Bente Sonne og Ulla SonneThe Artists’ Isle
Art and craft-art of high calibre, beautiful and gentle scenery, reciprocal dynamics and mutual inspiration. These are just some of the values that Ulla Sonne, a ceramist, and her sister Bente Sonne, a glassmaker, highlight about Fyn.
The ceramist
Ulla Sonne, Keramiker
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“At least, that’s my impression, as a newcomer,” Ulla Sonne concludes. Ulla is renowned across Denmark as a ceramist, with more than 20 years of experience and recognition. She moved to Svendborg in 2006 with her husband, who works freelance in the field of graphics, images and sound. In the shop and workshop in the narrow lanes by the harbour, she creates ceramics in the Nordic style with clever detailing, fine glazes and colours.
“We started afresh here in Svendborg, far from all the hustle and bustle of Copenhagen, our big house and a myriad of obligations. And it’s marvellous. The relaxed feeling is palpable. There’s time and space for peaceful reflection, which is an essential ingredient for creating something new and maintaining high standards,” Ulla comments.
The glassmaker
Bente Sonne, Glasmager
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“Perhaps not for the first time, Fyn has become a good place for craft-art, because there has recently been a really positive, energetic focus on the many local people who are very good at it, in fact,” she adds. Things were different when she moved to Fyn 15 years ago.
“I’ve always lived rather like the proverbial ‘artist suffering in his garret’ – working for nothing and moving to find work because otherwise I didn’t have anything to live on. We also had to relinquish our initial vision from back in the 1990s as we discovered we couldn’t make a living from glass as we had expected… those were tough years. But things have picked up a bit in recent years and a whole new sense of creativity has opened up. It’s wonderful to experience this at a personal level, and it’s also lovely to find that people are really taking an interest in fine craft-art again. This is something new and, naturally, it promotes a positive spirit and development,” Bente Sonne says.
Inspiration in tranquility
It is fun for the two sisters to end up living practically next door to each other after growing up in Copenhagen, where, in their early teens, they both realised they wanted to be craft-artists specialising in glass and ceramics respectively. They have both followed the maxim of ‘where there’s a will, there’s a way’ – because there has never been much money in craft-art.“So it’s important to really love what you do. During tough patches, this is what keeps you going, but it’s also a very real fear: what if you just have to give up because you can’t make a living at it?” Bente Sonne says. Ulla Sonne agrees.
“During some periods, I’ve delivered big consignments to major customers, and it gives a sense of security that can otherwise be a bit difficult to gain as a craft-artist with a fluctuating income. But since we relocated here, I’ve found lots of inspiration – and that comes from the peace and quiet, I reckon. There’s time to sort out your thoughts,” she says.
It is difficult to pin down exactly what it is that’s so good for creativity – the silence, the idyllic landscapes all around or something altogether different. At all events, the fact is: plenty of good artists and craft-artists live on Fyn and the surrounding islands.[size=1]
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Coming out of the woodwork
“We just need to be bolder about coming out of the woodwork; we need to promote our image more strongly when it comes to the local area, high quality and unique items. That produces a ripple effect. Word gets around that we produce good items and that attracts others who are doing the same when good craft-artists are already living there. We have a lot to offer,” says Ulla, who nevertheless still describes herself as a ‘tourist busy discovering everything’.Both sisters are famous right across Denmark for their skill and both have successful businesses. Thus, it seems all their dreams must have come true – from poor craft-art worker to well-established, respected craft-art worker.
“It’s true; I do feel I’ve reached the dream chapter of life: I live in a beautiful place, I love my work and virtually for the first time in my career, I don’t have financial worries. But that makes it even more exciting to work and to give free rein to the ideas and the inspiration,” Ulla comments. Her sister Bente agrees.
“On the other hand, you should never completely rest on your laurels – it gets boring. We are both passionate about what we do and we’re constantly developing ourselves. Right now it’s really exciting keeping up with all the new things that are happening on the craft-art front.”
Bente Sonne
Trained at Gudhjem Glashytte; since 1993, owner of Glasblæseriet, Salig Simons Gård, DK-5700 Svendborg. She creates unique objects and utility items such as glasses, vases and bowls. For more information, seewww.glasblaeseriet.dk
Ulla Sonne
Trained at The Danish School of Art and Design, now Danmarks Designskole. She has a shop and workshop on St. Peders Stræde 7, DK-5700 Svendborg, and here she sells utility items as well as unique creations. For more information, seewww.ullasonne.dk
