Elisabeth Frieberg: Notes, Vihamanaafushi, Indian Ocean, 2023

SSE Professor Sara Rosengren, Head of the Center for Retailing, and artist Elisabeth Frieberg in June 2023.
Photo: Ulrika Campbell

The mural is based on color notes Frieberg made during a visit to Vihamanaafushi, one of the islands in the Maldives, in 2019. Installed in the premises of the Center for Retailing at SSE, the work highlights the importance of observation and note-taking as active forms of engagement with the world around us.

Note-taking is often associated with academic life, but the work also points to its role in artistic practice. Recording impressions and experiences can shape memory, reflection, and the development of new ideas. Research has shown that writing notes by hand can support active processing, memory, and learning.

The mural also references places vulnerable to climate change. The Maldives, one of the world’s lowest-lying nations, faces rising sea levels, ocean acidification affecting coral reefs, and increasing risks of extreme weather events. Through its visual language, the work invites reflection on environmental change and shared responsibility.

Elisabeth Frieberg can be described as a contemporary abstract landscape painter. Notes, Vihamanaafushi, Indian Ocean connects artistic observation with broader questions about nature, memory, and sustainability.

The mural, completed in 2023, spans nearly 150 square meters and is located in the premises of SSE’s three-year specialized business program in Retail Management at Saltmätargatan 13–17, connecting the ground floor with the basement level.