Say cheese... a journey to the perfect picture at the Fotografiska Museum
They say that a picture is worth a thousand words, and we can't agree more. The Museum of Photography, Art and Contemporary Culture will take you on a fascinating journey into the heart of the Swedish art and culture scene, a place where a bright light remains even in the darkest Scandinavian winters.
A short distance from Gamla Stan, Stockholm's old town, not far from the picturesque streets of Södermalm, is the photography institution - Museum Fotografiska. About photography it is said that "the best thing about a picture is that it never changes, even when the people in it change", and the museum is the perfect proof of that. A visit to the magical museum will take you to a living, breathing and evolving celebration in the wonderful world of photography.
The story behind the museum:
The photography museum was established in 2010 by a pair of brothers named Jan and Per Broman, inside an Art Nouveau building from 1906, which was previously used as a customs house that supervised the passage of goods. Located in the trendy Stadsgårdskajen district of the city, the ancient building overlooks the Stockholm harbor and offers picturesque views.
Ian Broman and his brother Fer had a passion for the world of photography since childhood, as their father, an amateur photographer, instilled in them the love for the world of photography and art. The two brothers grew into the world, founding the Swedish Academy of Realist Art, a famous and groundbreaking institution, but they still lacked something, something unique, something more intimate.
The two decide to establish the Fotografiska Museum, thinking that the institution will not be a traditional museum, but an art exhibition that presents contemporary photography. The two wanted to establish a platform for well-known and beginning photographers from around the world where they could present their work. The exhibitions are not intended to sell the works of art, but to publish the works and make the world of photography accessible to a wide audience.
Since its opening, the museum has hosted many exhibitions with the participation of both Swedish and international photographers. The museum presents four major exhibitions every year, along with twenty smaller exhibitions, which change all the time. The photography enthusiasts among you will surely recognize some of the names that presented their work there, such as the Jewish-American photographer Annie Leibovitz, the fashion director David LaChapelle or the famous photographer Irving Penn.
In 2019, the Fotografiska Museum opened another branch, this time in New York City, in the prestigious Manhattan district. The museum, which has become a chain of museums, is always thinking about how it can further influence the world of photography, and it continues to advance its goal of inspiring a better world through the power of photography.
The visit to the photography museum:
Since opening its doors in 2010, the museum has quickly become a beacon for professional and novice photography enthusiasts alike. But with all due respect, calling Fotografiska a museum is probably a bit outdated. After all, how many museums do you know that stay open until midnight? How many museums have you visited that had trendy bars, classy restaurants and a bustling event schedule that doesn't fall short of hot nightclubs?
The cultural institution will take you on a visit between spectacular exhibition spaces, alongside extraordinary displays, all while thinking in depth. Befitting a cultural institution in the most egalitarian country in the world and one of the largest democracies, the iconic institution presents works by legendary photographers alongside budding talents, side by side, with the same frames and in the same spaces.
When you walk between the four large exhibitions and the 20 small exhibitions of the museum, you will surely notice the amazing versatility of the displays - from intimate portraits to photographs of colorful landscapes, through a blurred world in black and white to pictures that present a sharp critique of society. In the museum you can find hundreds of carefully collected photographic works that push you to think, feel, express an opinion and see the world anew through the lens of the camera.
After you've had your fill of the photography scene, it's time to head upstairs to the museum, where you'll find the award-winning Fotografiska restaurant, a restaurant that boasts the title: sustainability alongside fun. The restaurant offers a wonderful gastronomic experience that is a work of art in itself. If your taste buds yearn for more, the cafe and bar of the complex will serve you the perfect mixture of atmosphere, alcohol and good food, alongside breathtaking views of the islands that make up the capital of Sweden and the blue waters in which you are immersed.
The Museum of Photography- important information Important Information What you need to know
Location: The Photography Museum (Fotografiska) is located in the Stadsgårdshamnen district on the urban island of Södermalm, in the capital city of Stockholm.
The museum can be reached by convenient public transportation from around the city. You can take a metro line (Tunnelbana) to the Slussen station, which is served by the green line and the red line. From this station you will go for a walk of about 500 meters along the banks of the pastoral waters.
You can also reach the entrance of the museum by bicycle, and this is a wonderful opportunity to combine another experience with a visit to the city.
For those arriving by car, the number of parking spaces in the area is limited and this should be taken into account.
שעות פתיחה: The museum is open every day of the week between 10:00 and 23:00.
You can buy tickets on the spot, but online tickets are cheaper and guarantee entry without waiting in the box office lines.
The price of an adult ticket is 17 euros, students who hold a student card and those 65 and older will pay 14 euros. Admission is free for under 12s.
There are sometimes guided tours that will take you to discover a specific exhibition in the museum. You can ask at the entrance about such tours.
Whether you're Instagram influencers, bloggers, professional photographers or anything else you can think of, you shouldn't miss a visit to the Museum of Photography. Here, the dialogue between the visitors and the photographs will take you to a magical dance, and will make you spend hours in a fascinating observation of the world of art and photography.
So, after all, life is a camera, and it's time to capture the good moments of life, and if you came to the city of Stockholm, there are probably plenty of them.
