Row, row, row your boat… gently down the fjord.
The first thing that strikes you about Norway’s fjords isn’t their size—though they are magnificent—but their silence. As our vessel glided through the mirror-still waters of Hellesylt, the only sounds were the gentle lapping of waves against ancient stone and the distant chorus of seabirds reverberating off the surrounding cliffs.
Recently, we had the privilege to embark on a voyage across the Northern Sea to Norway. Weaving in and out of fjords, gently merrily drifting down stream.. Oh life is but a dream.
The Fjords – shaped by the baptismal fire of when glaciers retreated at the end of the last Ice Age. This carved out deep, U-shaped valleys in coastal regions. Dramatic, striking, they echo with earthly power across the natural landscape. As the glaciers retreat, these valleys are flooded by the sea. Steep cliffs rising from deep, narrow inlets of water create natural cathedrals of stone and water.
It was during precious moments gently drifting down the fjord, we were inspired, not just by the Norway’s natural beauty but also how the local culture embraces it. Norwegian culture is deeply linked to the natural landscape. The “allemannsretten” or “everyman’s right” grants the general public the right to access and traverse uncultivated land, even if privately owned. Providing that you are more than 100m from the property, you can legally spend under 48 hours in anyone’s back garden without asking them. This right, dating back to old customs, was codified in the Outdoor Recreation Act of 1957. It allows for activities like hiking, skiing, and camping on uncultivated land, with the important stipulation that one must be respectful of nature and private property. Fishing is also permitted in saltwater (this includes fjords) for personal use and freshwater with the permission of the landowner and with relevant licences.
This ancient custom, now protected by law, reflects something profound about Norwegian values: the belief that nature belongs to everyone. Going back to Mother Nature- appreciating her beauty, reflecting on her lessons. Patience during the storms, resting when the sun shines too bright and gratitude for all things. Are all important lessons that could be found in shimmering beauty fjord’s reflection. The fjord teaches patience. They were carved slowly, deliberately, over millennia. In their stillness, we found what Norwegians call “å ha is i magen”—having ice in your stomach, meaning to be calm and collected. In our fast-paced world, this kind of tranquillity feels revolutionary.
Culturally, also Norway resonated with nomadic life and travel as reflected through the Sami who are the indigenous people whom reside across Northern Norway, Sweden Finland and the Kola Peninsula is Russia. Their culture is distinctive. From reindeer herding, traditional handicrafts (duodji), Gatki clothing and the Sami language- there is much that we can learn from their beautiful culture. Norway has the largest Sami population, estimated to be around 40,000, primarily in Finnmark county in Northern Norway. Constitutional safeguards help to protect the cultural autonomy of the Sami. In Norway have the Sami people have their own elected assembly, the Sámediggi, which acts as a consultative body for the Norwegian government. Indeed the relationship between the government and the Sami is on it’s way to achieve “å være midt i smørøyet” (to be in the middle of the butter eye, meaning to be in the best possible situation.
Art imitates life. Traditional Norwegian art imitates the specular beauty of the natural landscape. Rosemaling being a prominent and iconic style of folk art. It’s characterised by painted or wood-carved floral designs, often featuring stylised flowers, scrolls, and decorative flourishes, typically in vibrant, contrasting colours and impressionist swirling brushstrokes. Through our products at Scape, we hope to imitate life, life in its all its vibrancy, expressions and variation, similar to how Rosemaling art does.
The fjords reminded us that the most powerful designs, like the most beautiful landscapes, are those that honor both tradition and innovation, finding that sweet spot where dramatic meets serene, where ancient wisdom meets contemporary living.
Love Scape xxx