“This picture was taken at the National Museum of Sweden in 2015. The whole museum was empty for renovation and all the art had been temporarily stored away. Upon entering the space, I was immediately struck by the sunlight reaching into this narrow room and knew that I had to take a picture here. It was the starting point of my 1886 project, which was based around photographing the empty museum (built in 1886). The building is darkened to a large extent as a means of preserving the art, thus allowing light to shine through the room. I welcomed this completely new experience. My idea was to add a motif of figures devoid of identity, akin to ghosts from the past, in the room. I worked with designer Emelie Janrell to clothe the characters in dresses with historical references yet in exaggerated futurist dimensions. There is a disturbing element in the figures due to the playful proportions. Using an old 8×10 camera and analogue film made the figures more static, creating an awkward feeling of time being preserved in the middle of the museum.” — Denise Grünstein is a Finnish photographer, currently based in Stockholm and represented by Christian Larsen. "I was immediately struck by the sunlight reaching into this narrow room upon entering the space and knew that I had to take a picture here." TwitterFacebookPinterest "I was immediately struck by the sunlight reaching into this narrow room upon entering the space and knew that I had to take a picture here." Related Stories Arts & Culture Issue 49 Checked Out Why is hotel art so boring? Arts & Culture Issue 49 Cult Rooms The history—and future—of Luna Luna Park. Arts & Culture Issue 49 Last Night What did gallerist Selma Modéer Wiking do with her evening? Arts & Culture Issue 47 Thanks, I Hate It How to give feedback to art friends. Arts & Culture Issue 46 Puff Piece On inflatable art. Arts & Culture Issue 44 Hannah Traore The art world's next big thing is a gallerist.
