NJUT LAGOM!

GUNTA PODINA

The secret art of being swedish

NJUT LAGOM!

GUNTA PODINA

The secret art of being swedish

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

Plane spotting. Skavsta Airport

Barbecue area. Ryssbergens hill

Romme Ski Resort. Borlange

Making angels. Nyköping

Rosvalla Event Center

Bubble pool. HjortensbergsbadetPrevious pages: Hjortensbergsbadet

Library. Nyköping

Second Hand shop. Nyköping

Aqua Gym. Hjortensbergsbadet

Coffee shop. Ryssbergens hill

Cake party. Nyköping

Nyköpings streets

Ängstugans allotments

Camping. Strandstuviken

Dog walking. Nyköping

Ängstugans allotments

Playground at campsite. Strandstuviken

Coffee break. Ängstugans allotments

Friends visit. Ängstugans allotments

Open-air cafe. Stockholm

Bus station. Nyköping

Walpurgis Night. NyköpingPrevious pages: “Melodifestival”. Nyköping

Old car cruise. Nyköping

Graduates riding around town on flatbed trucks. Nyköping

Graduation day. Nyköping

Ängstugans allotment

Birthday party. Ängstugans allotments

Campsite. Strandstuviken

Camping. Strandstuviken

Campsite. Strandstuviken

Game of boules. Strandstuviken

Game of “lucky dip”. Ängstugans cafe

Strandstuvikens beach

Barbecue party. Nyköping

Flea market. Oxelösund

Car Bingo. Oxelösund

Antique car show. Nyköping

Antique car show. Nyköping

Line Dance. Nyköping

Midsummer´s festival. Ängstugans cafe

Old car cruising. Nyköping

Flea market. Oxelösund

Mexican themed party. Strandstuvikens campsite

Duke Karl’s Market. The Nyköping Castle

Performance. Fåfängan

Big Power meet. Västerås

Big Power meet. Västerås

Big power meet. Västerås

Folk Music Festival. Stockholm

Midsummer´s eve. Strandstuvikens campsite

Midsummer´s eve. Strandstuvikens campsite

Midsummer´s eve. Strandstuvikens campsite

Midsummer´s eve. Strandstuvikens campsite

Midsummer´s eve. Strandstuvikens campsite

Strandstuvikens campsite

Tivoli. Nyköpings festival

Metro. Stockholm

Shopping center. Stockholm

Flea market. Nyköping

Football fans. Stockholm

Parking place. Nyköping

Bird watchers. Marsviken

Bird watchers. Marsviken

Plane spotting. Skavsta Airport