Nancy, Barbro and their friends

From when the pandemic started to really affect Sweden sometime in March 2020, and all through the spring months the weather in Göteborg stayed absolutely wonderful. Crispy mornings, blue skies, trees with new light green leafs, lady frogs walking around with males on their backs and thousands of birds singing. It made a sharp contrast to all the stress, worries and death caused by the virus. I found a lot of comfort watching and listening to the birds. They seemed very happy, concentrating on eating, mating, building nests and once a while polishing the feathers.

The work is the result of a project where I have been collaborating with the artist Monica Blind Påve. Monica works with Sami craft (duodji) and the two of us have shared materials, experiences and sources of inspiration, knowledge and techniques.

During the project she has introduced me to reindeers skin as a material (more about the project here). I use the skin in a similar way as the plastic; I cut pieces and sew them together into larger shapes. The long tradition of leather work and the living material creates a feeling of connection with the root system of my family tree, to my heritage, and the knowledge that I hope to pass on from my ancestor to the future.

 

 Nancy and Barbro, 2020, birds made of naturally tanned reindeer skin, thread, sand and silver.

Ester, 2021, bird made of naturally tanned reindeer skin,

thread, sand, silver and brass.

 

Margareta and Gerd, 2021
naturally tanned reindeer skin, sand, brass, thread, silver.

 

Herman’s, 2021, necklace, naturally tanned reindeer skin, brass, thread.

 

Gunnar’s necklace, naturally tanned reindeer skin, brass, thread

 

 

Fröknarna Pettersson, brooches 2021, naturally tanned reindeer skin, thread, steel.

 

Vendla’s, 2021, necklace made of naturally tanned reindeer skin, thread and brass.

 

Vendla’s, 2021, necklace made of naturally tanned reindeer skin, thread and brass.

 

Jenny’s brooch, 2021, naturally tanned reindeer skin, thread, steel

Jenny’s brooch, 2021, naturally tanned reindeer skin, thread, steel

 

Verner’s brooch, 2021, brooch, naturally tanned reindeer skin, thread, steel

 

Verner’s brooch, 2021, brooch, naturally tanned reindeer skin, thread, steel

 

Ulla’s, 2021, bracelet made of naturally tanned reindeer skin, thread and silver.

 

Anna Maria’s, 2020, necklace made of naturally tanned reindeer skin,
thread, steel and silver.

 Linneas’s, brooch made of naturally tanned reindeer skin, thread and steel.

Eimer’s, brooch made of naturally tanned reindeer skin, thread and steel.

 

Karin’s, brooch made of naturally tanned reindeer skin, thread and steel.

Tyra’s, bracelet made of naturally tanned reindeer skin, thread and silver.

 

Torkel’s, 2020, brooch made of naturally tanned reindeer skin, thread and steel.

 

Helga, 2020, pendant made of naturally tanned reindeer skin,

thread, sand, bone and silver.

Astrid’s, brooch made of naturally tanned reindeer skin, thread and steel.

Signe’s, 2020, necklace made of naturally tanned reindeer skin, thread, steel and silver.

 

Svea 2020, bird made of naturally tanned reindeer skin, thread, sand, bone and silver.

Deer, 2020, earrings made of naturally tanned reindeer skin and silver.

Teas, 2020, brooch made of naturally tanned reindeer skin, thread and steel.

 

Hedvigs, 2020, bracelet made of naturally tanned reindeer skin, thread and steel.