Discover Stockholm's metro, the world's longest art exhibition
Staff Writer |
Hidden in the depths beneath the Swedish capital lies "the world's longest art gallery", the Stockholm Metro, making traveling by subway like traveling through an exciting story.
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1957, the Stockholm Tunnel Rail began inviting artists to decorate its stations as a means of democratizing art.
Finnish artist Per-Olov Ultvedt made the first works inside the T-Centralen central hub, painting the rough-hewn exposed bedrock with crisp blue-and-white floral patterns and the silhouettes of the workers who built it; Signe Persson-Melin and Anders Österlin collaboratively designed the mosaics on the tunnel tiles.
Today, 90 of the system’s 100 stations in Stockholm have been decorated with sculptures, mosaics, paintings, installations, engravings, and reliefs by over 150 artists.
Kungsträdgarden, is arguably one of the most dramatic installations. It is the vibrantly colored abstract harlequin design which engulfs its caves.
Painted by Ulrik Samuelson in 1977 with additions made by the artist in 1987, this ceiling artwork can be found on the Arsenalsgatan exit side of the station.
At Östermalmstorg the artist Siri Derkert highlights women's rights and peace and environmental issues.
Artist Per Olof Ultvedt wanted to honor the workers – welders, carpenters, steel workers, engineers, miners – who were working at the station as well back in the 70s.
Instead of inscribing their names on walls which felt eerily similar to a grave memorial, he decided to paint silhouettes in blue of the workers including himself all over the walls and ceilings of the Blue Line connection at T-Centralen as a way of honoring their service.
For anyone who wants to get more in-depth knowledge on what shaped the various stations and the ideas of their respective artists, SL offer guided art tours all year round.
Although the tour is free, the English tour is only available during the summer season (June to August).
Don’t rush! Take a moment to walk around and get a feel for the whole station. There’s so much to see if you just stop and look.
With their uniquely decorated wall and beautiful art, many of Stockholm’s metro stations are truly photogenic.
A single ticket is valid for 75 minutes and you can also buy passes for 24, hours, 72 hours and 30 days.
The same tickets and passes can also be used to travel by bus, tram, commuter trains and the ferries from Nybroviken and DjurgÃ¥rden. ■