Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Scandinavian Culture – Sweden
Left: With a staff gardener and florists working in the lush gardens in the Stockholm archipelago, Waldemarsudde is a holistic experience for all the senses. Right: Joan Miró, The first spark of the day ll, 1966. Fundacíó Joan Miró, Barcelona. Photo: Successió Miró, 2017.
A holistic experience for all the senses Between lush greenery and the waters of the Stockholm archipelago, a stronghold for culture presents world-class art, architecturally admirable reception rooms, rare flora and a fascinating past. All thanks to a passionate prince. By Linnea Dunne |
Photos: Lars Edelholm
“Our breadth is our strength,” says Karin Sidén, museum director at Prins Eugen’s Waldemarsudde. “Our programme is rich and varied, with exhibitions including some of the western world’s most renowned pieces of art, as well as a constant stream of big and exciting Swedish and Scandinavian names. But then the environment is also just fabulous – we have concerts and children’s activities, and the feeling of enjoying a cup of coffee outside the café croft is beyond compare. The experience exists thanks to Prince Eugen, son of King Oscar II and Queen Sofia, who wrote in his will in 1947 that his buildings, art and green areas were to be not only preserved, but made accessible. “He described his vision in such an open and generous way. He didn’t want for this to be a mausoleum over his dead body but a vivid, lively environment that changes with the times,” Sidén explains and describes a Prince who was not just 56 | Issue 98 | March 2017
a respected cultural figure but eventually also one of Sweden’s most important landscape painters around the turn of the century. He went on to buy an impressive amount of art, not least to support struggling artists, and was heavily involved when architect Ferdinand Boberg designed both the 1905 castle and the 1913 gallery of his beloved Waldemarsudde.
Alongside regular exhibitions of renowned Swedish artists such as Carl Larsson, Hanna Pauli and indeed Prins Eugen himself, one of this year’s highlights is the extensive Joan Miró – The Poetry of Everyday Life, which runs until 4 June. “He is one of the world’s giants and it’s been 20 years since you could see an extensive exhibition of his work in Sweden, so this feels big,” says Sidén.
Giants from Sweden and beyond Today, Prince Eugen’s Waldemarsudde is a much-loved and award-winning museum and destination that was named the Stockholm inhabitants’ favourite museum last year. “Waldemarsudde is a holistic experience for all the senses. There’s the beauty of the art and gardens, the smells and the sound of the water and the birds…” the museum director enthuses. “We employ a gardener and a florist to look after the parks and decorate the museum using flowers we’ve grown here, including some very rare species.”
Museum director Karin Sidén.
For more information, please visit: www.waldemarsudde.se