The art of; Persuit
The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain children all our lives. - Albert Einstein
Dear readers
There’s something about the pursuit itself—the restless urge to create, refine, and push forward—not for applause, not for validation, but simply because it matters. Because we care. In art, where expression ranges from the raw and unfiltered to the meticulously composed, the idea of striving for perfection is complicated. Can art be perfect? Should it be?
For me, pursuit is its own kind of art form. It’s the thread that ties together ambition, curiosity, and an almost stubborn belief that most things are possible if you’re willing to chase them. It’s not just about the end result; it’s about the mindset, the dreaming, the commitment to doing the work.
This letter is a space for that conversation—the tension between striving and letting go, between mastery and instinct, between effort and ease. Because sometimes, the pursuit itself is the most beautiful part.
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THE ACTOR - Meryl Streep
This is not a formal profile—it’s my interpretation, shaped from watching Meryl Streep over the years, through documentaries, interviews, and the roles that have stayed with me. Like many of us, I’ve followed her through media and movies for decades. What’s always struck me is her ability to stay in movement: not chasing fame, but pursuing something quieter and harder to define—craft, depth, truth.
With a career spanning over 45 years, Streep has not only acted—she has shaped, challenged, and redefined what it means to pursue a life in art. Time and again, she has reinvented herself, not for reinvention’s sake, but to remain in motion: refining her skills, deepening her understanding, and building a body of work that resists both fame and fashion.
This quiet, committed pursuit of excellence is one reason she has remained relevant in an industry known for forgetting. But it’s also why she’s never been swallowed by it. She’s danced to her own rhythm, choosing roles not for ease or image, but for what they demand of her as an artist.
“I think that you find your own way. You have your own rules. You have your own understanding of yourself, and that’s what you’re going to count on. In the end, it’s what feels right to you. Not what your mother told you. Not what some actress told you. Not what anybody else told you but the still, small voice.”
That voice she speaks of—that instinct—is what she’s trusted, again and again. It’s what has guided her to choose roles that are challenging, complex, and rarely obvious.
“Put blinders on those things that conspire to hold you back—especially the ones in your own head.”
Streep has never pursued perfection or popularity. She’s pursued substance. A Yale-trained actor, she honed her craft not to appear convincing, but to be convincing. She’s played roles that require depth, contradiction, and full emotional presence. And she’s done it while being told, early in her career, that she wasn’t beautiful enough to succeed.
Her answer? Keep going. Choose brilliance over beauty. Show up.
“My advice: don’t waste so much time worrying about your skin or your weight. Develop what you do, what you put your hands on in the world.”
In a culture that prizes appearances and attention, she’s spent her life choosing something slower, and far more lasting. And that, to me, is the real pursuit.
Even now, as she enters her 70s, she continues to challenge assumptions—about women, age, art, and relevance. She hasn’t asked for permission to stay. She’s proven she belongs by doing the work, again and again.
“You have to embrace getting older. Life is precious, and when you’ve lost a lot of people, you realize each day is a gift.”
There’s something deeply comforting in her presence. It’s not just her talent—it’s her stamina. Her refusal to shrink. Her trust in the long game.
“I would like Martin Scorsese to be interested in a female character once in a while, but I don’t know if I’ll live that long.”
A joke, yes—but also a reminder that even with decades of success, she’s still hoping for more. Still pushing. Still pursuing something deeper. It’s not just about Meryl. It’s about what it means to stay in something, to care deeply, and to keep going even when it’s hard.
You can watch the documentary that inspired these thoughts here
THE SPRING SALON - Liljevalchs
With spring comes one of Stockholm's most cherished art events, the Spring Salon at Liljevalchs. From February 14 to April 27, immerse yourself in the vibrant and diverse collection of contemporary art, created by both emerging and established artists from across Sweden. The exhibition showcases everything from paintings and sculptures to photographs and digital art. This inspiring exhibition is a true highlight of the art season and a must-visit for art lovers this spring.
From this year's nearly four thousand applications, a total of 177 artists were accepted, with 282 works of art.
Among those who have passed the jury's eye of the needle, there is a wide age and geographical spread, from 18 to 78 years, from the southern Brösarp all the way up to Boden. Here, young artists coexist with those who have long had art in their lives. As in previous years, there is a great variety of materials and techniques in the works of art.
