Even though there is not a direct translation into English, the word “hygge” is used to describe the cozy, content, connected feelings often associated with the holiday season and to me, the sense of being home - wherever that may be.
My connection to the Danish concept of “hygge” (read more here) started when a Danish exchange student came to my high school during junior year. Learning about her culture led to my exciting discovery of my own Danish heritage! Combined with my enduring international friendship, my connection to Scandinavia ultimately inspired the decision to study abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark during the spring semester of 2015. I was able to return a second time in January 2024 and was comforted with warm tea, candle lit evenings, and snowy adventures with a treasured friend.
It’s true that you don’t have to travel thousands of miles to experience this - I have been extremely lucky and grateful that throughout my life, not only has my own family been “home” to me, but also countless friends family’s have warmly welcomed me, making me feel loved and at home the moment I step through their door. It’s these memories and relationships that inspired my painting of these cozy, Danish-inspired homes, where I imagine lots of inside jokes, nostalgic movie nights, and freshly baked cookies are shared on a snowy December night.
