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