There is everything from classical painting, sculpture and drawing to innovative ceramics, video, photography, performance and spatial installations, not least in the form of textiles, which have been particularly prominent among this year's applicants.
Vårsalongen offers the chance to take part in a variety of impressions, captured both near and far from Stockholm. All created with artistic care and a curious eye.
Some of my favourite artists this year; Stina Siljing, Sten-Yngve Johansson, Elizabeth Kettley Cronfalk, Yemisi Wilson, Per-Erik Nilsson, Leo Dyhlén Dröge
BALLET - My own journey
I’ve always been drawn to the pursuit itself—the feeling of reaching, refining, and stretching past what feels comfortable. Not necessarily for mastery, but for the act of caring enough to try. A few years ago, I decided to pick up ballet. I had no illusions of becoming a dancer; it wasn’t about performance or aesthetics. It was about entering a space shaped by discipline—where classical piano scores fill the room, where movement is tied to numbers and breath, and where the pursuit of getting everything exactly right is a kind of devotion.
In ballet, you move in front of a mirror not to simply judge your looks, but to study the movement itself. To see the arc of an arm, the lift of a leg, the quiet correction of posture.
My coordination faltered, my muscles ached, and yet I kept going—not because I was good at it, but because it asked something of me.
The reward isn’t applause—it’s the moment your body starts understanding what your mind has been reaching for. It’s the quiet pride of being part of something rigorous and beautiful, where pursuit is the point.
There’s a certain humility in choosing an art form that’s classically elitist, unapologetically difficult, and so steeped in tradition that it refuses shortcuts. And yet, it’s deeply rewarding. Still, beginning was hard. Continuing was harder. But there are things that help. Things that make you dare. And others that help you stay, even when every part of you wants to quit.
What Made Me Dare
I didn’t care that I was a beginner or that I wasn’t graceful. I just wanted to feel my body learning.
Longing - I missed discipline. Structure. The presence of something exacting.
Environment - The smell of rosin, the hum of a studio, the shared effort of strangers.
What Helped Me Keep Going
I kept showing up, even when I didn’t feel like it. That helped more than I thought.
I focused on tiny things—pointing my foot a little better, remembering a count.
Ritual - the repetition of pliés, the sound of the same piece of music—comfort in the cycle.
PORTRAIT - Robert F. Kennedy
What does it take to chase justice—not as an abstract ideal, but as something living, urgent, and deeply felt?
The pursuit of justice is not a passive belief; it is an action, a force, something that must push forward against resistance. It requires a particular kind of person: one who is relentless, who can absorb the weight of history and yet still move.
I recently watched a documentary on Netflix called Bobby for President.
It left me unsettled—especially in today’s climate, when the Kennedy name is so entangled with the Trump administration and all the unthinkable, disheartening things unfolding there. I’ll leave that thread hanging for now. What stayed with me wasn’t the controversy, but how Bobby for President speaks to the idea of pursuit.
Robert F. Kennedy was not the obvious revolutionary. He was born into privilege, elevated by family ties, and handed power in ways that sparked accusations of nepotism. But what matters is not how someone enters the arena—it’s what they choose to do once inside. As Attorney General under his brother, JFK, RFK took on organized crime and segregationists, wielding the law like a weapon for those who had none. This was the first glimpse of his pursuit: not just of justice in a technical sense, but of something deeper—a politics that served the people, not itself.
After JFK’s assassination, the pursuit changed shape. It became raw, more personal. As a senator, RFK no longer simply enforced the law; he traveled to the poorest corners of America, listening, witnessing, absorbing the weight of suffering. His campaign for the presidency in 1968 was not just about winning—it was about proving that politics could still be a tool of hope, not just power. The stakes were enormous.
The pursuit of justice is never smooth. It asks too much of its seekers. It demands sacrifice—sometimes the ultimate one. RFK’s life was cut short in a moment of senseless violence, a cruel echo of his brother’s fate. But pursuit is not measured only in what is achieved; it is also measured in what it inspires. He never reached the presidency, but his vision—of politics as service, of power as responsibility—left a mark that outlived him.
So we return to the question: What does it take to pursiut justice? Maybe it takes contradiction—a privileged man who fights for the poor, a political insider who turns against the establishment, a man who knows the cost of pursuit and still chooses to run. Maybe it takes the kind of person who understands that the chase itself—the effort, the fire, the refusal to surrender—is its own form of victory.
