Exhibition No.10 By Elin Johansson

This month we welcome Swedish born creative all rounder Elin Johansson to A Small Space. We love the story behind Elin's exhibition and we are over the moon to have her be a part of A Small Space journey. We were fortunate to catch up with Elin and have her tell us about her exhibition and her heart felt story.

My exhibition "Home is where my heart is" is my way of expressing the challenge of being torn between what is supposed to be home and what I feel in my heart is my true home.
I first moved to Melbourne when I was 21. The idea was to study in Melbourne for a year and then move back to my native Sweden. That didn't exactly happen. Instead I fell madly in love with Melbourne. After three years I had to move back to Sweden and it quite simply broke my heart. Since then, I've been back to Melbourne to live, twice, however significant occurrences back in Sweden have always taken me back, forcing me to leave the city I have fallen in love with. 
Each part of my exhibition at A Small Space represents my two homes and how they are connected. Being brought up in Sweden has of course influenced me and made me become who I am today. We will always be shaped by traditions, cultures and our families but I still feel that I've found my own way of interpreting these 'rules'. This is why I chose to knit a very traditional Swedish pattern but using very untraditional colours. The friendship bracelet component of the exhibition represents the connection between my Swedish background and my true home, Melbourne. Even though I don't live in Melbourne, it will always remain as my true home. 

It has been a true luxury having the opportunity to come to Melbourne as I've been able to start a new life, a life where I can be myself without having to think about what other people might believe is right or wrong. I've always had a restless soul, I've always wanted to explore new places, meet new people. I will never settle with something that's just ok, if I feel that something more exciting or better is waiting around the corner I will always find a way to explore it. Sometimes I get disappointed, sometimes it's even better than I could have expected. but I feel that if I don't follow my heart I will always have that feeling of 'what if?'

In December 2011 I moved back to Sweden and started my own business, Sunday Street Agencies. I have previously worked a lot with product development, design and manufacturing so I felt it was time to try to do it under my own name. Being a freelancer is a bit of a struggle but having the luxury to choose what to work on is a joy. Again, it's giving me the freedom to be me. 

When I was asked to contribute to A Small Space, I was really flattered but also a little frightened as I have never done anything like this before. It has been a long process and a lot of sleepless nights but finally it's done and I am so proud of it. 

I have always loved knitting and making things for my family and friends. It's my way of relaxing, allowing me to focus on the task at hand instead of thinking about the millions of other things I could potentially be doing.

So I guess I am always in search for something more but one thing is certain, I've found my true home, and that is where my heart is, in Melbourne. 

Elin's exhibition is currently showing at A Small Space until Tuesday, 5th February 2013.

To learn more about Elin's work visit   www.sundaystreetagencies.com