I first visited the city briefly in winter, and then moved here the following summer. The contrast between the two seasons left a deep impression on me. In winter, the city felt dark and damp, and once night fell, the streets grew quiet with hardly anyone around. Yet, many things sparkled under countless lights.

By contrast, in summer the air was pleasantly cool and peaceful, but the city buzzed with life everywhere, from the seaside to the town center. Bathed in sunlight until almost midnight, the pastel tones of the buildings stood out even more beautifully, giving the whole place an elegant and warm atmosphere. Even the swans on the sea and the birch trees in the forest seemed to blend naturally into the city’s mood.

Artists’ excitement for art seems to flow like an unexpected melody, unconstrained by conventional frameworks here in Gothenburg. Rather than flashiness, delicacy, or craftsmanship, an experimental and gentle energy comes through. In this place, where diverse cultures intermingle, artists transcend nationality, genre, and medium to experiment and interact, exploring new and sustainable possibilities. Just by looking at the nearby HDK Graduate School exhibition, you can catch a glimpse of individuals, from music majors to architects and engineers, discovering their own unique language while preparing for their MFA exhibitions.

Last summer, I participated in an open studio event with local artists in western Gothenburg, which showed the deep interest people have in local art. Following a map of the participating studios, visitors explored the artists’ spaces, discussed their work, and experienced their creative environments. This special event draws many people every year. Gothenburg is home to numerous galleries, art markets, and biennials, as well as annual open studio events. This vibrant cultural scene offers artists a rich source of inspiration, encouraging them to keep developing their practice.

I am deeply influenced by my surroundings, and here the weather is often unpredictable, with light vanishing in an instant only to return again. This unstable climate, together with the quiet rhythm of the city, has made me more sensitive to pauses and flows, density and emptiness in my work. Although the city appears calm and composed on the surface, it is filled with an experimental and free-spirited energy within. That duality seeps into my practice, where forms and colors collide and hold tension on the canvas, exploring the coexistence of balance and imbalance. In the end, the transformations brought by this city have shaped me into a more flexible and multilayered artist.

Gothenburg may be likened to a pouring medium. When the medium is mixed, different colors flow together naturally, creating unexpected patterns. Like layers of paint cascading and overlapping, the city’s impressions shift with the changing seasons and light, gaining depth each time. Within this flow that is never fully controlled, elegant curves and resonant colors emerge, much like Gothenburg itself, a city that is both free-spirited and graceful.

Rather than going far, I try to find a fresh feeling close to home by changing the route or walking in the opposite direction, while keeping the same starting and ending points of my usual walks. Fortunately, the sea and the forest alone are enough to recharge me, and in Gothenburg it is easy to reach both almost anywhere in the city.

When I have a bit more time, I like to wander through places I love, such as Trädgårdsföreningen, Vasagatan, or Avenyn, where I gain energy from the beautiful buildings, the people around me, and even a cappuccino ice cream enjoyed along the way.

I am currently working on a large-scale piece that I envisioned a few months ago. Such works take a great deal of time and energy, yet they are also the most enjoyable for me to create. If everything goes according to plan, I’ll be attending the Handmade Market in Oslo this November. Until now, I have mainly focused on participating in art markets. Starting next year, however, I hope to create more diverse exhibition opportunities, including collaborations with galleries.

When I first arrived, my relationship with Gothenburg felt like the sharp boundary between light and shadow in the cold winter air. Now it has softened into the warm, gentle play of light and shadow on a summer’s day, merging so naturally that no separation remains. I no longer seek to draw boundaries between us. We move together within a single, breathing landscape. Over time, I imagine this relationship will deepen, with lines and colors layering upon one another, eventually blending as if into an abstract landscape, where everything comes together naturally in quiet harmony.