A Trip Through Lapland

Says Benazra about the trip: “I was born in the desert, in a small town in the southern part of Israel. I spent most of my life surrounded by bone dry air, rainless winters, unbearable heat waves, dust storms and scorching hot summer days. In a way, I think this might be the reason I am drawn to northern countries where in the past couple of years I had the opportunity to spend my summers.

Last year I visited magnificent Iceland, hiked the Laugavegurinn trail and toured the whole island with a rental car. This year, I looked for a different kind of landscape and perhaps more of a challenge so I hiked the northern section of Kungsleden, the famous King’s Trail in Swedish Lapland. I spent nine days immersed in Lapland’s ever-changing scenery, flora and fauna, disconnected from everything civilized – just me and Mother Earth. The spring was late to come this year so frozen streams and lakes, ice-covered mountain passes and slippery rocky terrain replaced the green valleys and paths. I had a bit of luck and for the most part, the weather was bright and sunny. The light reflected beautifully from the still frozen ground and I think my handy Olympus Mju-II captured it pretty well.

As a designer, I try to find the core aesthetics of each place I get to visit, and translate it into visual and design projects. Swedish Lapland definitely had an impact on me, I’m still going through all the pictures, sketches and memories I collected along the hike to find the elusive essence of this journey and place for my next project.”