Square peg Frankfurt

This is a guest post by Angela Onikepe.

So let’s talk about beauty. What is it? Straight lines? Symmetry? Perfectly round circles? Something that matches the societal standard of beauty?

I think beauty is more a case of square pegs. The fact that square pegs never fit into round holes (as the saying goes) or any other shape for that matter, is what makes them beautiful. Square pegs give us the image of messiness, disorder and chaos but that’s the fun of it. The same can be said for life and what is all around us.

Take the city of Frankfurt for instance. It’s the financial capital of Germany and although it is quite well known, it does not necessarily get the same courtesy as some of its sister cities. Berlin is always described as “dynamic”, “cosmopolitan” and “exciting”. Munich gets even better treatment since it’s known as being the most “beautiful” and “green” German city. Dresden is known as the “Florence at the Elbe.” How can you beat being Florence?

Call me superficial but the term “financial center” does not exactly make you daydream or think of a city with personality. It certainly does not make you want to go and immediately buy a ticket to see what it’s all about. Being known as the “financial center” does not elicit thoughts of idyllic settings and relaxation (okay, maybe some of you are more imaginative than I am).

Even so, on a recent visit, I found Frankfurt to be full of square pegs; I had the sensation of slowly unwrapping a present with each peek getting better and better. It was an explosion and fusion of shapes; all sorts of mixtures of lines, patterns and styles that made me positively giddy. Circles mashed in with squares and squiggly lines; spirals twirling around with straight lines and odd-shaped holes. The combination of the old and the new, which to some might seem messy (read → ugly), was seamless.

Frankfurt 1

Downtown Frankfurt, the Nextower building.

Frankfurt 2

The Römerberg is the centre of the Altstadt (the old town).

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Love padlocks. Couples come to the Eiserner Steg Bridge to profess their everlasting love by fastening locks with their names onto the bridge.

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Downtown Frankfurt.

There was a whimsical feeling to the city, almost as if it was reminding me of what it means to be human – a disastrous but yet fascinating mix of all kinds of things. Now, that’s my kind of beauty in an idyllic setting, a place that reminds me not to take myself too seriously; there’s nothing more beautiful or freeing than that.

*Folks, thanks for coming along with me on the ride; I would also like to thank head-honcho Talkers, Isaac and Robin, for allowing me to play in their world. That’s beautiful too.*

The wild ceramic wonderworld of Lotte Glob

I drive the desolate north coast of Scotland. The first hint that the single-track road around Loch Eriboll is taking me to an intriguing destination is the sight of Lotte Glob’s house.

Lotte Glob 1

I park and, buffeted by the wind, walk through a pair of fantasy wrought-iron gates adorned with blue ceramics. I then realise that the impressive structure viewed from the road is only Lotte’s personal sanctuary in a wild ceramic wonderworld that comprises her studio and the fourteen acres of hillside dedicated to her mesmerising beautiful stuff.

Lotte Glob 2

Lotte Glob 3

Lotte Glob is an internationally acclaimed ceramacist. She does not care whether she is perceived as living at the end of the world. Her world is about the beginning of things. It is a tribute to the molten source of the granites, gneisses and schists upon which she has chosen to live and work. Earth, rocks and fire are, unsurprisingly, her media and her inspiration. Using temperatures of over 1300 degrees C she fuses clay and rock. I run my hand over one of her famous rock books. The Big Book? Genesis? I expect to feel heat from the pages.

Lotte Glob 4

Lotte Glob 5

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Lotte manages to couple a beginning-of-the-world feel with a wild imagination. In her wonderworld, there are ceramic surprises everywhere. I find pouting bipeds on a hilltop. Hidden in the undergrowth are goblin-like wee beasties a-singing. (Their song amuses them greatly!) Lapiz blues and vibrant torquoises startle at every turn.

Lotte Glob 7

Her creative process also involves leaving something to this geologically ancient environment. Behind her stylish studio is a small pond in which ceramic spheroids bob against each other with a gratifying chinking noise. These belong to Lotte’s “floating rocks” project. She has left 333 such “rocks” in 111 small remote lochans in the area. She doesn’t know what happens to them. It is her way of giving back to this rugged, rocky place.

Lotte Glob 8

Writing for Talking Beautiful Stuff gives me the privilege of meeting extraordinary creative people. As always, the “Who?” behind this beautiful stuff is fascinating? Lotte Glob is Danish. She has spent a large part of her adult life in Scotland single-mindedly pursuing her passion. Her handshake tells a story of the outdoors and a hard manual dexterity. “From the age of eight, I was always in the forests collecting things likes animal skulls, twigs, stones and feathers and arranging them into neat little piles” she tells me. “Pottery was the only thing I was good at in school! Now, when I work, I forget I exist.” She admits to other inspirations: Bach, The Little Prince and walking.

Whilst accolades for her ceramics bring a passing flicker of satisfaction, her steely blue eyes beam the calm of someone whose work and existence are in total harmony. She can afford to be and is generous with her time, with her space and with her thoughts.

In case you are wondering, Lotte also makes plates. They too are beautiful.

Lotte Glob 9

O frabjous day!

Lunds Studentkårs Karneval 1954

I love flea markets. The process of discovering, desiring and acquiring speaks to me. So does the idea of recycling old stuff. The other day, I strolled around our local “marché aux puces” here in Geneva. This is what I brought back home in exchange for 20 francs:

Lunds Studentkårs Karneval 1954

The print measures 25 x 35 centimeters. It includes both textual and graphic elements. The centaur, wearing a student cap, looks happy. Like many students approaching the light in the end of the tunnel, he probably had a few (well deserved) drinks.

Lunds Studentkårs Karneval is a student carnival taking place in Lund (Sweden) every fourth year. Dating back to 1849, each carnival has a different theme, featuring shows, food and drinks. This is the original poster of 1954 carnival. Feel the tide of history!

Hasse Alfredsson The print is signed “Alfred Lutter.” Google tells me this is actually an anagram of Hans “Hasse” Alfredsson and Carlgösta “Lutter” Wistrand, both studying at University of Lund 1954. The former (pictured to the right) is today a legendary Swedish actor, director, writer and comedian.

So, one may wonder how the heck an original print of 1954 carnival can end up at a flea market in Geneva? I guess a former exchange student (perhaps a friend of Hasse and Lutter) emptied the attic and accidentally tossed this beautiful stuff in a box labeled “Salvation Army.”

The print is now framed, hanging on a wall in my home here in Geneva. It reminds me of my Swedish roots, as well as of the excitement, anxiety, joy and pain of being a student. And how I love the work of Hasse Alfredsson. This is absolutely priceless.