Art above all

Many people choose the furniture first. Ditte Lauridsen starts with art, always art, then interior design. The passion that drives her is, above all, to find the most interesting contemporary art, and then to present it in ways that show how it can best be utilised in our homes.

Since 2018, Ditte Lauridsen has been art director at Nordiska Galleriet. There she has three floors of international modern design furniture and objects of the highest quality to match the art. Around 70 artworks are on display in the shop at any one time.

– Furniture, design and art have always gone hand in hand, says Ditte Lauridsen. It's actually strange that we haven't seen more art in similar, more furnished environments before. I don't know of anyone else who so clearly shows how interior design and art best complement each other as we do.

– Galleries show the artist's idea in the way the artist wants, Ditte continues. This can make it easier for the viewer to understand the artist's vision. But I am convinced that something else is awakened when you see the art in a furnished room. Walking into a design store filled with almost as many works of art as great furniture is not only inspiring, but also a unique opportunity to experience curated art. My hope is that customers will see both artists they recognise in a new context and have the chance to discover brand new favourites.

Ditte Lauridsen started her art career at Lars Bohman Gallery (now Bohman Knäpper) in 2007, one of Stockholm's leading galleries. By then moving from the established gallery world to Dusty Deco's vintage design stores, she took a first step towards putting art in new, furnished contexts and getting more people who are already interested in design and interior design to discover it. This is an ambition that she has reinforced with her assignment at Nordiska Galleriet. There, the art is rehung at least once a month, in addition to the solo exhibitions – five this autumn alone.

– It is an art in itself to find works that harmonise with the challenging furniture we have in the shop," smiles Ditte. As soon as a piece of furniture is replaced or a lamp is re-hung, I'm likely to do the same with the artworks to create the right balance. Finding all the art is a process that goes on almost around the clock.

– I visit galleries, fairs, museums, studios and private collectors all over the world to get inspiration, says Ditte. "What drives me is to experience that 'aha' feeling. When it happens, I get very excited about sharing the discovery.

What kind of art do you show at Nordiska Galleriet?

– A wide range of contemporary art. New as well as well-established artists, in all genres and price levels. So far the focus has been on Scandinavian art but in the future we will show more international art.

The art is borrowed from various galleries, which otherwise never lend to non-museums. Ditte chooses the original works she considers the best, but the galleries still represent the artists. Nordiska Galleriet becomes an extra shop window and you can buy the works directly from the shop. In addition, you can buy editions, numbered editions, which are also sold on the Nordiska Galleriet website.

Hang on, hang right

Ditte Lauridsen on how best to hang art at home

• Decide what kind of environment and atmosphere you want in each room. Follow the feel of the furniture and decor.

• Hang the works from the same centre point, 148 centimetres is usually a good starting point for balance. In homes it can be difficult to stick to this but try to find a centre point that works for you.

• Avoid the 148cm rule when there is space. Do a Russian hang, which means hanging from the corners of the room and starting at the ceiling.

• Rules are made to be broken. Avoid the first rule here and choose your artwork first and decorate accordingly. It can take an unexpected and liberating turn!

• Homes become more dynamic with art in different techniques. Mix painting, photography, sculpture, drawing and video. And size matters. A tiny Yayoi Kusama painting can be much more interesting than a large one.

• Don't forget spaces like the toilet, hallway and stairs. A small Juri Markkula piece has the ability to transform any difficult space.

Written by Eva Magnuszewska. Photo by Erik Olsson.