MUNTHE ART MONDAY: CAISA LEIFSDOTTER

Instagram: @caialeifsdotter
Website: www.caialeifsdotter.com
Swedish Designer/Artist

Introduce yourself and tell us about what you do.

My name is Caisa. I am a Swedish artist, but I live in Copenhagen with my Danish husband and our kids. I work as an interior designer, but I also do art pieces. I prefer that what I do are not categorized as either one thing or another.

Can you tell us more about how being a woman has affected your career?

In general, I do not think about my sex in relation to my career but as I get older and look back upon my career, I cannot help but notice how my sex has both given me certain advantages as well as having forced me to work even harder. I find it liberating to approach my forties and that neither myself nor my female colleagues are so ‘pushy’. And I am no longer afraid to be looked upon as ‘that naive young girl’. Over time, I have become better at not spending too much energy on what other people might think of me.

Are there other female artists who inspire you?

My grandmom Britta was my first role model. She was a visual artist and painted porcelain, and she was very disciplined in her work. I am not. These days, I find someone like Kelly Wearstler fascinating. I like that she does not care about the Law of Jante. I also like women who are not afraid of taking up a lot of space. I am also very inspired and impressed by my creative friends, such as Luise Haugen who makes the most beautiful art and who is not afraid of chasing her dreams. I know how hard it can be to do so and that it is even harder once you have children and can be tempted to offer them the comfort that comes with having a normal job.

What has been the most challenging by being a female artist?

The lack of financial stability in my life after I had children in young age, and even before my career had actually begun. Although there has always been a father to my kids, it has been very important to me that I contribute financially. Of course, male artists also experience the pressure of having an unstable income, but as a woman there is often the risk that your career gets off to a slower start once you have children with all that entails with regard to a lower income and less set aside for pension. Such things have been a source of stress to me. Over the years, I have learned not to let it affect my life too much. I have also become better at setting high goals for myself and my career. As well as accepting that it is okay to fail sometimes. As lot of the women, I know set unreasonably high goals.

What would you like that people get out of your work?

If I am lucky, my work will make people think as well as create emotions with the spectator. I like objects that change form depending on the light and the perceptions of the spectator. 

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