Joanna Lumley In the Land of the Northern Lights (8 of 21)

Joanna Lumley In the Land of the Northern Lights

"I can't bear being judged on things like this.
They're only for fun and if it pleases you, which it might not, try to make it please you.
Try to do things that please you.
And if it's not good enough, get better.
This isn't going to be exhibited anywhere.
Except on the television! 'If there is one image and one word synonymous with Norway it is fjord.
'Otto whisks me away into a world of romance.
'Fjords like these are so quintessentially picturesque 'that they've come to define our romantic vision of the north - 'sublime, savage and quite overpowering.
'These mountains are quite wonderful.

They look like fairy story mountains, don't they?
As though they'd have trolls in them.
Many fairy tales are connected to them.
Giants.
And many trolls.
And there, you see, the top there.
That was a beautiful lady.
It 's quite cold out here.
'In the 19th century, this type of scenery inspired writers, 'artists and composers like Grieg to write down folk tunes and fairy tales 'and paint the landscape.
'In doing so, they helped forge a national identity for Norway, 'and an image of the north that struck a chord with people like me, 'a seven-year-old with my story books in tropical Malaysia.
'Artists today remain inspired by the Lofoten Islands.
'I'm off to visit the studio of one of them, Thor Essissen.
'How do you do? How lovely to meet you.
Welcome to my gallery.
It 's fantastic! It's my life.
I have all things here.
Yes, you do.
You do.
This is one of the most beautiful parts of the world I have ever been.
Isn't it? Here.
All I can say, yes! I am so lucky.
You're a lucky man, a good man.
'Thor's every bit the modern artist, 'assembling his art from anything and everything.