Bredäng Konst Tbana, Lena Kriström Larsson

I have to admit that the lack of spring-like weather since arriving from actual summertime weather really has been like a dark cloud smothering my moods.  The day I did this station, there was a bitter wind, and I also had a friend in tow, a local, which usually amounts to about 2-3 minutes worth of attention.  I think I will go back to this station to give it a bit more attention.

I couldn't fully understand the art signage, but I believe that the artist worked with the local school kids, and that there was theme that was about honoring the original nature of where this neighborhood is now.  Only, I am unfamiliar with the area, so I don't know how much nature is left, another reason I want to go have a look around.

I keep telling myself, that April isn't over, and that come May suddenly the trees will bloom and this snow mixed rain will abate, and Spring will arrive, all at once.  But in my heart I can feel a hardening, for years now I have felt myself recede from any passions I had for cities.  This happened once in 1992, when I moved from Los Angeles to Seattle- but from about 2000 I have had a steady pull to the quiet of the life I have in Australia.  Of course, we have had really bad luck this last year- and maybe I will have a change of heart- but if I had to decide today, I would go home to Australia, and stay.

Skärholmen Tbana, Konst Ulf Wahlberg

 

There are actually 23 panels to show the change of light and the impact 

(or really I want to use both effect/affect together, because I think there is both a change on what one can see, and what one might feel in relation to what one thinks is being seen) 

on what the viewer might be able to see from sunrise to sunset at the light changes so perhaps what shapes one is able to make out.

The panels run of the back wall of the South bound tracks.

This is one of the stations I thought I wouldn't be able to translate well. So I had taken photos years ago, but never bothered to post them (and this was before the now ye olde instagram).

The panels are displayed in such as way that an empty station and a full ten minutes to pace along and choose different vantage points to look at them are important for a real impact.  That said, they look interesting from a passenger window when the train is moving along the other track, being that far back and seeing them a bit in a way that works like a flip book is interesting.

The photos are from New Mexico- and the photos feel like the photographer was new to the desert and the way the light plays there, and wanted to try and impart that here, in a place where the landscape and the light are so very different.

 

The change back to Hökarängen has been a shock.

 There is a still a week of March left, and although I know the equinox has passed, I can see no signs of spring here.  But, my neighborhood is still a construction zone, the extension of our street, the building (and blasting of rocks to achieve this) of four new apartment complexes, and the kindergarten are still in what looks like early stages- there are container offices, huge construction vehicles.  Felled trees, open trenches with what I assume is infrastructure or upgrading/additional water mains or sewer lines.  The small woodland areas that were a large reason I liked our building so much have been diminished and I am not sure when I will get over that.  Plus I feel selfish, as there is an obvious need for housing, and I am only thinking of myself.  

 

Konst på Brommaplan Station, Peter Svedberg

The art at the Brommaplan station seems to be especially overlooked by people passing through the station. I, myself have been here with two different people that did not even notice it as I was photographing the art for this blog.

I like that the silver aluminum, with its rivets that for me scream 'Plane!', is subtle or, perhaps made subtle by the advertisements and reader boards that are all around.

Another aspect, I like is that the photographs encased in the glass are recessed, adding to what I feel like is the ghost like quality of these memory columns. Because that is what they are, photographs and an homage to the days that Brommaplan was the main airport. Now almost all traffic goes through Arlanda airport.

Mostly tourists go through this station on their way to visit Drottningholm Slott (the royal summer palace).

I do not go as often as I should, I went once during summer this year, and recently with my latest house guest.  I did find myself thinking about the first time I went, which is now over twelve years ago.  The journey seemed so far, but not that I am familiar with Stockholm, I don't consider it to be far.

The first time, I went alone, to see the theater which is an actual working 18th century theater with its original stage machinery still in use. Until I went to see an Opera there, I had only seen such a stage in movies.  The thunder machines and the fake waves moved by human hands rotating a handle hidden in the wings of the stage.  There were only tours in Swedish at the time (or perhaps I just didn't come at the correct time). This time I got to have the tour in English and my girlfriend and I were the only ones on our tour, so we got to be on stage and work both the wind/waves/and thunder.

Delightful!

I enjoyed the grounds even though we were frozen and yet there was no longer snow.

