I love the natural world. Walking in the forest or at the beach, I always collect lots of stuff that come in my way - cones, feathers, stones, flowers.. I love to study these objects, turning them around to see them from all sides, feeling the texture and the smell. Feeling their essence and their natural belonging. This close study of nature makes me want to reproduce it in art. And so I do.
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I samarbeid med Vanja Steinbru i Kvist&Kvae har Norwegian Made utviklet en ny smykkeserie i sølv og valnøttfiner. Vi har tatt utgangspunkt i logoen vår, og vi er så fornøyd med det ferdige resultetet! Smykkene kan du kjøpe i Kvist&Kvaes nettbutikk. //In collaboration with Vanja Steinbru at Kvist&Kvae, Norwegian Made has developed a jewelry line in silver and veneer based on our logo. We couldn't be happier with the result!// I think much about what it is that really makes me happy and gives me that authentic feeling of being alive, not regretting something in the past not concerned about tomorrow. Here's a list of things I know for sure gives me that good feeling: Slow time little planned, much free time to reflect and to just be to linger time to be creative time to write time to do things that is not supposed to give income time to do other things than those I have to do every day. As few material possessions as possible not much to decide between nor much to take care of to tidy and clean and mend and iron. Things of quality things made to last so that I can trust this thing to be with me for a long time to be part of my life a sort of friend I can rely on will be there for me when I need it. Things made of natural materials, good to the touch, bring a feeling of connectedness so that when I use a tool made of wood or put on a linen dress I can feel nature beneath my hands, in my heart. Less input calm soul few text-messages few mails less commercials less to process, to consider, to choose from and decide between. To see the result of the labour of my hands that hands-on feeling with the natural world the soil in the garden the cookie doug knitting a baby scarf turning the pages of a book the feeling of charcoal under my fingers when I draw. To dwell on the magic of the world, of nature, to slow down as much as it takes to really see the wonder to really feel that we are, all of us, part of that wonder the goodness of nature the godness of nature? Last week I exhibited 4 of my new screenprints at the very charming Gallery Bøch - it was a really nice experience and I'll be glad to return next year! I love to use my eyes when I'm round and about. To let myself be caught by whatever meets my eye. On my regular forest walks I alway come home heavily loaded with all things natural. I bring all of my found treasures inside the house (a pretty loaded house..) and sometimes I use it for something and sometimes I just enjoy it. I let my eyes pass over a dry leaf or an interesting branch, I touch the soft feathers from the hens in our coop or I smell the freshness of the norwegian pine. I love to arrange these natural treasures into still lives to photograph them or to draw them. It's like playing. It's like being a child again. And it's all free! Today was a fine day. On our way to a NorwegianMade meeting we had to stop several times to enjoy the beauty of the norwegian fall. Have you noticed how all kind of weather has something wonderfull to offer? I'm at the Apple Festval at Gvarv today - talking to norwegian makes as part of our Norwegian Made project. I just finished a long conversation with the man who made these beautiful, handcarved cups, which I bought by the way, learning so much about wood woodworking and really enjoying myself. How I love my work! Wabi sabi is a japanese aesthetic ideal, cherishing the beauty of the worn. As everybody who knows me or my art will know, this is an aesthetic which is very close to my heart. I see and appreciate this kind of worn beauty everywhere I go, and few things make me happier; the tainted wood of an old barn, last year's seed pod, a worn and mended garment from the past, giving testimony of hardship and thrift and telling somebody's story. As part of an art project from the duo Abraham & Sax, this year I've written an essay a month on topics regarding aesthetic philosophy and art. Last mont's essay was about the wabi sabi aesthetic. You can read the whole text here. |
M A R I T S A X E G A A R D
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Information about my workshops here. See my paintings, drawings, etchings and watercolors here.
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May 2016
See more pictures from last years workshop here
See my fineart photography here.
"Fine works of art never age, because they are marked by genuine feeling. The language of the passions, the impulses of the heart, are always the same."
Delacroix |