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ÅBEN is a leading collective of emerging nordic designers and a platform for sustainable design. Meet our designers, discover our products and explore our journals here.
The Åben journal
ISSUE 008 — the Australia issue — sees artists and designers always searching, always pushing, always finding new ways to define their craft and identities on land that has always belonged to the Indigenous communities.
Yaliwunga is the Gamilaroi/Kamilaroi word for ‘always’, and was selected by interviewee Reko Rennie as the title of this issue. It captures the consistently awe-inspiring character of the country’s natural landscape and the ever-present inquiry into culture that feeds the talents of those featured.
With its wide dry middle, bright coloured skies, towering ancient trees and crisp ocean zing, Australia presents countless pockets of natural wonder spread across its expansive land. Within that wonder sits intrigue, pain, confusion, celebration and joy the rich stories of people whose origins place them near and far from the land they call home.
This environment has spawned the vividly creative pursuits of the seven artists and designers featured in this issue, their stories told through the words of Olivia Sholler.
Erik Olovsson – Designer in residence
Born in the historic city of Uppsala in Sweden, Erik's studies to date include fine art & photography, graphic design, and an MA from Konstfack in ‘storytelling’.