What’s better than art in beautiful surroundings? Some of Stockholm’s most popular museums are some of the city’s most popular spots — and not only for the art. If you can take your eyes off the vistas outside, here are three excellent new exhibits to see this summer.
Thielska Galleriet
For a slightly romantic national view of Sweden, with both early-20th-century paintings and modern fashion photography, “Stockholm New” is the exhibition of choice this summer. The show debuted on June 5 at Thielska Galleriet, a palace-like museum — and a great example of Jugend architecture — in the middle of Blockhusudden on Djurgården Island. The museum boasts a stunning view and is just a tram ride and a short walk from the middle of the city.
Stockholm New was a magazine that marketed Sweden through contemporary fashion, culture and landscapes between 1992 and 2002. It helped bring forward a new generation of photographers and, in some cases — such as with Mikael Jansson and Ewa-Marie Rundquist — launched international careers. In this exhibition, their most romantic Swedish works are hung together with paintings by old masters such as Carl Larsson and Anders Zorn. Through September 1.
Moderna Museet
Tala Madani is an American painter and animator who approaches her main subject, men and power structures, with a humoristic touch. She’s behind the main exhibition at Moderna Museet this summer, but the rest of the exhibits are also worth visiting; the museum is internationally known for its collection of modern art, which includes works by Picasso, Dali and Matisse.
The museum is on Skeppsholmen, a small island in the middle of the city, and the slightly hidden Café Blooms is a preferred summer escape close to the Picasso sculptures in the garden. Through October 27.
Artipelag
The man behind the BabyBjörn recently started Artipelag, a gallery, restaurant and hangout in Gustavsberg, a short boat or bus trip from the center of the city. It’s big enough to hold several shows, but “Ett, två, trä!” is one of the more interesting (the name is a rhyming pun that works even better when translated as “One two tree”). The subject is furniture made of wood, especially the Swedish love/hate relationship with everything pine. Through August 21.
Photos Courtesy of Charlie Bennet, Elizabeth Toll, Jens Mortensen Blommor and Mikael Jansson
