MUMA Mural paintings on Orust - stories about women

Writer: Helena Bergström

MUMA Muralmålningar (Mural Modern Art) is an art project that empowers rural women in eastern Orust. Using murals on barn walls, their stories are told. So delicious! We made a round and checked out the artworks.

MUMA Mural paintings on Orust

MUMA Murals is an art project that explores the personal heritage of Orust. The project started in 2017 and has resulted in six (soon to be seven!) murals on barn walls around the island.

The project highlights the hidden and forgotten heritage and brings the personal stories to life. It is the women's stories that are told - and they are portrayed by contemporary female artists.

A tour to explore the MUMA Murals.

We really liked the idea and went on an art tour, with our campervan, to check out all the MUMA Murals. Here you can see photos of the artworks and a short presentation of the women portrayed. On site at the murals there are longer descriptions, both of the women and the artists.

Map of the MUMA Murals on Orust

1. scale, Myckelby

• Portrait of a woman: Augusta i Skala (1864 - 1955)
• Artist: Elina Metso
• Year: 2020
• Coordinates: 58.252410 / 11.787912

A woman who managed her own farm for more than 50 years

Augusta at the age of 39, married the sailor Johan Lundberg. He moved to her farm, but the marriage soon ran into problems. When they divorced, there was a huge uproar in the community. Augusta lived alone for the rest of her life and never had any children. However, she was often seen riding her black stallion Balder.

2. the lock's warehouse

• Portrait of a woman: Alfrida Berg / Andersson (1892 - 1979)
• Artist: Saadia Hussain
• Year: 2018
• Coordinates: 58.261007 / 11.761723

An enterprising woman who started the guesthouse at Slussen.

Alfrida moved from Småland to Gothenburg when her relatives emigrated to America. She realised her dream and opened the 'Alfrida Bergs Pensionat' at Slussen. She and her husband, John Andersson, lived at Slussen in the summers. The couple had no children together, but Alfrida already had an illegitimate son.

3. Medstugan, Torp

• Portrait of a woman: Kristina i Medstugan (1841 -1912)
• Artist: Amara Por Dios
• Year: 2019
• Coordinates: 58.255317 / 11.70305

A woman who went to court for her right to the farm.

Kristina married the crofter's son Gustav Svensson. They bought a farm together, but without Kristina's knowledge Gustav excluded her from the contract, which became apparent when he died. Kristina fought for her rights in the District Court and eventually won the right to half the farm, while their daughter inherited the other half.

4. church village, Torp

• Portrait of a woman: Maria Bohlin "Brännvins-frua" (1816-1912)
• Artist: Elina Metso (The original painting has burned down, so there is only one image of the painting)
• Year: 2017
• Coordinates: 58.250084 / 11.720394

Widow from church village in Torp, Minuthandlerska at Assmunderöd

Maria was the daughter of the vicar of Myckelby, Niclas Christian Bohlin. She herself married a neighbouring boy, Kjell Olsson. They had ten children together, but Kjell preferred to play the violin rather than work in agriculture, and incurred large debts. When Kjell died, Maria began to pay off the debt, and in time she also began to sell spirits.

5. Ålgårds mill

• Portrait of a woman: Olga Högström / Josefsson (1886 - 1978)
• Artist: Camilla Engman
• Year: 2017
• Coordinates: 58.233795 / 11.743493

Miller at Ålgårds mill

Olga married Richard Högström, a miller at Ålgårds mill, at the age of 21. After ten years of marriage, Richard died of pneumonia and Olga was left alone with the children. She enlisted the help of the younger and poorer Carl Josefsson, and after a while they married each other. Olga had a total of eleven children, and the large family is depicted in this MUMA mural.

6. Ekebyn, Lilla Krosseskär

• Portrait of a woman: Lovisa Olausson (1855-1929)
• Artist: S Camilla E Boström
• Year: 2017
• Coordinates: 58.235363 / 11.764189

Farmer's wife, owner of two farms at Lilla Krossekärr.

Lovisa married the sailor Martin Olausson. They bought a farm in Lilla Krosseskär, and since Martin was mostly at sea, it was Lovisa who took care of the farm. Eventually they bought another farm, and Lovisa had help from her unmarried brother. She and her husband Martin never had any children.

7. the Brattorp dairy

• Portrait of a woman: Johanna Maria Berntsdotter, aka Duldomma
• Artist: Frida Stiil Vium, aka NADA
• Year: 2022
• Coordinates: 58.17037 / 11.70699

Joanna will have a painting within the project MUMA Muralmålningar dedicated to him at Mejeriet in Brattorp on Orust, with an opening on 13 August 2022. The painting was not up yet when we were here, so you will have to check it out on your own!

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

When you are on Orust, there is of course more to see and do. For example, it is nice to discover Mollösund, as well as Malö and Flatö. Here you will find tips both on Orust and nearby:

• Things to do on Orust
• Käring Island
• Tjörn
• Dyrön
• Skaftö, with Grundsund and Fiskebäckskil

Have you seen any of the Muma murals?

Have you seen any of the paintings in the MUMA Murals project in Orust? Do you like murals and street art?

Facts about MUMA Muralmålningar på Orust

• Landscape: Bohuslän
• County: Västra Götaland County
• Location: Eastern Orust
• Read more: You can find more information about MUMA murals at project website.

READ MORE: Things to do in Bohuslän - tips, sights and experiences