njut lagom!
DESCRIPTION
The Documentary Photography project by Gunta Podina. This project presents a coherent overview of behaviors of Swedish people while they are spending their free time.TRANSCRIPT
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NJUT LAGOM!
GUNTA PODINA
The secret art of being swedish
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NJUT LAGOM!
GUNTA PODINA
The secret art of being swedish
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Visitors to Sweden intent on enjoying all that this coun-try has to offer are very likely to innocently overlook the cultural phenomenon that is widely known to all Swedes as “Lagom”; an almost esoteric unspoken code of con-duct only really fully understood by those that have been born and bred within its influence.
Whilst all Swedes certainly strive to improve both them-selves, their family and their community the paradox is that “Lagom” somehow unconsciously prevents people from becoming too different from their neighbour. Lagom defines Sweden in a way that is rarely duplicated outside the country. Near neighbours in other Nordic countries look to Sweden and see this difference in the culture. Sweden is somehow “different”, even the stan-dard dictionary definition of “Lagom” does not quite do this “difference” justice.
Lagom - “enough”, “sufficient”, “adequate”, “reasonable” or “just right”.
All of these descriptions are synonymous with a sense of fairness, a concept easily found in many other countries worldwide. “Fairness” is seen in health care systems, political systems, and taxation systems worldwide. So what makes Sweden unique? Perhaps it is best defined for Sweden as, “Lagom är bast”–“everything in modera-tion”, a uniquely social application and, importantly, social acceptance of fairness.
The series of photographs within this volume reveal a wide cross section of Swedish cultural activities that have been shaped by this elusive concept of “Lagom”, a way of life that Swedes like to defend. A quick glance at the scenes depicted will show an equality of spirit, a shared joy, a shared moment of early sunshine after a long dark winter, a collective enjoyment of an outdoor event or a shared moment in a swimming pool. But on closer examination a sense of separation is revealed.
Students of “body language” cannot fail to notice how the majority of subjects are enjoying “themselves”, but no necessarily together as “ourselves”. A sense of separation is portrayed in all scenes and activities. Equli-ty shows itself in the swimming costumes worn in the local pool – all black. Is this an unconscious conformity with “Lagom”, perhaps? Do they ask themselves: “We are not too different are we?” Perhaps they also ask themselves, “I’m not enjoying myself too much am I?”
The reader is invited to view this series of photographs as a coherent whole. Take time to compare these human activities, captured over Sweden’s four distinct seasons, with similar events and functions in your own culture. Gunta Podina’s body of photographic work has been obtained through patience observation. An observation that has allowed her to get very close to her subjects without affecting their beha- viour. Close examination of the images in this volume reveals human emotions such as “relief”, (the sun has returned: sunbathing on the ski slope or the ladies exercising in the pool!),“fellowship”, (a chat around the pool!), the “loneliness” of a game of “lucky dip”, (girl employed behind a prize tent), “tolerance” (on the train) and plain old “hope”, (a group of sports fans hoping the best for their team).
Discover a Sweden “just enough” where behaviour means blending in appropriately without extreme dis-plays of emotion. Typical of the Swede is to be very calm, planned and rarely impulsive. “Njut Lagom!”
Michael Culligan
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Plane spotting. Skavsta Airport
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Barbecue area. Ryssbergens hill
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Romme Ski Resort. Borlange
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Making angels. Nyköping
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Rosvalla Event Center
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Bubble pool. HjortensbergsbadetPrevious pages: Hjortensbergsbadet
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Library. Nyköping
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Second Hand shop. Nyköping
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Aqua Gym. Hjortensbergsbadet
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Coffee shop. Ryssbergens hill
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Cake party. Nyköping
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Nyköpings streets
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Ängstugans allotments
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Camping. Strandstuviken
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Dog walking. Nyköping
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Ängstugans allotments
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Playground at campsite. Strandstuviken
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Coffee break. Ängstugans allotments
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Friends visit. Ängstugans allotments
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Open-air cafe. Stockholm
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Bus station. Nyköping
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Walpurgis Night. NyköpingPrevious pages: “Melodifestival”. Nyköping
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Old car cruise. Nyköping
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Graduates riding around town on flatbed trucks. Nyköping
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Graduation day. Nyköping
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Ängstugans allotment
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Birthday party. Ängstugans allotments
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Campsite. Strandstuviken
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Camping. Strandstuviken
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Campsite. Strandstuviken
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Game of boules. Strandstuviken
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Game of “lucky dip”. Ängstugans cafe
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Strandstuvikens beach
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Barbecue party. Nyköping
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Flea market. Oxelösund
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Car Bingo. Oxelösund
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Antique car show. Nyköping
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Antique car show. Nyköping
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Line Dance. Nyköping
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Midsummer´s festival. Ängstugans cafe
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Old car cruising. Nyköping
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Flea market. Oxelösund
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Mexican themed party. Strandstuvikens campsite
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Duke Karl’s Market. The Nyköping Castle
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Performance. Fåfängan
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Big Power meet. Västerås
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Big Power meet. Västerås
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Big power meet. Västerås
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Folk Music Festival. Stockholm
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Midsummer´s eve. Strandstuvikens campsite
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Midsummer´s eve. Strandstuvikens campsite
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Midsummer´s eve. Strandstuvikens campsite
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Midsummer´s eve. Strandstuvikens campsite
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Midsummer´s eve. Strandstuvikens campsite
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Strandstuvikens campsite
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Tivoli. Nyköpings festival
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Metro. Stockholm
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Shopping center. Stockholm
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Flea market. Nyköping
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Football fans. Stockholm
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Parking place. Nyköping
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Bird watchers. Marsviken
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Bird watchers. Marsviken
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Plane spotting. Skavsta Airport
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