The noble art of picking raspberries

A conversation with Christina Hamrin is unpredictable. Difficult to navigate but exciting at the same time. You never know which paths it will take, let alone where they will lead. With a large portion of learning, she throws herself between topics and associates freely. It's challenging, sometimes even provocative, as if she wants to force a reaction and a position from you. She has strong opinions, but there is always an openness and a never-ending curiosity. Christina has just made her latest contribution to Vandalorum, donating all her shares in the real estate company that owns Vandalorum's buildings to the Vandalorum Museum Foundation. I will continue to visit Vandalorum, because that's where I get my energy and joy. 

Is there a tradition of seeing art as exclusive and telling a story, which is a barrier for people to embrace art? - Yes, it really has to do with belonging. When they talk about democratic art, I get really angry and wonder “what is that all about?” I mean, nobody has been sucking up to me to go to sporting events. No one is working to recruit me and get me involved in the sports movement. But culture is important according to politicians and so culture is supported, then people are reluctant to go to incomprehensible exhibitions with only lines or something else. Which they do not understand. Then they just feel stupid and not belonging. This sense of belonging is important, and so the environment and atmosphere at Vandalorum is very open and friendly, and what else can you say ... 

Inclusive? - Yes, inclusive. And people contribute to that. Employees, volunteers and visitors. It's an atmosphere that everyone is involved in, including the kitchen staff. I don't know how it works, but it's wonderful! 

What do you say to those who say “I don't understand art”? - “No, neither do I”, I say, “but I find it interesting”. And the more difficult it is and the more incomprehensible it is, the longer I sit and watch. 

Do you have to understand art? - No, but you have to be moved. What's wrong with me if I'm not moved by it? That's the first question. And then I can go and sit and look and look, until maybe I get into some little corner. 

And maybe sometimes it's just beautiful? - Absolutely, but that's subjective. And it's nice enough that it's beautiful, but then I'd rather go out into nature. But I can also be extremely moved by a picture that is perhaps a deep dive into a raspberry field. It's just a lot of lines and colors and a lot of black and dark holes. And then I come into the art and wonder, what is in those black holes? But it's me who makes that journey and I think: in those black holes there, the art of picking raspberries is not to pick those that grow on the surface, but it is to seek into the darkness. In the dark where it is warm and therefore the berries are bigger, juicier and sweeter. And it's delicious! 

It's a nice picture. - Yes, it's a nice picture. And then you can have the headline “The art of picking raspberries”. - I can tell you, it was when I was new at Jönköpings-Posten. When we had moved back and I had said “never again Jönköping”. But we moved there, for various reasons. Then an old man comes up to my little room and says that his name is Folke Eriksson and that “I've written something that I wonder if you might be interested in?” It was an article called “The Art of Picking Raspberries”, which is about that. To pick raspberries is to search in the dark rooms. 

It's an image you took with you that has shaped your view of art? - Yes, so I mean, if you look at pictures you can go in and see where you don't understand anything. Why have they done that? And then you change your perspective. Some people can't do that, because they are believers. Either political values - rings left-right, or God or not God. 

You must also have met many artists and other exciting people at Vandalorum. - I can take Per-Inge Björlo who has made the roundabout sculpture Direction. He did an exhibition, there was a press preview. I arrived too late, I often arrive too late, so Karin Lundh was there with a small group, I think Elna was there too. In this anteroom there were some sculptures, I remember they were plastic and one was a pink lump with a lot of bumps on it. And then I came - more me and I say “sorry, sorry I'm late”. And then a man comes walking towards me, and I realize that it's the artist. I say, “Were you beaten as a child?” I had never met him, knew nothing about him. He embraced me, he stands and the tears flow. Art can move you, even if you don't understand it. - Since then I have learned that he is the Munck of our time, it is anxiety all the time. So adding pure knowledge also enriches the experience of art.

What is so exciting about meeting artists? - One might ask: why have you done it this way? Take Lars Kleen, for example. His cities, and the houses and entrances. You went into a wall, into a house, without doors, windows, a closed room. It immediately symbolized for me this closed religious circle. And it doesn't have to be divinely religious, it's sects, political groups that know and can do everything. Closed rooms are full - constantly everywhere. Most people don't look for doors, but it looks like a house. You can train yourself to do that. The more you see, the more curious you can be. The fun thing about being a journalist is that when you are fundamentally curious, you are allowed to ask any stupid questions. 

And you've continued to do that? - Yes, I have continued with that! I feel good about it. I'm learning, after all. 

Do you find that you come into contact with a different way of thinking when you meet artists? - Absolutely, yes. It opens your eyes and ears. Not only that, the whole emotional life. Some have smells too, some have music. All the senses. Tactile. 

What was it that made Sven Lundh so unique? - Yes, that's a good question. He was patient and curious and generally crazy. An odd questioner. He questioned me. And I questioned him. 

You like both questioning and being questioned? - Yes, I do. And that makes me a constant Vingel-Petter. 

You were attracted to Vandalorum as an idea early on. The project had been quite shaky. What was it that made you want to go for it anyway? - The wreckers were up in Stockholm. I stand for the local newspaper philosophy, that this is the center, Stockholm is the periphery. We are local patriots, we want to work in the local community because that's where democracy is built. - I thought that the vandal exhibition that Pontus Hultén did at Knäppfabriken was fun and that there were interesting exhibitions at the Art Archive. When Jan Ove Forsell came in from the business world, things got a little more organized and it was getting closer to execution. 

Your mother died just a few months before Stig. Did Vandalorum enter a void when both your mother and Stig passed away? - Absolutely that there was a void. As long as Stig was around, I lived in an intellectual environment with constant conversations. Taking responsibility for companies, ideas. He worked for the university and research. - Vandalorum has meant everything. A continuing life. I think it's fun to live, because you get to see how it will go. How it will be, as Stig once said. To be involved and be able to contribute. Not just that I gave money to Vandalorum to build the houses, that is, I bought shares in the real estate company. - I have been co-opted to Vandalorum's board and it has been my survival since I became alone. I've gotten to go down to those board meetings where I listen and learn and have a lot of fun. It's a fantastic board. There are such personalities with different perspectives. These meetings are like high-level seminars. And we eat good food. 

Has it gotten you into trouble sometimes? - Absolutely, yes. Sometimes you have to step back, because we're not going any further. We've finished talking, so let's talk about something else. You can also do that on a personal level if you live in a marriage, that some things are not shared. 

Could it clash with Sven Lund, who was also questioning and not afraid to provoke? - Oh yes, but we returned to each other both he and I. To dare to question each other is to show respect for each other 

Did Vandalorum turn out as you had imagined? - I hadn't planned anything and it's not going to be finished. That's what I'm most afraid of. That it will be finished.