Cue From Nature | Faroe Islands Fashion, Food, and Art | Core Life

This North Atlantic archipelago's cosmopolitan capital, Torshavn, is surrounded by an exotic landscape that inspires creativity.

The Faroe Islands, a group of 18 islands and a self-governing country within the Kingdom of Denmark are nestled in the North Atlantic between Iceland, Scotland, and Norway. From the moment guests arrive at the airport on the island of Vágar, they are enthralled. The basalt cliffs and emerald-green slopes are completely silent. Sheep graze on the grassy plains that are vertically cut by dark stone threads produced by stream erosion. When you see a gauzy mist swirling over the mountains, hiding deep gorges, broad fjords, sporadic turf-roofed homes, and waterfalls, it's difficult to keep your eyes on the road.

The environment's magic is widespread in this remote country with its small population of approximately 54,400 people; this is possibly why the Faroe Islands also teem with human invention that draws inspiration from nature. It's also now simpler than ever to get there thanks to Atlantic Airways, which recently launched its first nonstop flights from the United States (departing from Stewart International Airport in New York, which is roughly 60 miles from Manhattan).

Think about the 14 miles of undersea tunnels that are currently accessible under the islands. The most recent route, which is just approximately seven miles long, connects Eysturoy, the second-largest island, with Tórshavn, the Faroe Islands' hippest capital. Its distinctive design includes a multicoloured lit pillar surrounded by a steel installation of people holding hands, created by the Faroese artist Tróndur Patursson, and is said to be the only underwater tunnel with a roundabout in the entire globe. Tune into 97.0 FM to enjoy the mesmerising soundscape created by musician Jens L. Thomsen, who claimed he "wanted to find the voice of the tunnel," to enhance the experience of travelling through the tunnel. By Christmas, a second undersea tunnel with art is expected to open.

The newest undersea tunnel in the Faroe Islands connects Tórshavn on the island of Streymoy with Eysturoy. The Faroese artist Tróndur Patursson's steel installation of couples holding hands surrounds a lighted pillar in what is reportedly the first undersea roundabout in history.

One of the tiniest capitals in the world, coastal Tórshavn, is a hub of creativity that embraces the modern while maintaining a link to the past. The historic district occupies a peninsula that projects into the bustling harbour and is made up of historic homes with turf roofs. You can find bustling coffee shops, wine bars, and fashion emporia by strolling the city's meandering lanes, narrow streets, and vast boulevards. Spend some time in Tórshavn and explore the city's cuisine, fashion, and art rather than merely using it as a launching point for island hopping.

For Food Lovers

The whimsical sibling restaurant to the two-Michelin-starred KOKS (temporarily relocated to Greenland, but returning to Streymoy in 2025) is ROKS (meaning "silly"). The area is housed in a two-story, turf-roofed building that dates to at least the 1600s and is decorated with funny artwork, such as pictures of an octopus holding glasses of red wine. Two tasting menus (595 and 895 Danish kroner, or about $87 and $130) that highlight the Faroese fish and shellfish wealth are part of the head chef Poul Andrias Ziska's seasonal offerings. A must-try dish, the razor clams are served raw with a vinaigrette and shallot sauce and garnished with yellow dandelion and white sweet cicely blooms.

A different kind of eatery is housed in a century-old structure across the rough, cobblestone alley. Raest, which means "fermented," honours this traditional Faroese method of food preservation with three cosy dining rooms decorated with images of previous Tórshavn residents from the late 1800s and early 1900s. The 14-course tasting menu (1,400 kroner) features traditional fermented cuisine with a Mexican twist, each dish created like a work of art by the chef, Sebastian Jiménez, who is originally from Atlixco, Mexico. For instance, a tortilla-shaped Faroese flatbread is served with pan-fried langoustine, pickled carrots, and pipián rojo, a mole-like sauce that Jiménez's mother frequently prepares.

Vingardurin (literally "wine garden"), where the Faroese art critic and reviewer Kinna Poulsen curates works by primarily Faroese artists, is a delight for oenophiles (and art enthusiasts). The relaxed atmosphere of this wine bar and gallery is perfect for enjoying European wines, munching on Iberian ham and manchego cheese and mingling with artists at the bimonthly exhibition openings, which take place in the cosy, candlelit space and, in nice weather, on the roomy backyard terrace. Co-owner Elsa Maria Holm Olsen chooses more than 200 different kinds of wine in the wine cellar and imports charcuterie, cockles, squid, and other foods from Spain, France, and Italy. The five-course tasting menu is served only once each night (Thursday through Saturday) and changes several times a year.

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For the Style-Conscious

In the Faroe Islands, fluffy sheep are commonplace, as are the big sweaters created from their heavy wool. However, two stores on Tórshavn's main retail street, Niels Finsens gta, confound expectations. One would scarcely expect a fisherman or farmer to wear the long, fashionable cardigans, sweaters, and vests on display at Ullvoruhusid ("wool wear house"), which costs 1,500 to 2,500 kroner. Sisal Kristiansen, a co-owner of the store, used primarily undyed Faroese wool to develop her Shisa Brand, focusing on the wool's natural hues of grey, brown, and white. Ms. Kristiansen has been knitting since she was a little girl, and most of the clothing she creates has side slits to flatter women's figures. It's not at all surprising that she is influenced by the foggy surroundings.

