folklore
A couple of behind the scenes images from a story created in March 2021 for Elle Decoration on the theme Swedish Folklore
Published in September the same year both in Elle Decoration Sweden and in Elle Decoration Netherlands
When hearing the term Scandinavian style I have always come to think of the rich and colorful heritage as seen in the historic folklore houses that are usually found out in the Swedish countryside.
You know, the red painted wooden houses with white trimmings, the very epitome of Swedishness.
Behind the scenes from the shoot for Elle Deco at Skansen - the worlds oldest open air museum.
A very Swedish house, complete with red painted wooden facade and white trimmings.
My dear friend Jade who assisted during the shoot and photographer James Stokes
Back in the day, the wealthier farmers and land owners did not shy away from inviting painters to decorate their interiors from floor to ceiling. It actually seems like anyone who could afford some paint or happened to have a piece of wood and a knife sharp enough to carve, rolled up their sleeves and got creative.
Intricate shapes on everything from the simplest cutlery to the finest cabinet, patterns in vivid colors covering every surface available, indulging in decorating and thus elevating everyday items to pieces of art.
A total embrace of Horror Vacui + the more the merrier.
Scandinavian style, the original folklore version.
Featuring contemporary interior design and textiles.
Styling by me Dennis Valencia, photo by James Stokes, as seen published in Elle Decoration.
So, when I was asked to create an inspirational editorial interior story for Elle Decoration around the theme “Cottage Core” - but rather make it sinister - not cutesy. My mind instantly got to think of Swedish Folklore and the unsettling movie “Midsommar” by Ari Aster from 2019. If you haven’t seen it, now is the perfect time - just in time for the midsummer celebrations.
The ancient sagas about the trolls in the forests that looked like stones and would lure away anyone to disappear into the dark and never return. The goblins running around outside near the houses, one needed to always make sure to be nice to them by placing a plate of warm porridge with milk on the doorstep or else your house could suddenly catch fire. These and other creatures that sometimes could seem somewhat cute from afar, but upon closer inspection turned out to be quite… erratic, all served as inspiration.
Cold and damp inside in mid march 2021, while creating the set for the next image.
Looking for the right kind of tarot symbols.
I also imagined how harsh life must have been. Cold, dark and damp most of the year. Lives lived in sickness with death luring around every corner.
The rituals people must have comed up with to protect themselves from malice and from evil sorcery. I imagined cute folkloric houses in the height of summer with beautiful handcrafted and intricately painted interiors. Where once you have stepped inside, slowly start to notice unsettling details. Getting that uncomfortable creeping sensation that this place might actually be bewitched and inhabited by beings with unclear motifs.
A ritual of some kind going on
image styled by me Dennis Valencia, photo by James Stokes. Created for Elle Decoration
A circle of veggies by the bed, nothing strange going on here at all.
Image styled by me Dennis Valencia, photo by James Stokes. Created for Elle Decoration.
A throne for worship or sacrifice, who knows.
Styling by me Dennis Valencia, photo by James Stokes. Created for Elle Decoration
A glimpse of the props.
Sourced from several different shops, showrooms, galleries and artists ateliers around Stockholm.
One can never have enough props
Bewitched and/or enchanted.
Styling by me Dennis Valencia, photo by James Stokes. Created for Elle Decoration
Today the colours have faded.
What once was a bright-bang-in-the-face-red might nowadays appear as a peachy soft pink. The nearly fluorescent green hues of centuries past look more like soft greys and so on. Colour combos that look completely outrageous to our modern eyes. Not much in the interiors where left white or void of shapes back in the day.
Funny to think of how bold, vivid and full of colours Scandinavian interiors once used to be, once upon a time long ago.
To see all images and the editorial as seen published in Elle Decoration, click here.
Enjoy.
