IRL – Landskrona Foto: View Ireland

The photography from other countries that is shown at the major Swedish institutions often comes form the USA or countries in Western Europe. Landskrona Foto intends to devote a summer exhibition each year to the presentation of interesting photography from countries that are rarely seen in Scandinavia. In the last two summers, Landskrona Foto has presented the photography and photographers of another country. The series started with Turkey, followed by the Czech Republic, and now in 2016 it is Ireland’s turn – not just the Republic of Ireland but the whole island, including Northern Ireland. Photography as an art form has attained an unprecedented position in Sweden in the last decade. The number of galleries, institutions and museums exhibiting contemporary photography has never been greater. Nor have so many photobooks been published. Moreover, compared to many other forms of culture, the audience is often noticeably young. Landskrona Foto is the umbrella name for a firm ambition to create a powerful centre for the photographic image, ranging over fields such as preservation, the history of photography, training, exhibitions and the establishment of an annual meeting place for professional photography – Landskrona Foto Festival. the aim is not to compete with the exemplary work being done elsewhere, but to provide a compliment where there are unsatisfied needs in Nordic photography.

Ireland – the island on the north west edge of Europe – has had a history that is dramatic and in many ways unique. For this presentation Landskrona have chosen to highlight some themes. One of these concerns being how Irish photographers have tackled and interpreted the serious political conflicts that have affected people’s lives in the last hundred years. Another theme is about how people relate to the idyllic tourist image of “the Emerald Isle”. Encouraged by their institutional partners, Landskrona have chosen to describe the island as a cultural whole, regardless of the fact that Ireland is divided between two separate nations.

Landskrona Foto is the collective name for a center for the photographic image that spans areas such as exhibitions, events, photo history, photo books, residency, research, and collections. The most important element, the one we call ‘The highlight of Photography’ is our festival where the love of photography, dedication, and commitment to Landskrona as the meeting place of photography reaches its crescendo.