Martin
Bogren

Martin Bogren

biography


Suedish photographer, lives in Malmö.

In the 1990s, Martin Bogren developed a personal approach of documentary photography by following swedish musicians and artists on stage, tour, and studio. His first book “The Cardigans – Been It », published at the top of the group’s success in 1996 , reveals his work and launches his career. Martin Bogren however aims at going beyond assignments and music field : he focuses on more personal photographic work.

Travels encounters, (Notes, 2008, Italia, 2016), joy of first discoveries (Ocean, 2008), or teenage spleen (Lowlands, 2011, Tractors boys, 2013, Embraces, 2014) : his works reveal a vivid desire to avoid boredom and to reach an elsewhere. He gets in contact with his subjects as a silent witness, as a subtle and caring observer. Through grainy black-and-white and highly grey nuanced photographs, he succeeds in combining a documentary approach with a sensitive affirmation of his subjective vision.

«  I think photography is about searching. But when we have found what we were looking for, we will automatically stop looking for it, right? I don’t know what I’m looking for. Probably a recognition of myself in others, and others in myself – a community with others and a togetherness. This mirroring, this reflection, I believe is an ongoing process in our lives – with or without the camera in our hands. I believe this search is the main reason for us being here and photography can be a wonderful thing for it. »

In addition to numerous grants and prizes in Sweden, his work is recognized internationally and part of several prestigious collections – including the Forografiska Museet (Stockholm), the Oregon Art Museum (Portland) and the Bibliothèque nationale de France. He is the author of several highly acclaimed books, including Tractor Boys, Italia and August Song.

Series


Passenger, 2021

Série | Associating colour with black and white esthetic, the "Passenger" corpus extends the initiation journey that is dear to Martin Bogren's photographic writing.

August Song, 2019

Martin Bogren photographed balls in the Swedish countryside for several summers and gives us an intimate and vertiginous account that condenses in a way the sensitive affirmation of his subjective visions.

Italia, 2017

Martin Bogren has travelled through Italian cities without any real goal. It was a question for him of getting lost, of drawing a path without any predefined intention.

Hollow, 2015

The city seems in the grip of an insurmountable winter. Unless it is him who holds it in thrall; he drifts alone, a stranger to himself. Trapped in the absurdity of being in the world when any horizon looks like a dead end.

Tractor Boys, 2012

A silent witness – it is truly remarkable that these images of moments of fury should be silent to this extent – he observes. In compositions as flexible as they are precise, as natural and instinctive as they are understated, he endeavours to report what he sees and what he perceives.

Passenger, 2021

Série | Associating colour with black and white esthetic, the "Passenger" corpus extends the initiation journey that is dear to Martin Bogren's photographic writing.

August Song, 2019

Martin Bogren photographed balls in the Swedish countryside for several summers and gives us an intimate and vertiginous account that condenses in a way the sensitive affirmation of his subjective visions.

Italia, 2017

Martin Bogren has travelled through Italian cities without any real goal. It was a question for him of getting lost, of drawing a path without any predefined intention.

Hollow, 2015

The city seems in the grip of an insurmountable winter. Unless it is him who holds it in thrall; he drifts alone, a stranger to himself. Trapped in the absurdity of being in the world when any horizon looks like a dead end.

Tractor Boys, 2012

A silent witness – it is truly remarkable that these images of moments of fury should be silent to this extent – he observes. In compositions as flexible as they are precise, as natural and instinctive as they are understated, he endeavours to report what he sees and what he perceives.

Passenger, 2021

Série | Associating colour with black and white esthetic, the "Passenger" corpus extends the initiation journey that is dear to Martin Bogren's photographic writing.

August Song, 2019

Martin Bogren photographed balls in the Swedish countryside for several summers and gives us an intimate and vertiginous account that condenses in a way the sensitive affirmation of his subjective visions.

Italia, 2017

Martin Bogren has travelled through Italian cities without any real goal. It was a question for him of getting lost, of drawing a path without any predefined intention.

Hollow, 2015

The city seems in the grip of an insurmountable winter. Unless it is him who holds it in thrall; he drifts alone, a stranger to himself. Trapped in the absurdity of being in the world when any horizon looks like a dead end.

Tractor Boys, 2012

A silent witness – it is truly remarkable that these images of moments of fury should be silent to this extent – he observes. In compositions as flexible as they are precise, as natural and instinctive as they are understated, he endeavours to report what he sees and what he perceives.

Interview


Martin Bogren
Lens Culture

2014

Award-winning Swedish photographer Martin Bogren talks about his personal approach to photography, from his early days as a music photographer, to his latest award-winning book about young teenagers in Sweden on hot summer nights with their hotrod cars, cigarettes and girlfriends.

ExHibitions


Passenger

Swedish Institute, Paris (FRANCE)

From June 03 to 27, 2021

Italia

Le Plac’art Photo, Paris (FRANCE)

From November 3 to 19, 2017

Tractor Boys

Commanderie Saint-Jean, Corbeil-Essonnes (FRANCE)

From March 21 to May 21, 2017

books


Passenger

Lamaindonne - 2021

Italia

Max Ström - 2016

Embraces

Auto Édition - 2014

Notes

Stockholms Fotoantikvariat - 2008

Passenger

Lamaindonne - 2021

Italia

Max Ström - 2016

Embraces

Auto Édition - 2014

Notes

Stockholms Fotoantikvariat - 2008

Passenger

Lamaindonne - 2021

Italia

Max Ström - 2016

Embraces

Auto Édition - 2014

Notes

Stockholms Fotoantikvariat - 2008

awards


2020
Grant from the Swedish Art Council

2019
Grant from the Swedish Authors Found

2018
Grant from the Swedish Art Council

2015
Grant from the Swedish Art Council

2013
Grant from the Swedish Art Council
Grant from the Swedish Authors Found

2011
Grant from the Swedish Authors Fond
Scanpix Grand Photography Prize-
Grant & award from Arbetets Museum, Norrköping
Grant & award from Claes Löwenhaupt Foundation

2010
Grant from the Swedish Art Counsil
Grant from Swedish Authors Fond

2009
Honorable Prize for Best Photobook. Sweden ( Ocean )
World Photography Awards
Grant from The Swedish Arts Counsil

2008
Grant from the Swedish Authors Organisation

2006
Grant from the Swedish Authers Foundation. (Kavalla Grant)
Grant from the Swedish Photographers Society.

2004
Grant from Sparbanken Finn.