[Overseas/Exhibition Report] Moderna Museet Stockholm "Permanent Collection" & "Katalin Ladik Ooooooooo-pus"

[#278, approx. 5,200 characters, approx. 75 photos]
SwedenI visited the Moderna Museet (Museum of Modern Art, Stockholm) to see the permanent collection and special exhibitions. Here are my impressions.

* The special exhibition has already ended.

▶︎ Conclusion

It is a museum of modern art within walking distance from Stockholm city center. With many works by world-famous artists, it is enjoyable for both art enthusiasts and tourists. What left the biggest impression on me was the glimpse into the Swedish national character that I felt through the curation and the collection. When traveling abroad, visiting museums to learn about local history and values is highly recommended.

▶︎ Access

To get to the Moderna Museet, it is an approx. 30-minute walk (approx. 2 km) from Stockholm Central Station. It is a pleasant walk with scenic views. You can also take a bus, as there is a bus stop near the museum.

▶︎ What is the Moderna Museet?

The Moderna Museet is a national museum. The collection consists of a total of approx. 130,000 works (Picasso, Dalí, Rauschenberg, etc.), focusing mainly on the early 20th century. Of these, photographic works account for about 100,000.

In 1958, it opened by separating works from the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm and moving them to the former naval drill grounds on Skeppsholmen Island. The current building was completed in 1998 adjacent to the site of the old museum (designed by Spanish architect Rafael Moneo).

"Moderna Museet" means "Modern Museum" in Swedish. In other words, it is a "Museum of Modern Art".

In 2009, a branch, the Moderna Museet Malmö, was also opened in Malmö in southern Sweden.

Adjacent to the Moderna Museet is "ArkDes". It is a national museum that focuses mainly on architecture. "ArkDes" is an abbreviation for "the National Centre for Architecture and Design".

It was originally the Swedish Museum of Architecture (1962), but after various changes, it was relocated next to the Moderna Museet in September 2024 as "ArkDes". Due to time constraints, I did not enter (free admission).

In addition, the museum had a well-stocked gift shop, cafe, and restaurant.

▶︎ Permanent Collection Impressions

The permanent collectionconsisted of three exhibitions. For 150 SEK (approx. 2,000 yen), you can see both the permanent and special exhibitions (there is no ticket option for just the permanent collection).

The permanent collection is housed in three consecutive single-story spaces arranged side-by-side. The architecture was generally simple and monotonous.

Photography was allowed (though I didn't see many locals taking pictures of the artworks).

1) The Subterranean Sky -Surrealism in the Moderna Museet Collection- (26.10 2024 – 11.1 2026)

A permanent exhibition featuringSurrealistworks that the Moderna Museet Stockholm holds in its strong collection (including some on loan).

The first thing I felt upon entering was that "Swedish works are (mentally) dark!" There are almost no bright works. I wonder if this is anational trait.

In Japan, there are refined genres like "Ukiyo-e." On the other hand, such works are almost non-existent in Sweden. I felt thetone was completely different.

▼ Ukiyo-e Exhibition @ Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art

▼ Louise Bourgeois Exhibition at Mori Art Museum

2) Pink Sails -Swedish Modernism in the Moderna Museet collection- (17.6 2023 – 31.8 2025)

Introducing works from the Moderna Museet Stockholm collection, focusing on pieces created from the 1900s to 1940s. In Sweden at that time, the influence of large cities led to a transition from an agricultural society to an industrial one. There, anxiety about war and other factors were reflected in the works.

In front of the museum, there were outdoor works by Niki de Saint Phalle dancing happily. However, the contrast with the dark works inside the museum was striking.

3) Yet Another Morning -Drawing in the Moderna Museet Collection- (22.2 2025 – 10.5 2026)

A collection exhibition focusing on "drawings." Drawings using various themes and techniques were displayed alongside sculptures and video works.

In accordance with the exhibition's purpose, there were people here and there in the venue attempting to draw. This is a practice not often seen in Japan. In fact, some museums in Japan even prohibit copying. It was interesting to see how museum management policies differ from country to country.

▼ Artizon Museum, which asks visitors not to copy works

Among them, there were many works expressing homosexuality. In Japan, there is a strong emphasis on signaling, 'This is the homosexuality zone! Our museum is really considering diversity!'

On the other hand, at Moderna Museet Stockholm, such works are displayed alongside other works without any special emphasis. I felt that this reflects a fundamental difference in awareness regarding diversity.

When I summarize my thoughts on exhibitions on note, I accumulate knowledge to some extent. At Moderna Museet Stockholm, there were many moments where I thought, "Oh! This is that piece by so-and-so!" I realized that it is because I record my reflections on note that it sticks in my brain, rather than just looking at them.

One initiative I saw for the first time at Moderna Museet Stockholm was the portable stool. Visitors are free to take these stools and place them in front of artworks to view them at their leisure. If such an initiative were implemented in Japan, I feel like some people would complain that they are "in the way!"

▶︎ Special Exhibition "Katalin Ladik Ooooooooo-pus" Impressions

The exhibition runs from Sep 11, 2024, to May 18, 2025. Katalin Ladik is a Serbian-born woman (currently 82 years old). She seems to specialize in sound, photography, and performance art.

From her poetry works, I felt the same atmosphere as Carl Andre.

▼ Carl Andre Exhibition at DIC Kawamura Memorial Museum

Inside the venue, an eerie voice saying "Ooooooooo-pus" was repeated. Since they were all avant-garde works, I had a Yayoi Kusama-esque impression. Like the permanent collection, the curation and the group of works made me think, "scary, dark."

▶︎ Glimpsing National Character at the Museum

Including both the permanent and special exhibitions, I felt they were "dark!." Regarding the museum's architecture, I also had the impression of it being simple and sturdy.

In Sweden, it is said that there is an "inward-looking" tendency influenced by the "long, cold, dark winters and short daylight hours." Also, in Sweden, there is a concept called "Lagom," which values "humility and moderation." It was interesting to see how the national character was reflected in the museum's curation and collection against that background.

At first glance, I felt that Swedish people are "cold". However, once you talk to them, they are often very fun to communicate with.

When I showed my ticket at the special exhibition, the receptionist gave me a cool response, saying "Go ahead." After leaving the exhibition, when I mentioned, "The works were super scary," she gave me a fun reaction like, "Right! Everyone else says that too! Ooh!"

By the way, famous Swedish companies include "Volvo", "Spotify", and "H&M". Also, in terms of artists, there is Hilma af Klint, whose exhibition at the National Museum of Modern Art was very popular. Indeed, when looking at Klint's ethereal works, I felt that they were "very Swedish".

▼ Impressions of the Hilma af Klint exhibition

▶︎ Summary

What did you think? It was fun to see the works housed in the museum, but what left the biggest impression on me was that I could read the Swedish national character from the curation and the collection of works. Art is something that expresses thoughts and emotions. Naturally, its nature is influenced by the national character. I thought that visiting museums is also an effective way to understand the local mindset.

▶︎ Today's museum meal

▶︎ Other observations in Sweden

• Trains are convenient as you can pay with contactless credit cards

• Railways and buses are well-developed, making travel easy

• Buildings are simple and inorganic

• The streets are quiet everywhere

• Information is not overwhelming and is simple

• No one walks on the elevator

• Swedes don't pay much attention to their clothing. Many are empty-handed

• Only Asians look at their phones while eating

• Mornings start early, and cafes are open from early in the morning

• It is quiet on the train. The only people talking are tourists