From painters capturing the colours of the golden hour, to composers creating spellbinding melodies that take you on a journey through a scenic landscape – many artists find their inspiration in nature. Some also choose to incorporate nature into their work. Scandi sculptors Anne Otterdal and Peder Istad are two such artists, and here we’ll get to know them better.

An explorer at heart

From skiing and kayaking, to climbing, sailing, and fishing – Peder vas very active throughout his childhood. This need to be outdoors and explore nature only grew stronger, leading to adventures most of us can only dream of.

“I’ve crossed Iceland on skis and paddled 2000 kilometres along the west coast of Greenland,” he says.

After he got his art degree, he’s worked on several projects including snow and ice. He’s even helped build an ice hotel in Northern Sweden! 

Venturing away from academia

Annes background is a little different than Peder, as she started her career as a teacher in the public sector. In her 40s, however, she decided it was time for a change.

“At this point, I was living in Sweden with Peder and our son, and I decided to say goodbye to my job as a teacher. Since then, I’ve worked for private and public art schools, and worked with Peder on some of his projects,” she explains.

Finding their elements

What Anne and Peder both have in common, is their fondness of nature. They both grew up in the north-western part of Norway, a region often referred to as Fjord Norway. This is where tall mountains tower above the fjords, and the water from melting glaciers give lakes a dreamy emerald green hue. Even though they’ve migrated to Sweden, they still live by the ocean.  And the rock formations they were surrounded by as children, are now part of their work.

“We mainly work in granite from local quarries, but we can also have elements of Norwegian rocks such as larvikite.”

As sculptors, the pair has crafted a variety of installations. Their focus is always to ensure that the project is integrated well with the surroundings, as well as the people experiencing it.

“We are currently working on a piece for a school in Gothenburg, a city that’s set out to become the world’s most beautiful city when it rains. Therefore, we’re creating a 215 cm tall raindrop in polished larvikite that will be placed in the school yard. The work will also include 15 small clouds made from light grey granite, floating between the trees. The students can then sit, play and lean into the work.”