Curatorial profile

Wanås Konst’s artistic program reflects movements within contemporary art and issues that engage artists in society. At the same time, the program explores the unique opportunities that the interaction between Wanås’ natural environment and artistic practices offers. The program follows the rhythm of the seasons and is open to the public from spring through late autumn. The seasons impact how the artworks are experienced, and each year a program is created that relates to the collection and the temporary exhibitions. Art also inspires all of Wanås’ educational activities.

New Commission – In the summer, the focus is on new works in the sculpture park and temporary works in the halls. These works reflect Wanås Konst’s international profile.

Collection Highlights – The sculpture park as it stands today holds a unique and eclectic art history, with several groundbreaking works by now world-renowned artists. This history is highlighted and placed in a new context through Collection Highlights, where the re-exhibiting of key works—often after careful restoration—becomes an opportunity to explore their contemporary significance with a new audience through artist talks, film screenings, and seminars.

Art & Words Festival – Through art, music, performance, lectures, and nature walks, the festival explores literature and research on nature, climate, technology, and relationships with other species (“kinship”) that inspire today’s artists. The festival was initiated in 2023 with the theme “Mycocosm” about mushrooms and mycelium, and in 2024 the theme was “Jellyfish & Deep Dreams,” which explored an intuitive connection to the sea through the senses. Visitors are invited to observe, listen, and become more aware of the natural world.

LEARNING & STUDIO

Art also inspires all of the pedagogical offerings. The art program is based on the philosophy that everyone—regardless of background—should have the opportunity to experience contemporary art in an open and inviting environment. The studio, which was launched in 2022 in the main barn, consists of three flexible spaces and serves as home base for educational activities year-round, finding inspiration in the collection and specific artistic practices. There is always a creative drop-in workshop where visitors can create on their own. Summer camps and autumn holiday activities are often planned in collaboration with artists, giving visitors the chance to meet the artists and gain insight into their artistic processes. The studio is also used for conversations, temporary workshops, and exhibitions.

EXTERNAL ADVISORY GROUP – THE SPROUTING NETWORK

Artistic Director Milena Høgsberg initiated The Sprouting Network in 2022, consisting of Swedish and international curators and artists: Katja Aglert, Youmna Chlala, Sagal Farah, Megha Ralapati, Lea Porsager, and Filipa Ramos. The network functions as a think tank to strengthen curatorial thinking and enable new collaborations.

Inspiration is drawn from the concept of “lumbung,” developed by the curatorial team for Documenta 15. Lumbung, an Indonesian term meaning “rice barn,” serves as a metaphor for gathering and sharing resources with the ambition to create long-term sustainability, equality, and inclusion in collaborations.

WANÅS TODAY – THREE BUSINESSES

Wanås Konst produces, exhibits, and mediates art. The sculpture park, developed over nearly 40 years, is the core of the foundation’s work, with close to 80 permanent works spread across 40 hectares of beech forest and historic barns. Every year, artists from around the world are invited to create temporary works, of which one or more are added to the permanent collection. Wanås Konst operates in historic buildings and on land owned by the Wachtmeister family. Wanås is also home to Wanås Restaurant Hotel and Wanås Estate. Wanås Estate is a modern agricultural and forestry farm operated sustainably and organically in accordance with KRAV regulations. The estate produces milk, beef, feed, grains, and root vegetables. In addition Wanås Estate manages modern forestry, game management, rental housing, and produces sustainable energy.

Wanås Restaurant Hotel, which opened in 2017, is located in two cultural buildings from the 18th century and welcomes nature and art lovers from all over the world. The hotel’s eleven rooms are uniquely furnished with modern elegance in natural materials. The restaurant offers food where the ingredients play the main role and the menu is influenced by the location with game, berries, mushrooms and herbs from the forest and organic products from the farm. Wanås Restaurant Hotel was established by Kristina Wachtmeister.
www.wanasrh.se

History

Wanås is located in northeastern Skåne, near what was once the border between Sweden and Denmark. The history of the site dates back to the medieval period. Wanås is a combination of the words for “water” and “hill”—the earliest mention is Watnaas. When the first castle was built on the site, Skåne belonged to the Kingdom of Denmark[härav Vannås] [hence “Vannås”]. The Dano-Swedish War was fought in the surrounding area, and the famous Snapphane oak can still be seen in the park. Wanås Castle was burned down, and in 1556 the castle was rebuilt largely as it appears today. The castle, with its wings, is privately owned and has been home to the Wachtmeister family for several generations.

Wanås’ Environmental Efforts

Wanås, as a destination, has a clear focus on sustainability. Wanås Estate is one of Northern Europe’s largest organic farms and has been producing milk since the 18th century. In addition to KRAV-certified, climate-certified milk, the estate produces organic meat and engages in organic forestry. The forests are climate-certified, and the estate and sculpture park are part of the EU Wildlife Estates program. Wanås Estate is actively developing biodiversity on its grounds and has, among other things, recreated wetlands for new habitats.

Wanås Konst implements a green environmental policy that permeates both the exhibition activities and the operations of the shop and café, where environmentally friendly methods, local production, and recycling are prioritized. Since 2009, the foundation has been a member of the Swan Club for sustainable procurement and operations. Since 2023, Wanås Konst has participated in the Green Producers Club pilot project, which develops tools to measure and reduce the climate impact of the art industry.