This series of 3 lectures will explore the distinctive artistic characters of three vibrant Nordic countries through their art, design, music and architecture. 

Sibelius and the Birth of Finland explores the crucial role played by the music of Sibelius in forging Finnish cultural identity prior to the country's independence in 1917.  As with so many Finnish artists, including the painters Eero Järnefelt  and Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Sibelius found inspiration in the ancient runes of the Kalevala, the national epic. Iconic works such as Finlandia will be discussed in the context of the emergence of a National Romantic style in Helsinki, and the architecture of Eliel Saarinen and Alvar Aalto. 

Born of the Landscape: Norwegian Arts from Stave Churches to Snøhetta From Viking-era stave churches to the music of Edvard Grieg, the Norwegian arts have always had a close relationship with nature. This lecture explores how Norway's dramatic geography has inspired the work of painters such as J. C. Dahl, Peder Balke and Edvard Munch, as well as the ultra-modern design of architectural practices such as Snøhetta, which designed the Oslo Opera House to look like an iceberg you can walk on.

From the Golden Age to Danish Modern Ranging from the 19th-century “Golden Age” to contemporary deconstructions of Royal Copenhagen porcelain, this lecture considers the nature of Danish artistic genius, and its relationship with Danish society.  The lecture provides an introduction to artists such as Eckersberg, Købke and Hammershøi, and an overview of the work and international impact of renowned 20th-century Danish designers and architects, including Arne Jacobsen, Hans Wegner and Jørn Utzon, the architect of the Sydney Opera House.