Cocktail and ankle-length dresses at Gudrun & Gudrun, owned by Gudrun Ludvig and Gudrun Rógvadóttir, have spaghetti straps, low backs, and occasionally a sheer texture. A variety of fabrics are used to create delicate sweaters, such as silk and alpaca sleeves, glittering mohair, and a patchwork of various coloured wools. A mohair wedding dress is even available on special order. Some of Ms. Ludvig's designs are made using traditional Faroese patterns that have been updated, such as the star that is frequently embroidered on seamen's sweaters. In addition to the Faroe Islands, she sources organic wool from all around the world. The clothing ($2,025 to $4,725) is primarily hand-knit in the Faroe Islands and by women's empowerment organisations that the proprietors founded in Jordan and Peru.

Jan Andersson, the proprietor of Steinprent, a lithography workshop, uses a printing technique that dates back to 1798.

For Art Enthusiasts

A lithography workshop called Steinprent (meaning "stone print") is located in a large, late-19th-century cannery building fronting the harbour. For the past two decades, it has collaborated with Faroese and Nordic artists, using a printing technique that dates back to 1798. You can observe a painter working on the distinctive beige-coloured marble and lithographers operating the printing presses in the second-floor area that receives plenty of sunlight. Don't be afraid to ask questions; Jan Andersson, the owner, or Mikkjal, his 22-year-old son, will be happy to show you around. There are over 2,000 authentic lithographs up for purchase (810 to 24,818 kroner). For shows ranging from graphic arts to mixed media, especially from the Faroe Islands and the Nordic nations, check out the ground-floor gallery.

The Hansina Iversen studio is housed in a shipyard building's ironworks shop, which is also along the harbour. The enormous, shadow-filled warehouse is filled with gears and other machinery. Despite this, Ms Iversen's workspace is flooded with light, and her abstract oils and lithographs (costing between 25,000 and 90,000 kroner) are displayed on the white walls. Making an appointment is important and worthwhile. Visitors are welcome to speak with the artist about her works of art and how the unpredictable weather in the Faroe Islands inspires her.

Additionally, you may view her paintings at the National Gallery of the Faroe Islands, which is tucked away on a grassy knoll inside the Plantation's trail-laced woodland (adult admission is 90 kroner). This black, turf-roofed, multi-gabled structure is reminiscent of a Faroese boat shelter from the outside. Sunlight permeates the contemporary interior, providing views of the nearby woods and the bronze sculptures by Hans Pauli Olsen that are on show outside. Samuel Joensen-Mikines, one of the most renowned artists from the Faroe Islands, created gloomy, melancholy seascapes in the 20th century, which are among the more than 200 pieces in the gallery's permanent collection that are arranged by genre (landscape, the ocean, wool, and knitting).

A lush knoll filled with intriguing sculptures, including a collection of steel sheep by Bernhard Lipsoe, is just a short uphill stroll away. Here, the Nordic House expresses unity through its design and diverse selection of goods. All of the Nordic nations, including Norway (granite flooring), Finland (birch furnishings), Iceland (roof construction), Denmark (glass and steel construction), Sweden (ash wood wall panels) and the Faroe Islands (grass roof), made contributions to this modernist building. Here, you may celebrate Faroese and Nordic theatre, music, dance, film, art, and literature. In the glass-walled amphitheatre, the house also presents a series of afternoon concerts every summer, primarily including classical and jazz music.

You may go from the great in terms of architecture to the small in a 20-minute stroll back to the city centre. The modest, by-appointment-only atelier of the ceramist Gudrid Poulsen is called Leirlist (literally, "clay art"). In her stoneware and porcelain plates, cups, and sculptures, Ms. Poulsen successfully evokes the Faroe Islands by experimenting with native ash, mud, sand, and volcanic basalt. Her most recent creations are 350–500 kroner chawan cups, which are rough yet delicate and create moving mementoes. She is also working on a sizable sculpture of women who died during delivery, which will make its debut in November on Eysturoy in a country where memorials to those who died at sea abound.

Getting Around

  

Taking a shared cab (approximately 243 kroner; reserve at auto. fo or taxi. fo) or renting a car (about 1,000 kroner per day, including basic insurance) are the simplest ways to get from Vágar Airport to Tórshavn. You may stroll around the city centre of Torshavn without a car. To go about the city centre and the rest of the municipality, you can also use a free bus. Be careful that driving in the Faroe Islands entails manoeuvring among sheep, who frequently cross your path, on winding, narrow roads. Fog can reduce visibility and winds can be rather stormy. When travelling through single-lane, dark tunnels on other islands, you may need to pull into a pull-in if another vehicle is coming.

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