seen the below somewhere, but he can be known for some of his political photos and lovers photos too.

I thought the below were particularly comical, simply titled Russia (all of his work there seemed only show the name of the location, leaving much imagination to the viewer). His style is very old-school, capturing a rare moment without cheating your camera.




He also has this other character André S. Solidor who appears in videos and photo shoots. Fun to watch this when you're in need of a nice relaxing laugh.

Joana Carneiro with the Stockholm Royal Philharmony

This program was one of the most fun concerts I've been to. Probably because I was sitting in the first row and totally feeling part of the orchestra, in particular the second violins, and also because of the program. It started with a very string-centric Mozart symphony, then a soprano with various pieces. After the intermission it was several movements from Bizet's Carmen, and finally Ravel. I think it was my first time to hear a Ravel symphony.

A very intriguing thing about this night was that it was a woman conductor Joana Carneiro. She was young and very Latin looking, and very suited for the pieces that were performed. I sensed a slight craziness in the crescendo moments of Bizet and Ravel, which was absolutely fantastic. The symphony had a very happy lead violinist too, like he was very thrilled to be there (no wonder, as there were lots of solo almost cadenza like parts especially in Bizet, which he played beautifully). Such a treat!

 

Photo credit: IMG Artists

 

 

Gustavsberg porcelain town

 

More and more, I am turning into my mom, loving porcelain and getting excited when I visit shops of the original porcelain town. Gustavsberg is only 20 minutes by car off of city central Stockholm. I believe the green leave Bersa collection is most well seen at department stores worldwide. The designs are very typical Swedish, simple and homey, and I must add, a pattern that people outside of Europe would want Scandinavian design to be.

 

It seems the company itself has been sold off in pieces in the 1990s, so the company Gustavsberg founded in 1826 no longer exists. But apparently artisans continue to produce in the Gustavsberg tradition and that's what we see today.

 

The museum had all the plates from its start as well as gigantic vase contributions to world expos including one such in Bogota more than 100 years ago. The video footage of how they used to print patterns showed a surprisingly similar method of how Japanese wood block prints were made.

 

Unfortunately, the antique shops around town were closed today (mostly only open during weekends in winter time, and open all week in the summer), but I managed to go to two outlet stores in town.  Do visit!

 

Gustavsberg Museum

Odelbergs väg 5B13440GustavsbergSweden

Telephone number: +46 8 570 356 58

 

Carl Malmsten's exhibit

 

There is an exhibit for designer Carl Malmsten at Prins Eugens Waldemarsudde. His furnitures are seen everywhere in Sweden, in households, department stores, and even extravegant offices. I particularly liked this drawer which said was inspired by Chinese cabinets. It balances nicely in a toned down old school living room.

 

 

Carl Malmson also designed many other things such as typewriters and bags today (I just realized the Sandqvist bag lying on the ground next to me is by him too). He also has a school of woodwork where aspring young Swedes and others are making beautiful woodwork. He also founded a guitar making school. It's incredibly nice to see artisan work being succeeded to the next generation.

 

Napoleon's briefcase

 

As a recent fan of simple work briefcases, I was thrilled to learn that Napoleon also used a briefcase, as displayed at the armory museum at the Imperial Palace in Stockholm. The exhibit had so many fascinating items (such as the horse that Gustav II rode and was killed on -- the real horse mummified and standing upright). Some were politically important monuments for Sweden that were made publicly visible to the people for long, some stolen from other countries as the good old war practice went in the past, and other items were purchased.

 

This website shows a similar briefcase of Napoleon's that was handed down through generations in Germany now as a collector's item. The armory museum said the briefcase contained Napoleon's diplomatic dialogue/documentations.

The Royal Armory
Slottsbacken 3, 111 30 Stockholm, Sweden
+46 8402 3030
 

Happy new year of 2014!

I don't know if it's a Euro thing but everyone does their own firework. There were so many on the horizon right before 12! Happy 2014!