ART & ARCHITECTURE / STOCKHOLM METRO SYSTEM
For centuries, fine art was the symbol of exclusivity and wealth. When the world’s first art museum, Musei Capitolini in Rome, opened their doors to the public in 1734 under the rule of Clement XII, this was the first time ever that art was not utilized as a symbol of power and riches but celebrated primarily for its beauty and cultural significance.
Skarpnäck Metro Station
Around the same time, the Salon de peinture et de sculpture was organized in Paris. This caused quite an uproar among the ruling classes, who did not enjoy the idea that commoners could view and comment on art. Fine art was until then reserved for private mansion and palaces of the bourgeoise, the aristocracy and royalty, as well as cathedrals of the church, used as opulent symbols of power. To make these valuable objects accessible to everyone was to potentially deplete them of their symbolic qualities.
T-Centralen Metro Station
“The Stockholm metro is often referred to as the world’s longest art exhibition.”
T-Centralen Metro Station
This brief and partial summary of the history of fine art helps to explain why still today, there exists a certain general reverence for the art world. Artists are thought to belong to a slightly different world, existing in a blurred area between reality and something else, more intangible and abstract. Art, when at its best, adds something to the space it exists in. In the past, art was thought to elevate the surroundings and function as a symbol of prosperity. Today, though often decorative, art is also believed to have the potential to open doors to other ways of thinking, feeling or seeing.
Rådhuset Metro Station
Solna Centrum Metro Station
Public transportation is generally designed for efficiency, not immersive cultural experiences. It is about going from A to B in an uncomplicated, often inexpensive way. The Stockholm metro system is, however, planned based in a slightly different approach to traveling. In 1928, social-democratic leader Per Albin Hansson coined the concept “folkhemmet”, loosely translated as “the people’s home”. By this, he wanted to underscore that Sweden was not only a nation to its citizens, but should also be considered a home to those who lived there. This led to the development of stronger infrastructure and investments in higher living standards. In 1950, the first metro line in Stockholm opened, but without artistic decoration.
The lack of art in these new public spaces led to an intense media debate on the role of art in the Swedish “people’s home”. Soon, it was decided that art should have a prominent place in the metro, and ever since, for more than 60 years, more than 150 artists have been invited to share their work in the metro.
Danderyds Sjukhus Metro Station
Universitetet Metro Station
T-Centralen Metro Station
“In the 1970s, many stations were designed to resemble grottos, complete with organically shaped walls.”
Kungsträdgården Metro Station
The Stockholm metro is often referred to as the world’s longest art exhibition. The system stretches over 110 kilometres, and travellers can follow the historical developments in art as they go from one station to another, from the pacifist messages of the 1950s, made by Siri Derkert for the Östermalms torg-station, via the postmodern times of the 1980s (most significantly displayed at central Kungsträdgården) to today’s more experimental and explorative period, as displayed at the new commuter train stations Odenplan and T-centralen.
Odenplan Metro Station
Approximately 90 out of in total 100 stations have incorporated artworks. The green line was the first to open, in the 1950s, and has many stations above ground, most designed by Peter Celsing. At the time, he was the head architect for Stockholms Spårvägar, but later he became known as one of the foremost modernist architects in Sweden, having designed buildings such as Kulturhuset, Riksbanken and Filmhuset, all in central Stockholm. In the 1960s, the red line was constructed and by that time, most stations were placed underground.
In the 1970s, many stations were designed to resemble grottos, complete with organically shaped walls. Typical for these stations, many of which are placed along the blue line, were designed as total artwork, where artists would work for a long time, in close collaboration with architects and technicians.
During the 1990s, many of the older stations underwent extensive renovations, during which additional artworks were added. As more stations are being added to the system, more art is being made accessible to everyone using the underground part of the Stockholm public transportation system.
T-Centralen Metro Station