For thousands of years, the High Coast landscape has been shaped by nature, and many artists have found their home right here. Sigbritt Mann is one of them. In the village of Salsåker, she creates silver magic, inspired by the nature around her.
A winding dirt road, lined with lush trees, leads to Sigbritt Mann's artist's studio in Salsåker, an old village located between Ullånger and the Nordingrå peninsula. Here she lives in the middle of a kind of creative mecca; on her "street" alone live several other artists who, like her, have found the best place on earth. Sigbritt Mann and her husband Jens came here twenty years ago. They were just passing through, with a completely different goal.
We fell in love with the place, it's a magically creative environment," she says.
To make a long story short, the Mann couple found a house in Salsåker in 2002 that they initially used as a summer house. Ten years ago, they moved there full-time. On the hill, overlooking Ullångersfjärden, is today the couple's home, course farm, blacksmith shop and shop. Sigbritt Mann was born in Umeå, grew up in Stockholm and lived in Östersund for many years. She trained as a silversmith at Konstfack and has been working for about three decades now. Being part of eXpression Design has filled her art with new content.
I've been thinking for a long time about designing products that can be made by someone else. eXpression Design has given me a chance to actually do, and not just think," she says with a smile.
It has also been rewarding to receive and give feedback to others. Marketing is not my strong point, the project has been useful for me as I am not very good at talking about myself.
Most of the time she works alone, which is necessary for her in the creative process.
If the thought is not allowed to fly freely, I am easily inhibited.
Sigbritt Mann's "Lux Eterna" is a candle holder that can turn any ordinary bottle or container into a beautiful work of art.
I had many different ideas before the programme started. Ideas that are suitable for mass production and I don't want to do that myself. And I like working with light and interior design.
She made the origin of Lux Eterna in silver. It's unique, but because silver is an expensive material and the product takes a long time to make, it doesn't sell easily.
At the moment it is in iron but it will be turned in copper and brass as well.
As a silversmith, Sigbritt Mann designs and creates mainly jewellery but also larger objects in silver. Ideas come from nature - a frost flake or a dew cap can inspire a piece of jewellery.
In addition to her own creative work, she also offers courses. The weekend courses include accommodation in the couple's house, as well as food - in which case her husband Jens is responsible for the cooking. It's not hard to imagine that such a weekend will be something very special for the participants.
The studio is made for creativity, furnished in light, warm materials of wood and metal, and overlooking the valley.
It is a privilege to be able to control your own time. I'm an evening person and can stay late into the night sometimes. It really is a lifestyle job.
Written by Maria Persson.