IF

a new snowfall comes I think I will drag the husband out there.

Only the top photo is of the palace, I prefer the grounds and the "Chinese" styled pavilions out past the formal gardens and the labyrinth.

 

 

 

Konst , Gamla Stan Station Update

Gamla Stan original post

I have been on this platform a lot these last couple of months, my home line (the green line) and the red line (the line to get to SFI classes) both go through this station.  Often I got to a cafe in Gamla Stan to try and go over class work for an hour.  I've had more chances to see how the art fits together cohesively between the two murals (behind the North and South running tracks respectively) with one another and the platform itself.

I have put up a link to my original post which explains the artists conception.

This station is almost always busy but not as busy as Slussen or T-centralen.

Also, it is the place where one can jump off the red line straight onto green-

So I can time my trip back from the Ropsten second hand store, straight onto my Farsta line, with the crowds, and these days...impolite society one finds while riding trains...these small wins can brighten a day.

 

Karlaplan T-bana Konst; Larseric Vänerlöf och Tor Hörlin

I must admit that when my gf and I got off the train at Karlaplan, we were both surprised to see what I have learned is Larseric Vänerlöf photo montage behind the track that we had travelled into the station on.

Interestingly when I was googling around for information on the artist Larseric, I found this article in English that answered not only the questions about why we both may have missed the piece (repairs)- but also my questions about the neighbourhood of Karlaplan which from our Autumn (not may people) time of day (again, less people) and where we walked from struck me as "very" Parisian.

If you are interested look here:

Subway art and Paris planned area 

The tile work which I was unable to really relate via my iphone is that the pieces are meant to mimic nature (as so many of the stations)- the tiles are different textures, sizes, some are raised, some are indented.  

Although this station does not have the cohesive feeling of a station that has platforms where one can see both tracks easily, instead this station has the charm of an earlier era, including an old sign for shoe repair, near where the shop must have one been located in a hallway between the two line directions.

 

Konst på Sockenplan, Art Sockenplan Green Line Hägsätra

If I am translating correctly this piece by Sture Collin is an homage to the painting Ship of Fools by H. Bosch  This is one of my photo sets that I feel need to be revisited- so I plan to update this post at a later time - After my extra winter time this year...the train lines need to wait until summer has officially ended here in Stockholm, as the sun is not to be wasted being inside.

*photo borrowed from the internet

 

Konst på Högdalen Station, Birgitta Muhr

I really like this one, simple and pretty bronze (painted) tulips.

They are striking as you are just passing through the station.

Here is the artists wiki page:

 Birgitta Muhr

Konst på Rågsved Station

This artist has quite a few public works, his wiki page is here

Bjorn Selder 

I, myself, feel that I lack some component that would evoke emotion for this type of modern sculpture, maybe my lack of math skill, had I understood geometry the shapes of modern sculpture would speak to me.

I was more interested in the tile work, but that work is not mentioned on the plaque.  

The bronze sculpture is called 'green bird', and sits 7 meters up.

There was an idea even though the work is done in bronze, to color it green, but apparently he changed his mind.

 

Konst på Östermalmstorg, Siri Derkert

Östermalmstorg Tbana

 

This area is commonly spoke of as the 'rich' part of town.  I will say that I do not find myself in this station very often, the immediate area has the designer label shops and I, myself, am devoted to second hand.

The sign regarding the art here, is that a special technique of rock blasting was used to etch the walls like pencil on paper.

The art was meant to highlight famous/hisorical women who have made strides towards enlightening people with regards to peace movements, and injustice or inequalities towards women.

In a way...I think the location for this is perfect.

*Sometimes in the station there will be a piece that doesn't exactly seem to go with the rest, but I can't always find a second sign for them, so these remain a mystery- as with the one pictured below.

 

 

Konst på Svedmyra (del två) Barbro Johansson

I love this tile work on the elevator.  I am always impressed when some object that has to be present like an elevator is made beautiful.  The tiles reminded me of a peacocks feathers.

The artist that covered the elevator, also did the tiled mural down in the ticket hall. As I mentioned in the other post, there was only a short line about who made these.  While the other art was meant to remind there was forestland nearby, there was nothing written about these pieces.  But I liked them best.