Folk art is also usually characterized by its style being very specific to its culture of origin. In the case of Sweden, the approach to folk art was particularly unique because of its relative isolation from outside influences given how far north it was from Europe. Curator of Nordic Museum Brings Swedish Folk Art to Life In the digital world, where the interface for so many designs is keyboard, mouse and screen, the creator is sometimes forgotten. The human element is demoted in favor of expediency and functionality. While art today tends to be created purely to be admired, Viking art seemed to have been used to decorate functional objects. For example, doors were embellished with carvings, ship posts were whittled into the shape of animal heads, and even earspoons were embellished. A silver Viking earspoon from Sweden. Image: Swedish History Museum One of Denmark’s most famous designers, Verner Panton, is known for his bold and abstract work in the ’60s, with a focus on new materials. Panton’s creations stood apart from those of his contemporaries, and his focus was more on what we today associate with Pop Art. Strong, dramatic colors and futuristic shapes dominated his work. His designs, along with those of Finnish designer Eero Aarnio and Finnish-American Eero Saarinen, have been used in a number of film productions and countless photo shoots to create a futuristic look. Left: Globe Chair, Eero Aarnio, 1963–65. Woodcarving: Woodcarving is a prominent craft in Scandinavian folk art. Skilled artisans create intricate carvings on wooden objects such as furniture, utensils, religious items, and architectural elements.

KODE consists of seven buildings, of which four are dedicated to art and three are dedicated to the composers Edvard Grieg, Ole Bull and Harald Sæverud, respectively. Inside KODE Bergen Art Museum in Norway While there are a number of sculpture parks in Oslo, the most iconic is “ Vigelandsparken” (Vigeland park). The Angry Boy of Oslo's Vigeland Park Right: A Carlsberg Pilsner label, Thorvald Bindesböll, 1904. Logos by Thorvald Bindesböll for Danish football clubs, from 1876 and 1889. Although he travelled all over Europe, he never lost his love of western Norway, where he had grown up. He later returned to settle down in the old Jølster municipality (now part of the Sunnfjord municipality), and the majority of his paintings were inspired by the mountains and valleys of this area. The most iconic symbol of Swedish folk art is the Dalahäst or Dala horse, so called because it originated in the Dalarna region of Sweden.

What distinguishes Scandinavian art from Scandinavian folk art?

One of the major influences in Finnish folk art is the Kalevala, a collection of Finnish folklore, myths and legends. Online marketplaces such as Etsy, Redbubble, and Zazzle sell a huge range of Scandinavian folk art products, including vintage and contemporary pieces, from independent artists and designers. Multerland (CC) Dadaism was a fairly short-lived cultural movement that started in Switzerland shortly after World War I. But Dadaist methods and views were adopted by many and live on. Focused on ridiculing the meaninglessness of the modern world, their work encompassed literature, visual arts and theater. Scandinavian folk art is often showcased at cultural festivals and events, such as the Bergen International Festival in Norway, and during the Midsommar celebrations in Sweden. Where can you see modern Scandinavian folk art? One of the most recognisable types of Norwegian folk art is “rosemaling” (or “rose painting”), named after the floral designs that characterise the artwork. While rosemaling can be found all over Norway, it has its strongest roots in rural Eastern Norway, particularly in Hallingdal and Telemark. “Uvdal stave church, rose paint” by Frode Inge Helland, 2005 ( CC)

The tales in the Kalevala have been an important source of inspiration for Finnish folk art for centuries. With Dadaism, abstract art started to find its footing, as well as performance art and what later evolved into Pop Art. Similar to Cubists, Dadaists made use of collage, assemblage and existing products to create new pieces. Against war, against the bourgeoisie and resembling an anarchist movement, Dadaists were active around the world, holding public demonstrations and publishing journals. Dadaism gradually mixed with surrealism and other cultural and artistic movements. Dynamism of a Soccer Player, Umberto Boccioni, 1913.

De Stijl was a Dutch art movement in which Piet Mondrian and Gerrit Rietveld were among the principal members. De Stijl emphasized pure abstraction and the reduction of everything to the essentials of form and color. Everything was simplified to vertical and horizontal lines and primary colors. Unlike many contemporary movements, De Stijl was a collective project, not a political or social movement. The Bauhaus building in Dessau, Germany, designed by Walter Gropius. Most of Norse Art, and similarly Viking artwork, was skilfully carved in wood. In fact, woodworking was an important occupation and skill in Viking culture. Other materials utilized were metals, stones, ivory, bone, including textiles. We notice the Viking designs on many of their objects, including objects for burials and their seafaring ships. One of the more recent sculptures in Oslo is “ Roseslottet” (the Rose Castle), which opened in June 2020. It was built to mark the 75-year anniversary of Norway’s liberation from Nazi Germany and gets its name from The White Rose resistance group. The art installation consists of a circular wooden path, surrounded by paintings on either side, that spirals into the centre: from a bird’s-eye view, it looks like a rose. Folk music in Iceland has been used for centuries to tell stories, convey cultural traditions and express the unique character of the country and its people.