Scan Magazine, Issue 110, March 2018

Page 46

Scan Magazine  |  Special Theme  |  Swedish Culture Special

The tourists’ choice: A destination out of the ordinary

By Pia Petersson  |  Photos: Roger Degerman

The four most popular museums in Sweden are predictably located in Stockholm. Number five on the list, however, might come as a bit of a surprise – in terms of both its location and what kind of museum it is. Found in the northern city of Umeå, this museum is dedicated to guitars. As is the case with many success stories, this did not follow an ordinary template. It began with a couple of brothers and their personal – and huge – interest in guitars. “It’s all about the twin brothers Samuel and Michael Åhdén, who have devoted their lives to guitars, amplifiers and related paraphernalia. They’ve spent 45 years creating the collection,” Fredrik Fagerlund, founder and head of PR at the museum, explains. This mecca for aficionados opened in 2014 but has already been crowned by international music magazines as the finest guitar collection in the world. And the visitors clearly agree: Guitars – The Museum’s average rating on TripAdvisor is 5.0. This

is quite an achievement after only three years. Additionally, the museum challenges gender stereotypes about men and guitars and appeals to all genders, with equal numbers of male and female visitors. What is the secret behind the success? To Fagerlund, the answer is quite simple: “We provide three tours daily, often guided by the brothers themselves. The tours include stories that bring both laughter and tears to the visitors’ eyes. It’s about the brothers’ lives, their experiences of collecting, and of course also facts about the guitars,” he says. A trip to Umeå is clearly not complete without a visit to Guitars – The Museum.

Samuel & Michael Åhdén portrait.

Fender Telecaster w/Parsons White B Bender.

Web: www.guitarsthemuseum.com

Contemporary art in a bigger context Bonniers Konsthall is a beautiful place for contemporary art in the centre of Stockholm. Here, you can see exhibitions and take part in discussions about Swedish and international art. The exhibitions are accompanied by a diverse programme of talks, seminars and special events, offering new perspectives and ways into art. With a mission to spread knowledge about contemporary art to the general public, Bonniers Konsthall is a privately run, non-profit organisation. It originated from the Maria Bonnier Dahlin Foundation, which was founded by the late Jeanette Bonnier in 1985 in memory of her daughter Maria Bonnier Dahlin. The new director, Magnus af Petersens, explains that the programme this year is the most extensive so far, with several large exhibitions and simultaneous smaller displays. “Our Konsthall already has a fantastic reputation in Europe, and we want it to become even more influential. It’s a great place to view and discuss work by the most intriguing artists of our time.” Kicking off the spring programme is Swedish artist Jens Fänge, who will occupy the main exhibition rooms until 1 April. 46  |  Issue 110  |  March 2018

The largest-ever exhibition of Fänge’s work, Drömmarna (The Dreams), contains labyrinthine, dream-like spaces and patterned wallpaper, providing a backdrop to the paintings. “The Dreams has had a fantastic reception from both audience and press – it’s probably our most visited exhibition ever,” says af Petersens. Other highlights include the first Swedish solo presentation of American artist Ellen Gallagher’s work, running from 25 April to 3 June. It will also feature new, extensive work produced along with artist Edgar Cleijne for the New Orleans biennial Prospect. British artist Peter Liversidge will be a recurring artist with performances, interventions and artwork displays during 2018. Throughout the year, Bonniers Konsthall will also run the programme Artist Film International with other art institutions around the world,

By Malin Norman

again promoting the importance of spreading new art and ideas. Web: bonnierskonsthall.se Facebook: bonnierskonsthall Twitter: @BonniersKonsth Instagram: @bonnierskonsthall

Opening hours: Wednesday 12pm-8pm Thursday-Sunday 12pm-5pm Free admission on Fridays.

Drömmarna (The Dreams), Bonniers Konsthall 2018, Stockholm, Sweden. Photo: Petter Cohen


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