Erik Hagman

Born 1974
Lives in Stockholm

Photography chose me and it has been a part of my life since my teens when I worked with black and white photography and became interested in photo historical processes such as cyanotype and salt paper. Today I work digitally and it offers completely different possibilities where I am not limited by the film's few exposures. The approach I have maintained from spending hours and days in the laboratory is the importance of the physical image on paper. Images on the screen quickly disappear while an image on paper remains in memory.

My hope in image creation is trying to move the senses by intensifying reality and through this lay a foundation for reflection within the viewer. A starting point is often a place, a dilemma, the process involves an investigation and an exploration, not entirely different from the approach I had earlier in my career when I worked as a photojournalist. However, my intention is not to explain reality but rather to ask questions. Life and our world interests me and just working abstractly would deprive me of the opportunity to evoke more than a purely aesthetic experience. For an image to touch us, it is not enough that it reminds us of life, but it must have a life of its own to reflect life.

Education

2014 The meadow - Reenacted, Akademin Valand, University of Gothenburg
1995 – 1998 BFA in Photography HFF, University of Gothenburg
1993 – 1994 GFU Basic Photography Education, Stockholm
1990 – 1993 Natural Science, High Scool, Kungsängsskolan, Sala


Professional Experience

2002 – 2024 Photographer New York and Stockholm
2015 – 2017 Lecturer in Photography Beckmans College of Design, Stockholm
1999 – 2001 Photo Assistant New York, Frederik Lieberath, Fabian Baron and Terry Richardson
1989 – 1999 Photojournalist Sala Allehanda


Books

2022 Barriers Erik Hagman, Niclas Östlind
2020 Mästarverket Lisa Jeannin, Smaragdina Skrifter, Image content
2019 Pandokraterna Eric Ericson och Susanna Wallstén, Kaunitz Olsson, Cover Image
2018 Swedish Modern Orosdi-Back, Part of Image Content
2018 Pandornas Dal Eric Ericson och Susanna Wallstén, Orosdi-Back, Image Content
2017 Swedish Grace Orosdi-Back, Part of Image Content
2017 Kaj Franklin Orosdi-Back, Photo Reproduction of Image Content
2014 Mekanik Christer Nyberg, Liber, Cover Image


Exhibitions and Events

2023 A Whisper and three trembling shadows Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris
2023 Book presentation Konst-ig, Stockholm
2022 Photobook Festival Kulturhuset Stadsteatern, Stockholm
2022 Barriers Göteborg Book Fair
2022 Photobook Market Landskrona Foto
2022 A Whisper and three trembling shadows Sjöbo Konsthall
2021 Salong CFF Stockholm
2021 A Whisper and three trembling shadows Paviljong C Hökarängen, Stockholm
2020 Vintersalongen Nacka konsthall, Nacka
2020 Barriers Centrifug Konsthall C, Stockholm
2019 Salong CFF Stockholm
2019 Vårsalongen Liljevalchs, Stockholm
2014 The meadow - Reenacted Art Center Öckerö Library, Curator: Niclas Östlind
2014 The meadow - Reenacted Göteborgs Konsthall
1998 HFF Degree Exhibition Edsvik Konst & Kultur, Sollentuna


Grants

2024 Stiftelsen Längmanska kulturfonden
2023 Swedish Authors’ Fund One year working grant
2023 Helge Ax:son Johnsons Stiftelse
2023 Artist studio Grant Stockholm City
2022 Swedish Arts Council Literature support
2022 The Swedish Arts Grants Committee One year working grant
2021 Helge Ax:son Johnsons Stiftelse
2020 Stiftelsen Längmanska kulturfonden