If you watch it, I’d love to hear how it landed with you.
PLAYLIST - Pursuit
Morning light on stone steps. The hum of a city waking up. Songs for the ones who keep going—not out of pressure, but purpose. Warm brass, steady beats, and melodies that feel like focus. For working with your hands, with your heart, or both. Because pursuit isn’t about arriving—it’s about caring enough to try.
THE PURSUIT OF QUIET LUXURY- Reimagined
Today’s quiet luxury often whispers its presence with oversized silhouettes and minimalist designs. Brands like The Row epitomize this trend—even going so far as to offer plastic flip-flops for $500, a stark reminder that sometimes, in the pursuit of luxury, the emperor might indeed be without clothes. But true luxury, at its core, has always been about more than just restraint; it’s about the pursuit of something meaningful—whether that’s craftsmanship, intention, or a deep understanding of how clothing shapes presence.
Despite its quiet exterior, modern minimalism can sometimes feel disconnected from the nuanced art of dressing for the moment. Is luxury still a pursuit if it demands nothing from us? Or does the true art of elegance lie in the effort—the pursuit of refinement, of self-expression, of knowing when to whisper and when to speak?
In contrast, the fitted, well-made feminine look of past decades is making a compelling comeback. While I’m on the Kennedy note; Jackie Kennedy remains the ultimate icon of contextual refinement. Her wardrobe was a masterclass in dressing according to the occasion: big glasses, oversized pearls, and big buttons formed the foundation of her style. Think cocktail dresses that spoke of elegance, slim jackets cinched at the waist that accentuated her silhouette, and the iconic pillbox hat that completed every outfit.
In her era, each piece—from tailored ensembles to the perfect accessories—was chosen with precision, ensuring that every look was both stylish and appropriate for its moment, whether sailing in deck shoes with a casually draped scarf or attending the opera in silk and gloves.
Moreover, while today’s trend sometimes embraces a one-size-fits-all minimalist approach, there is a growing movement that appreciates the art of tailored design. This revival champions garments that not only exude refined elegance but also honor the demands of the day—a philosophy that places quality, fit, and contextuality at the forefront of luxury
WHISLIST - Spring Wardrobe
This wishlist invites you to explore a style that honors the legacy of past elegance while embracing the nuances of today’s lifestyle. For those looking to infuse their spring wardrobe with a touch of revived sophistication, here are some carefully curated must-haves:
Cocktail Dresses: Invest in a well-fitted dress that exude timeless elegance—perfect for special occasions or refined evening events.
Tailored Trenchcoats & Slim Jackets: Choose pieces that celebrate your silhouette with clean lines and quality fabrics. Look for designs that balance modern minimalism with classic structure.
Leopard skirt: A long pencil skirt or a narrow A-Line one is perfekt for work and after work.
Big Glasses & Pearls: Embrace iconic pieces that recall the sophistication of old money style like Lié Studio Olivia necklace.
Big Buttons: Whether featured on a blouse or as accents on a jacket, these details can add an element of bold refinement. I love this Toteme Classic cardigan.
Hats Capris and Chinos: A nod to the era of Jackie Kennedy, these hats offer an instant lift to any outfit.
Handcrafted Shoes: Whether opting for deck shoes for a day at sea or elegant flats for a city stroll, choose footwear that combines comfort with refined detailing.
DRINK - Soolong Sparkling Tea
Soolong Sparkling Tea is what happens when craftsmanship meets clarity. Made from carefully selected oolong leaves, this sparkling tea offers a crisp, lightly toasted character with floral and fruity undertones that unfold gently on the tongue. It’s refreshingly dry—not too sweet—and has just the right amount of effervescence to feel festive without ever being overwhelming. A great alternative to both alcohol and sugary sodas.
AFTERNOON TEA - in the support of childhood
Diplomat Collection is a proud partner of World Childhood Foundation, supporting their vital mission of preventing violence and sexual abuse against children.
To celebrate their successful 10-year partnership, they are proud to introduce an exclusive Afternoon Tea in support of the foundation at Hotel Diplomat.
The menu blends timeless favorites with innovative flavors, offering a special experience for a meaningful cause.
Renowned Afternoon Tea at Hotel Diplomat is back and more beautiful than ever. The new tea room in The Gallery on the mezzanine floor invites you to a lush garden, a world of fairy tales and artfully crafted experiences.
Thanks for reading, Best, Julia