Eva
Brandt

Which place do you currently call home and where do you work on your projects?

I live and work on Bornholm, a rocky Danish island in The Baltic Sea. It is the only place in Denmark where you find such rocky nature. My house, built in 1875, lies in the old part of Rønne. In the garden behind the house, I have my old and new ceramics studio and a tiny shop, where I sell my work. The shop is open 2 days a week all year round. The studio is where I make all my ceramic work, from mixing the clay to the final firing. The location is 5 minutes from town centre and yet very quiet.

Do you have a favourite place in your area where you like to relax and linger?

I love this part of old town where I live, because it is quiet, beautiful and only 10 minutes walk from a wonderful sandy beach and a dry semiwild area covered with pine, broom and wild flowers, called Galløkken. Also there are the most interesting coloured cliff formations from early Jura along the beach. I often walk here, looking for inspiration.

My work is deeply influenced by the nature of the island, especially the southern coastline from Rønne to a place called Risegård. Along this stretch you can find a beautiful chalk cliff in the small old fishing town of Arnager, where my family summer house is also located. The town has a small harbour, connected to land by a 200 m long wooden bridge, and usually sandy beaches (depending on how the wind has blown through the year).

Along the coast around Sose and Risegård you can usually be on your own. I go to the coast by Risegård to see the beautiful natural clay slopes that are coloured in light blue and deep reddish brown. Also one can find the ‘hidden’ small waterfall falling over a little slate cliff, and in March-April the path up to the waterfall is flanked by deep blue anemones. In summer the water is almost gone.

The middle of Bornholm is covered by a large forest called Almindingen. This forest is another strong favourite when I want to go for a walk. There is something magical about Bornholm, a feeling of depth and life in the underground, and there are places in the forest where it is more evident, so it is a place to go with open senses. We have fairy stories told in old times about ‘de Underjordiske’, people living underground in stones and rocks. 10 years ago a Danish anthropologist got economic funding to write his pHd about these folklore stories, and this made head lines in magazines around the world, that the Danish state funded a troll hunter.

One of the small hikes I like goes past a small pond, Kohullet, and through Rævegænget, a moist magical green passage between cliffs and tall trees, leading to a beautiful forest lake with the Bornholm name Puggekullekær. Here, I love to sit and watch the dragonflies. There are so many other places and hikes to choose as well. Paradisbakkerne and Bastemosen are some of my favourite walks, too. There is a coast path around the whole island, probably around 120 km long. We have beautiful small coast towns with coloured traditional houses – some of them very touristy during summer.

Are there any urgent political issues or problems in your region?

Bornholm is a small community, placed by itself in The Baltic Sea, and we have similar economic problems as other ‘fringe areas’ in Denmark. Also, the average age of the population is quite high. There is a tradition that many young people leave the island to study and live in Copenhagen or cities that we call ‘ovre’ – special Bornholmian phrase, meaning somewhere in the rest of Denmark. Some return when they start a family, as it is a very safe place for children to grow up. The local municipal economy is also a cause of concern these years.

In your opinion, what has developed well in the last 5 years – and what has not?

The local arts and crafts community on Bornholm is alive and stronger than ever. The island has the highest number of arts and crafts people per square meter in Denmark. In 2017 Bornholm was awarded with the prestigeous title of World Craft Region, being the first place in Europe and the first island in the world to achieve this honour. We have a section of The Royal Danish Academy’s Design School in Nexø, offering an internationally oriented education in glass and ceramics. Each year we see graduates choosing to stay on the island to build up their new studios and benefit from the creative hub here. However, the local economy is not well at the moment.

Do you know a hidden gem when it comes to local manufacturers – whether it’s arts and crafts, sustainable products or food?

The museum Hjorths Factory in Rønne is a very interesting place to visit. You can see the very well preserved old ceramics factory, still in function as a living museum. Very good exhibitions and a museum shop selling what is produced in the factory. Grønbechs Gaard – Bornholms Center for Kunsthåndværk is another place to go to see and buy local art works. Always 7 different exhibitions to see. Foods Bornholm is a very good initiative, taken by 15 farmers, wanting to make reseach in and produce 100% plant-based protein crops, such as chick peas, lentils, amaranth, quinoa, Ingrid peas etc. Such initiative should be supported. There are so many that I could mention. You could check our Arts and Crafts Guide for the small art and crafts studios and shops. We also have lots of small businesses producing foods of some kind.

Is there anything particularly innovative in your region? Also in comparison to other places you have already visited?

The arts and crafts community is something special. Makers Island Bornholm is a collaboration between the arts and crafts people on the island, local museums, the local municipality and more. Craft weeks in september is one offspring of this cooperation. Bornholms Økojord is a local association established to invest in farm land for organic farming to support local food production, and to help young farmers that are getting started.

Do you have a secret restaurant tip that you would like to share with us?

Cafe Den Gamle Barber is just 1 minute away from my home. It is new and looks really good. Food, coffee, cocktails, lounge, wine…

Snurra in the pedestrian street in Rønne is a small bakery, everything homemade and organic, good sour dough bread.

The restaurant Christianshøjkroen is a beautiful old inn in the middle of the forest in Almindingen. You could go there to eat well, see the historical surroundings and take a walk in the forest.

Is there a local shop whose products are only available in your region?

I can mention my own shop, as I only sell my ceramic works from Bornholm, unless I have an exhibition elsewhere. Grønbechs Gaard – Bornholms Center for Kunsthåndværk in Hasle is open from spring to late fall and shows a wide variety of quality crafts. This is where you can see a yearly exhibition showing works from the members of the local professional arts and crafts association: ACAB. It is a good place to start before going out to visit other studios around the island. In Den bornholmske Gårdbutik you can find locally produced foods like high quality meat, apple juice, schnapps, wool products, sheepskin etc. Local food centre Gaarden at Melstedgård is the biggest special shop selling local foods and is located in connection with the open air museum. We also have good local beer, locally produced icecream, gin and organic flour that can be bought directly from the mill in Aakirkeby named Bornholms Valsemølle. On Saturday mornings, you can buy coffee roasted by Bean Buddy (They just became the new ‘Danish cup taster champion’), delicious pastries from Lucy’s Bakery (You have to order in advance) and gourmet vinegars made by Bornholms Eddikebryggeri in Møbelfabrikken in Nexø.

What are your 3 favourite apps that you use every day and couldn’t live without?

I use Gmail often. Instagram is very useful in my work. I also like YouTube, because you can be really nerdy and find the most incredible niche videos, explore specific topics, learn new skills, travel the world while sitting in the sofa.

Do you have any favourite newspapers or online magazines? And how do you keep up to date with politics or social and cultural issues?

I subscribe to the local newspaper Bornholms Tidende to know what is going on here and to have this knowledge as a basic common background. Another subscription is to an Australian magazine Ceramics: Art and Perception. Sometimes I buy magazines like Rum or other magazines about design and architecture. For world news, I listen to the Danish Radio, Danish Television, podcasts and YouTube.

Imagine you could be mayor for a year – what would you change?

Bornholm is – in spite of its small size – like a ‘power house’ built on old granite. It has character and deep roots. That is a good foundation. Now, I think we need a new vision for the island, that could point to new inspiring ways of green and sustainable living, and activate us to go in that direction.

One last question: If you could choose another place to live – regardless of financial or time constrains – which one would you choose?

I have visited and love so many places on this beautiful Earth. However, for me Bornholm is the perfect base and place to live. From here, I can travel and experience what I may be longing for.