It seems like Rickard Furubom has lived many lives: artist, punk-rocker, dad of fourteen, actor, daycare worker, warehouse operator. Some of these might seem like total opposites, but they have something in common: Rickard’s love for seeing the impact of his work.
Most important impact being the one he has had on his children. “Being able to take care of kids gives me meaning,” Rickard says. Rickard isn’t the biological father of his children, the kids have found a home with him through fostering and adoptions.
Offering a home to the kids who needed one started after the sinking of the cruise ship Estonia.
“There was an announcement in the newspaper asking who could take care of three siblings that had been orphaned by the accident. I thought it was crazy. I thought “of course!” So I called the number in the ad and they asked me a lot of questions and checked my background.”
The three kids in question went to live with their relatives, but there were a lot of other kids who needed homes. So Rickard and his then-wife started with one. Then two, then three. Throughout the years Rickard has raised fourteen children. “It’s important for me to be kind and take care of people,” Rickard says.
Today Rickard works as a warehouse operator at Kiilto’s Täby location in Sweden. He has worked for the company twice: first time for three years, then he took some time off to take care of his kids, worked as an actor and made movie props. Now he’s been back with Kiilto for seven years.
The job has brought some unexpected additions to his art: Rickard has been able to use Kiilto products such as adhesives and plasters. He experiments with different mixtures.
“This was the first time I was able to really go bananas! At home I don’t have room to do big paintings.”
Rickard does also abstract paintings at home, nowadays with his girlfriend who hasn’t done art before. “I love how we can just be quiet together. We shut up and make art. It’s great!” Rickard chuckles.
Painting is a way for him to relieve stress. “I paint to calm myself, it’s a form of mindfulness. Painting organises the chaos inside my head.”
Rickard can’t pinpoint his inspiration and doesn’t have a plan for the paintings he makes. “It’s the same as when I write lyrics for the songs for my band: I just make words go together, I don’t think too much of it.”
Rickard has been in fifteen different bands and currently plays in two. The bands play punk rock, which has been Rickard’s thing for over 40 years. During the years Rickard has “played the drums, sung, done a lot of things” according to his words.
When Rickard isn’t playing music or doing art he likes to cook for his kids and friends. Then you can also see his creative side: “I like to experiment with the flavours.”
Even with two bands, a job, and making art Rickard highlights the importance of family. When speaking about what he enjoys most in his daily life he answers: “Being a father, taking care of my kids.”