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Background information
"The
oeuvre by Swedish photographer duo Klara KÄLLSTRÖM & Thobias FÄLDT
is characterized by a strong social commitment. Their first
retrospective exhibition includes works about the media, power, and
history. They invite us to be critical of dominant narratives about the
world today while examining how photography is used in the creation of
these narratives. A crucial part of their work is their great interest
in the photo book, which takes a central place in the exhibition; a new
book of their collected works from 2011–2021 is being created in the
middle of the show.
A guiding
principle in the oeuvre by KÄLLSTRÖM & FÄLDT are the gaps between
what is visible and what is told. By exploring the limitations,
challenges, and possibilities of photography, the artists aim to unfold
and expose overlooked parts of official history as well as contemporary
narratives. This is where nuances, critical perspectives, and questions
reside. These are the stories that are uncomfortable and difficult. They
would most likely have no natural platform if they did not appear in
the KÄLLSTRÖM-FÄLDT projects. Working with both their own images as well
as found archival material, they combine methods and strategies from
the documentary tradition in photography as well as investigative
journalism. Collaborations with artists, graphic designers, and authors –
not least with journalist Johannes Wahlström – and other creative
individuals are an integral part of their practice, and books are their
main form of expression.
The
presentation of the projects in the exhibition at the Hasselblad
Foundation reflects that and focuses on the working process, the notion
of intangibility, and archival material. In the initial phase of each
project, theyt pair photographs with text on simple and inexpensive
sheets of paper, creating a form of basic research. From there, the
stories evolve into elaborate photo books. Over the past twelve years,
the research material has become a comprehensive archive. These
documents form the core of the exhibition and their new publication. In
addition, a selection of images from each body of work are projected
onto the exhibition walls with overhead projectors. Contrasting the
fleeting qualities of the projections are the unique artefacts collected
by the artists, such as pieces of tile from a beach in
Israel/Palestine, film rolls from Cuba, and other crucial items of their
stories.
A vital part of the
exhibition involves assembling 500 copies of their new book on site in
the exhibition space, thus fully integrating the bookmaking ofKlara
KÄLLSTRÖM and Thobias FÄLDT as a natural and central part of a
retrospective presentation of their practice.
Content
The
new publication by Klara KÄLLSTRÖM and Thobias FÄLDT includes
facsimiles of twelve previously published books. The exhaustive body of
their work on Julian Assange and WikiLeaks is perhaps the most striking
example of their commitment to exploring narratives that do not fit a
certain mould. The ongoing project examines the media image of Assange
following his exposure to US war crimes. Looking into the gaps in the
Assange story, the artists shed light on anti-democratic forces and
attacks on press freedom. Other examples are the projects 'Europe,
Greece, Athens, Acropolis' (2011) and '25 Lemon Trees, No Gardeners'
(2015), which highlight how there seems to be room for only one global
media narrative at a time, specifically looking at a series of events
starting with the Greek economic crisis, followed by the refugee crisis
in Europe, then Brexit, and lastly the Covid-19 pandemic. The key
question is: what remains invisible when only one story captures our
attention?
In addition to
exploring media representations of global events, the artists also
investigate forgotten stories that are all but erased from the
collective consciousness. The project 'Village' (2013) revolves around
the colonial histories of France and Great Britain in Canada, visualized
through the erasure of indigenous languages in favour of French and
English. In 'Russian Bang' (2012) and 'The Swedish Matter – or the Issue
of the Gramophone Mind' (2018), the artists stress the perils of
absolute truths and lack of self-criticism – even in democratic
societies in the Global North.
Additional information
The
book is published in collaboration between Verlag der Buchhandlung
Walther und Franz König, B-B-B-Books and the Hasselblad Foundation. It
includes a new essay by Duncan Forbes, Head of Photography at the
Victoria & Albert Museum, London." (slightly adpated text, ©
Hasselblad Foundation, 2023)