Enter any given station in the Stockholm metro, or Tunnelbana, and odds are there’ll be some form of public art to see. In some cases entire stations are works of art – on the blue line for example the craggy rock tunnel is covered in splashes of vivid color and designs. Believe it or not, the first public art project in Stockholm’s metro goes back to 1956, and they’ve been making art a priority ever since.
The Solna Centrum station in Stockholm. Artists Karl-Olov Björk and Anders Åberg.
Photo by Markus Hallberg
That makes for a distinctly pleasant experience riding mass transit in Sweden’s capital, and it’s no surprise that SL, the agency that operates the metro, sees this as a great accomplishment – one they want to use to help promote both their service and the city as a destination. To that end, their latest project is an app for those wanting a little more info about the art on display: the SL ArtGuide. Offering audio guides full of information about the art at 21 metro stations, it’s sure to appeal to a wide range of visitors to the city, not to mention curious locals.
Thorildsplan station in Stockholm. Artist Lars Arrhenius.
Photo by Markus Hallberg
I caught up with Sofia Broman, Business Manager Art at SL, at the Kungsträdgården stop in the center of the city. There, on a bridge leading from escalators to the platform, a strange garden of classical sculptures, climbing plants and the sound of running water greets riders. Broman explained that this was put together by an artist called Ulrik Samuelson, and opened in 1984. I asked her about the role of art in public transport.
“It’s important,” said Broman. “It brings something more to the trip when you’re traveling on a daily basis, and there’s always something new to explore. There’s so many details, and the artists work with the entire station. It’s not just plopping a piece of art or sculpture here or there – the entire station is a piece of art.”
The new Stockholm City station. Artist Karin Lindh.
Photo by Markus Hallberg
No doubt they’ll be adding more stations to the app in the future – 94 out of Stockholm’s 100 stations feature art of some kind so there’s plenty of art touring to be done. And with eleven more tunnelbana lines now under construction, there’s even more art on the way. “It will be really well integrated,” said Broman. “Architects and artists are working really closely together to create something amazing.”
Rådhuset station in Stockholm. Artist Sigvard Olsson.
Photo by Markus Hallberg
Public transport agencies of the world ought to take note: treat your mass transit spaces as a blank canvas and the possibilities are limitless. Public art improves the experience for residents who use the system every day and helps put a city on the map, attracting visitors not only to the city itself but into its public transport network – a winning formula for everyone.
