A swell (Dyning) can be described as an aftermath—a lingering effect—or as a wave born far out at sea from a storm. This is how Jennifer Forsberg perceives clay: created long ago and transported through earth and water for temporary deposition in a location in our time. The material of the solid ground. That which existed long before humanity and will remain long after us. What traces does it carry with it; what does it take from us? In this exhibition, Jennifer fantasizes about these questions.

The word dyning (swell) has served as an opening into the work for Jennifer’s exhibition. The word can describe a movement—a wave—born far out at sea during a storm, which then travels far and long across the ocean as a witness to an event that has already ceased. A long, low wave on an otherwise still sea.

A swell can also symbolize deep, emotional, and long-lasting forces, often related to the subconscious, inner changes, and the hidden tensions that govern life. In dream interpretation, large waves and swells are associated with the feeling of being overwhelmed by life’s circumstances, where one feels powerless before something greater than oneself.

Clay is a material found beneath the ground at various depths. It can vary in appearance and geological origin. It travels in a slow movement through time; like the swell, clay carries testimony from the earth’s interior and unknown processes. Human history runs parallel to clay: it is a fundamental pillar of our existence. Through its properties, it can create soil, form building materials, and become objects. Clay, in some form, is a daily companion in almost every person’s life.

She enjoys contemplating the life of the planet after humanity has exited its history. A time when the ground—the clay—might carry traces of us, something that comes to light, cracks open, and reveals who we were, or perhaps were not. Perhaps long swells of clay roll by, mixed with evidence that we once existed.

Jennifer Forsberg

Jennifer Forsberg lives and works in Brösarp, Skåne, where she has maintained her workshop and studio since 2004. For three decades, she has explored and processed ceramic material and its expressive possibilities. Clay is the foundation of her visual language, which can be described as organic, undulating, and corporeal. An interest in textures is also a vital cornerstone. Within the clay, she finds narratives concerning human existence, conditions, and impact—and in a broader perspective, the story of clay after humanity.

Forsberg was educated at HDK-Valand at the University of Gothenburg, where she earned an MFA in Ceramic Art in 1998. During her studies, she also attended the Iceland University of the Arts in Reykjavik and the Archie Bray Foundation in Montana, USA. Her interest in networking and international contexts led to further residencies after graduation, including at the European Ceramic Work Centre (EKWC) in the Netherlands. Around the turn of the millennium, Forsberg was employed at the Guldagergaard International Ceramic Research Center in Skælskør, Denmark.

Jennifer Forsberg has exhibited both nationally and internationally, including in Norway, the Netherlands, Italy, Korea, and the USA. Her most significant solo exhibitions include Wanås Konst (2017), Tomelilla Konsthall (2021), and Halmstad Konsthall (2022).

Forsberg has completed a series of public commissions for schools, parks, and squares in Sweden, where the visual language of ceramic materials has been translated into concrete, mosaic, bronze, and aluminum.

Jennifer Forsberg has extensive pedagogical experience in the arts across various contexts. Between 2008 and 2017, she was the director of the two-year preparatory art program at the Österlen School of Art and Design in Simrishamn. She holds recurring assignments at HDK-Valand in Gothenburg, The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, and the Oslo National Academy of the Arts. Since 2023, she has been one of three members of the artist collective Tontouristen.

Craft Days

The Craft Days Biennial aims to highlight, strengthen, and increase the visibility of the contemporary craft field in the Västra Götaland region. The event premiered in 2021 and is organised by Konsthantverkscentrum in collaboration with Konstepidemin, the Swedish School of Textiles, Form & Folk, Not Quite, and the Röhsska Museum. Craft Days 2026 at Konstepidemin will take place on 8–10 May, with support from Västra Götalandsregionen, IASPIS, Statens Kulturråd, Form & Folk and ABF Göteborg.