Lars Tunbjörk

With sharp yet tender perception, he documented Sweden in the throes of change. In the 1990s, the welfare state was shifting towards an increasingly commer- cialised reality, and Tunbjörk's images captured this turning point in an exceptional way. Three decades later, these photographs remain relevant and offer a fresh perspective on society today.

Tunbjörk's images reveal the details of the everyday life with humour and melancholy, combined with great tenderness. His singular way of observing his surroundings became an international success, to the extent that the "Tunbjörk-esque" emerged as a genre in its own right.

Tunbjörk resisted being pigeonholed as either a documentary or art photographer. For him, photography itself was central, and his approach to his subjects was uniquely his own. His breakthrough took him from Borås to the wider world, where he portrayed Japanese offices, fashion shows in Paris, and rural pizzerias with the same perceptive eye. Tunbjörk was a regular contributor to international newspapers and magazines such as The New York Times, Libération, GEO and Le Monde. He was also a member of the French image agency VU'. Alongside his assignments, he pursued his own projects, which were featured in books and exhibitions around the world.

Today, Tunbjörk's imagery lives on and continues to inspire others, with a palpable influence on everything from TV series and fashion collections to art projects. His photographs possess a timeless quality that allows us to see the commonplace aspects of existence more clearly.

Curator: Maria Patomella. The exhibition is produced by Kulturhuset Stadsteatern in collaboration with Maud Nycander and Lars Tunbjörk Foundation, and Tore G. Wärenstam Foundation. Thanks to Borås City Archives.

Thanks to: Tore G. Wärenstam Foundation, Swedish Arts Council, 
Region Jönköping County, Värnamo Municipality, and Vandalorum’s Partners: Hamrin, Liljedahl, Svenstig

^{Photos: lars Tunbjörk
Exhibition photos: Patrik Lindell}