Stina Deepened Her Jewellery Practice in Japan
Stina Eknert studies jewellery art at HDK-Valand – and followed her dream to Tokyo.
When Stina applied to the bachelor’s program in jewellery art, she had already been designing and making jewellery for many years. Her desire to take her practice further, develop as a jewellery designer, and deepen her artistic perspective led her to apply to HDK-Valand.
Three years later, she is about to begin her final year of the bachelor’s program. In her luggage she carries an exchange semester in Japan—something she never thought would actually happen.
– I wasn’t really keen on doing an exchange at first, partly because I have three children. But when I found out it was possible to go to Japan, I became interested. The fact that the semester was only three months long made it possible to make everything work. The children even came to visit, she says.
One of the highlights of the program
Japan had always been a dream destination. During the exchange, Stina had the opportunity to get closer to the culture, food, and way of life that had long been a source of inspiration.
– It’s such a luxury to really get to know a country over a longer period of time—something you can never achieve if you only visit as a tourist. Japan is an absolutely amazing country. The reception from the school was incredible; everyone around you was so caring and kind.
One particularly striking aspect was the pace of the education, which differed significantly from the way of working back home in Gothenburg.
– The pace at the school was very high. I was encouraged to produce quickly and a lot, and it was interesting to see that I could actually manage it. At HDK-Valand we place great value on the process, with plenty of time for reflection and discussion. In Japan, there was more focus on the practical work.
For Stina, the exchange became one of the highlights of her education. Her advice to others is short and to the point: just do it.
–If you have the opportunity to go, do it! It gave me so many new perspectives and incredible encounters that I would never have experienced otherwise. And remember to apply for lots of scholarships and plan well in advance.
