Arctic

Recently, I was asked to comment on my impression of 'arctic design'. That was the only information I was given: no preamble, no context, just a solicitation for an immediate impression of what that term evokes.

This photo came to mind: stark, muted colours with almost unreal contrasting, neon shades. Strange and ethereal light and tones in a grey expanse.



Also textures, especially extremely contrasting textures. Pale blue ice against creamy sheepskin (or baby seal fur), for example. Hard, cold glass against the roughness of technical outerwear that scratches your face, with a zipper that pinches the soft part under your next, unless it is protected by cloud-soft fleecy stuff.

When I think arctic, or just about very cold places, I also think of the Swedish version of the movie, ‘Let the Right One In’. Not to say the arctic leads me to think of vampires, but there is a certain desolate feeling that the movie has that I imagine to be part of the far north.

In spite of the specific beauty of the cold and the north, I am happy to be inside with wool socks, tea and simmering soup during this, one of the coldest winters in local memory.