Artist & Restaurateur, Malmö

Hi Mimmi! Happy to have you with us! How are you today and what are you up to?
Thank you for having me; Means a lot!

Tell us a bit about yourself and your background – What do you do for a living and where are you based?
I grew up in a small fishers village in Kullaberg - Arild. Restlessness hit me quite early in life and I became very eager to leave Sweden and did so as soon as I possibly could. 

When I was 18 years old I moved to London and two years later I moved to Toronto. I stayed there for several years before heading back to Sweden.

I come from a family of artists and have always been encouraged to create art; both process driven and conceptual. It all started with photography, a medium I focused on for about 12 years. Eventually, painting seemed to me a more natural progression and I gave into that completely. 

I live and work in Malmö; I'm a person of many traits I'd say - A lot of things going on at all times. Besides being an artist I work in the Appeal court of Malmö and I am also one of the owners of aster which is a restaurant here in the city.

You lived in Canada for many years – what brought you there in the first place, and what do you miss the most about living there?
I moved there because I needed a big change in my life. There were a few things I had to get away from and I needed to grow on my own. I had the chance to make up new reasons for why I moved to Toronto when I finally got there, build my own, be my own. I absolutely loved it there - I found a job and went to school. Just lived life and did some growing up.

I sometimes still struggle with not being able to stay there in the end. I do go quite often and my friends come here a lot so I am very fortunate in that way; to have such fantastic people in my life that want to keep our friendships alive. What I miss the absolute most is definitely the people, and the food. And! Toronto autumn! It's my absolute favourite time of the year there. 

How would you describe your art to someone who hasn’t seen it?

Going to try and not sound too pretentious here, bare with me. 

So yeah, my paintings consist mainly of landscapes with focus on movement. My starting point is the visual impression which I then channel onto the canvas, constructing many layers.  With a sense of modernism I then cut excess detail out and emphasize the simple shapes and surfaces of the subject, so that it is first and foremost the peculiar, overall luminous effect of the landscape that would hit you as a viewer. I have an abstract but very straight-forward way of painting.

What inspires you? For work, and for life in general.

I find most of my inspiration from architecture, museums and different types of landscapes. What gets me going is usually a really good record and travelling, seeing new things and all that.

You’re the co-owner of aster, a restaurant that opened only a year ago but is already one of Malmö’s most popular spots. It’s definitely our favorite hang-out!

What’s something that has surprised you about running your own restaurant?

I love it when you're there! Truly.

I think what has surprised me the most is that every day is not like the other; it's an everchanging space. I don't know why I thought it would be a constant same, it's not like anything in life is, haha.

It's all about constantly growing and taking care of your mental health so you can try your best at doing good by the people around you. The people who work with me at aster make the place what it is and I'm very privileged to be working by their side.

What do you drink on a sunny summer day on the patio?
Amaro soda! That's definitely a good one.

And on a rainy autumn day inside at the bar?
A Martini I think? Maybe a Bamboo to cheer me up, I don't like rain very much.

You have a day off in Malmö – where do you:

1. Go for a walk with your dog

My dog hates going for walks so we would probably drive down to the beach and just watch him have a time running free. 

2. Go for a coffee

Seven eleven to be honest! Or anywhere I can find Zoegas. My favourite coffee bar is Kaffebaren på Möllan.

3. Go for drinks and dinner

Bouchon, Metro & Lyran! 

What place or country would you like to visit that you haven’t already been? Why?

I would love to go to Japan, I am a big fan of cocktails and I really want to see what they are doing and how they work over there. I also want to see all the art and old cemeteries *goth*.

What’s something you’re very excited about right now?
To read the pile of books that have accumulated next to my bed over the year. 

What song are you currently playing on repeat?
I'm seeing Nick Cave play Verona in three weeks so he's currently on repeat.

More of Mimmi

Instagram: @mimmi.montan

Mimmi’s art: Wall of Art

Restaurant aster: https://www.astermalmo.se/