Hans Strand with shocking Manmade Land at Fotografiska

Manmade Land

Hans Strand 6 April – 27 May at Fotografiska

For the first time landscape photographer Hans Strand chooses to direct his camera towards landscapes where nature has completely given way to human interference – landscapes more manmade than natural. Breathtakingly beautiful and fascinating, they resemble works of expressionist art. However, after reading Hans Strand’s account of what has occurred at these places the viewer is faced with some uncomfortable and important questions. Added to that thoughtful reflections in the exhibition text by physical geographer and Adjunct Professor Johan Kuylenstierna. 

What happens to our planet when monocultures and over-exploitation wipe out ecosystems and wildlife? And what can we do to reverse these processes? Manmade Land comprises three series which display the result of human interference in nature. 

Describing himself as an Indian scout able to read the terrain and constantly searching for an angle, Hans Strand scans the area with a warm and clear eye, secure in the knowledge that somewhere in our genes there is a connection to the wilderness we come from. A connection between us, nature and all the creatures we no longer live in harmony with. Instead, we regard nature and each other as something to be ruthlessly plundered and exploited for maximum short-term gain.

In the exhibition Manmade Land at Fotografiska, Strand is surveying the planet from above. We see manmade traces on the earth’s surface captured in fascinating geometric compositions.

“We consume and destroy so much of the diversity that originally existed on the earth. This becomes obvious when seen from above. You may be looking out from a car window thinking: ‘What a lovely rolling landscape with olive trees’, but from above you see the whole picture, which is more like a tragedy of monoculture devoid of wildlife, insects and other vegetation. It is this type of human destruction of the earth that I am attempting to capture, both literally and figuratively. The patterns formed by human intervention on the earth’s surface are in themselves graphic artworks that I hope will bring home the extent of our actions", tells Hans Strand.

Hans Strand is a photographer who has the unique ability to transform natural scenes into unforgettable, exquisite and intensely captivating compositions that make you wonder what you are looking at: paintings by Miró, Kandinsky or perhaps Picasso?

The answer is: landscapes that bear distinct traces, scars, of human intervention – landscapes where the original nature has been entirely displaced: The mining for metals at the Rio Tinto River has transformed it into a poisoned, viscously coloured palette; miles after miles of olive tree plantations represent the monotony of monoculture, whose antithesis is an ancient patchwork of small-scale crops in the rugged mountainous terrain of Aragon.

“I belong to the old school who believes that photography is documentary. I don’t want to misrepresent. I want to create authentic representations of what I see. I’m passionate about complexity and I love to find compositions in chaotic motifs. As a former technical engineer, I find it easy to understand technology; however, photography without composition has no backbone.”

The three photographic series document the result of human intervention in nature. At first glance the result is stunningly beautiful, almost painterly images. However, on closer inspection, we recoil and sadly realise that our earth and its resources are now more manmade than natural. How much natural landscapes actually remain – places where wildlife, ecosystems and people live in harmony with each other?

“Hans Strand began his career photographing the untouched beauty of nature. Over time, he came to realise just how quickly these areas were disappearing and being transformed by human intervention. Employing the same artistic idiom, he has continued to document our world from a perspective unavailable to most of us in order to highlight the deceptiveness in what at first glance appears to be beautiful but on closer scrutiny in fact isan artificial and almost dead environment. This not only raises questions about what we are doing to our world but also how we mislead and deceive ourselves,” Johan Vikner, Exhibition Manager at Fotografiska, explains.

The exhibition raises important issues and wants to inspire the viewer to contribute to an increased sustainable management of our resources. The accompanying texts comprise Hans Strand’s travelogues from the places he has photographed and reflections of physical geographer and Adjunct Professor Johan Kuylenstierna.

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Foot note: Fotografiska Fotografiska Stockholm is not only the world’s most esteemed museum dedicated to the world of photography. The concept also contains an internationally awarded restaurant elected “the Museum Restaurant of the Year 2017”, as well as inspiring event spaces, an acclaimed academy and a shop featuring an extensive selection of photographic books.

With a great network of world-class photographers at the core, Fotografiska Stockholm has since the opening hosted more than 170 exhibitions, including the work of iconic masters such as Annie Leibovitz, David LaChapelle, Irving Penn, Helmut Newton, Sarah Moon, Nick Brandt and Andres Serrano, as well as up-and-coming young photographers. By taking a stand in controversial issues and stretching their responsibility far beyond the realm of traditional art institutions, Fotografiska has a history of acting as an influencer, playing an active role in the Swedish society. The purpose is simple, to use the power of photography to unite, spread awareness and create positive impact.

Initially opened in Stockholm in 2010 the Fotografiska family is now growing and therefore they proudly announce that they are expanding to Whitechapel in London and Park Avenue in New York. Taking on these prime locations Fotografiska aims to redefine the traditional museum experience by creating urban meeting places where global citizens are invited to dwell, get inspired, question the taken-for-granted and grow as individuals.

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