Welcome and take a seat with me….
Years ago, while walking a dog, I suddenly pictured a pink bench in my mind, knowing that I would need it at some point in my life. At that time, I never imagined that my journey would lead me to the worldโs northernmost settlementโLongyearbyen on Svalbard. I was still living in the beautiful mountains of Austria, and in the back of my mind, I knew there was a remote island where people celebrate the return of the sun on March 8th after almost four months of darkness. They would sit on chairs in snowstorms, braving temperatures as low as minus 40ยฐC, waiting for the first rays of sunlight.
Years later, after an unplanned, unexpected and wild turn of events, I found myself living in exactly that place. It was never part of the plan, but it just happened. What I didnโt know when I arrived was that I needed that island to learn to fully hear my inner voice and find my inner peace again. Since I left Austria, I always carried with me a miniature version of a wooden pink bench. It was my peaceful place, my bubble, where I envisioned myself sitting, knowing that everything was as it should be.
I am aware that, through a series of coincidences, I had the unique chance to experience a part of the world that is still, in many ways, completely untouched by humans. At first, living without vegetation seemed impossible. However, being able to see and touch rocks that transport you back millions of years in time is overwhelmingโand beautiful. Over the years, I have collected thousands of pictures. Here, I would like to share just a glimpse of themโand what inspires me in my daily creativity process:
After years on that island, I finally decided to take the leap and turn my lifelong passion and secret dream into reality. Since I can remember, I have immersed myself in handcrafts in every form, but the one that connects me most with nature and our roots is clay. Feeling this material in my hands brings me back to my peaceful place, where I feel deeply connected to what is truly essential. Svalbard taught me how little we really need to live, how cluttered our lives are in modern civilization, and how we’ve lost focus on what truly matters.
My pink bench, which first appeared on that walk, is the place where I sit when I need to breathe, step out of the world for a moment, and reconnect with nature to listen and find inspiration.
Every piece is crafted with love and mindfulness, aiming to capture my memories and beautiful moments through different techniques.
I hope you’ll enjoy your break on my pink bench with me.
Kristina
Below you find some impressions from my time on this beautiful island – click on the pictures to enlarge them:
