About


Born 1949 in Örebro, Sweden. 
Lives and works in Stockholm, Sweden.

Dawid (Björn Dawidsson) is one of Sweden’s most respected and well-known photo-based artists. The main body of his work are rare Vintage Silver Gelatin Prints but he also has recent work where he has utilised the possibilities of digitalisation proving his continuous experimentation with both ancient and modern techniques and equipment.

Dawid has been called Sweden’s first post-modern artist and has for over thirty years been making series of photographically based artworks examining the nature of the medium and exploring issues of perception. He began photographing in the late sixties, documenting incongruous moments with a wry sense of humour, until he established his signature style of stark graphic illustration, initiated by the seminal Rost series. His work often balances on a tight rope between the graphic and the photographic and reflects, criticises, and parallels the chequered history and changing status of photography.

A photographic alchemist, intellectual, and scientist with numerous solo and group exhibitions, more than 30 personal photobooks, and a collectors choice with his work in prestigious collections, inter alia The National Museum of Art Oslo, Moderna Museet Stockholm, and the Hasselblad Collections well as a wide range of private collections.

Since the 1970s Dawid has been exhibited at leading art institutions, museums, and galleries in Sweden and internationally, including the Moderna Museet, Millesgårdens art gallery, and Thiel Gallery in Stockholm, Folkwang Museum in Essen, Galerie Priska Pasquer in Cologne. In 2009 Dawid was awarded the Swedish Arts Grants Committee’s Grand Prize for his artistic achievements and significance. 

Work


Exhibition URVAL

The photographic works of Swedish artist Dawid are among the most radical, poetic, and original attempts to redefine photography’s relationship to its image referent. Coming from an social documentary context of the 1970s, student of Christer Strömholm, Dawid’s photography inscribes itself in the ambitious movement of the 1980s to create from photography an emancipated, autonomous image, on an equal footing with painting, drawing and sculpture. With a great economy of means – often using only a light table and a large-format camera – he transcends our physical world of visible and nameable things into a realm of signs, a world of photographic hieroglyphics that in part leaves the function of objects still legible, in part gives them an entirely new meaning. 

Enigmatic silhouettes, landscapes, rock formations, outlines of unknown countries on a map, Asian characters – the viewer may discover all these forms in the images of the series Comp. The photographs of the series Rust give more information about the materiality of things. In an ever-increasing digitalization of all areas of life, these images remind us that the obsolete world of physical things, even scrap metal, creates the material for abstract compositions and, as it were, saves them from disappearing. The Kemigrams, in turn, leave the world of objects behind. Of their genesis, the works are the most painterly; at work here are light and chemistry, gesture and chance, surface tension of liquids and absorption behavior of papers. (Excerpt from text by Florian Ebner 2022)

  • Dawid, Rost #6374.05, 2016, pigment print, exhibition Urval at Dorothée Nilsson Gallery 2022, Berlin

MK / AW

Arbetsnamn Skulptur / Working Name Sculpture

CV


Solo Exhibitions (selected)

2022

Urval, Dorothée Nilsson Gallery, Berlin, DE

2020

Enlargements, Dorothée Nilsson Gallery, Berlin, DE

2018

Kirkegaards Antikvariat, Copenhagen, DK

2017

Nationalmuseum på Gripsholm Slott, SE

Rost, Grundemark Nilsson Gallery, Berlin, DE

2016

Bukowskis, Stockholm, SE

2015

Christian Larsen Gallery, Stockholm, SE

Urval, Hishult Konsthall, SE

2014

Ex. Shoot Gallery, Oslo, NO

Rost/Rust, Riga Art Space, Riga, LV

Abecita Konsthall, Borås, SE

2013

MK/AW, Grundemark Nilsson Gallery, Berlin, DE

2012

3D, Landskrona Museum, Landskrona, SE 

2011

RRR, Grundemark Nilsson Gallery, Berlin, DE

2010

Sturehof, Stockholm, SE

Nordic Light, Kristiansund, NO

KARS, Galleri Kontrast, Stockholm, SE

FSCC, galleri ikon, Stockholm, SE

Gallery Double Elvis, Stockholm, SE

2009

Hasselblad Center, Göteborg, SE

2008

Liljevalchs Konsthall, Stockholm, SE

Skövde Museum, SE

2006

Degeberga Konsthall, SE

Kabusa Konsthall, SE

2005

Millesgårdens Konsthall, Stockholm, SE

2004

Galleri Skarstedt, Stockholm, SE

2003

Eyubi, Stockholm, SE

2002

Fredriksdals Museum, Helsingborg, SE

Centre Culturel Suois, Paris, FR

2001

Lydmar Hotell, Stockholm, SE

The Pentagram Gallery, London, UK

Galerie Priska Pasquer, Cologne, DE

2000

Galleri Riis, Oslo, NO

Life Gallery, Stockholm, SE

1999

Galerie 213, Paris, FR

1998

Galleri Annexet, Malmö, SE

Galleri UP, Stockholm, SE

Galleri Krister Fahl, Stockholm, SE

1997

Karlshamns Konsthall, SE

1996

Galleri ZEBRA, Kari, FI

Galleri Krister Fahl, Stockholm, SE

1995

Galleri Riis, Oslo, NO

Galleri UP, Stockholm, SE

Fotomässan, Göteborg, SE

1994

Upplandsmuseet, Uppsala, SE

Encontros da Imagem, Braga, PT

Söderhamns Konsthall, Söderhamn, SE

Galleri Krister Fahl, Stockholm, SE

1993

Folkwang Museum, Essen, DE

Galleri Nemo, Kiel, Germany 1993

Pieni Agora, Helsinki, Finland 1992

Galleri Wallner, Malmö, Sweden 1992

Bildmuseet, Umeå, Sweden 1992

Mölndals Konsthall, Mölndal, Sweden 1992

Lido, Stockholm, Sweden 1991

Galleri Nordanstad-Skarstedt, Stockholm, Sweden 1991

Fotografiska Museet i Moderna Museet, Stockholm, Sweden 1991

Galleri Riis, Oslo, Norway 1990

Galleri Wallner, Malmö, Sweden 1989

Malmö Konsthall, Malmö, Sweden 1989

Galerie Le Lieu, Lorient, France 1989

Thielska Galleriet, Stockholm, Sweden 1989

Galleri Nemo, Kiel, Germany 1987

Galleri Finnfoto, Helsinki, Finland 1987

Galleri Nordenhake, Malmö, Sweden 1986

Galleri Olsson, Stockholm, Sweden 1986

Centre Culturel Su Žois, Paris, France 1986

Upplands Konstmuseum, Uppsala, Sweden 1985

Galleri BarBar, Stockholm, Sweden 1984

Fotografiska Museet i Moderna Museet, Stockholm, Sweden 1983

Malmö Konsthall, Malmö, Sweden 1982

Galleri Camera Obscura, Stockholm, Sweden 1982

Galleri Camera Obscura, Stockholm, Sweden 1980

Fotograficentrum with Håkan Lind, Stockholm, Sweden 1978

Västerbottens Museum, Umeå, Sweden 1973

Liljevalchs Konsthall, Stockholm, Sweden 1973

Group Exhibitions (selected)
STHLM Forever, Fotografiska, Stockholm, Sweden 2018
 
In Dialogue with Strömholm, Gallery Dorothée Nilsson, Berlin, Germany 2018
 
Gärning, Konstmuseum Gothenburg, Sweden, 2016

Perceptions, Grundemark Nilsson Gallery, Berlin, Germany 2016

Grundemark Nilsson Gallery, AIPAD, New York, USA 2016

Pace/MacGill, (together with Sugimoto and Callahan) New York, USA 2015

Grundemark Nilsson Gallery, AIPAD, New York, USA 2015

Nordic B&W, Shoot Gallery, Oslo, Norway 2015

Macrocosmi, Due ponti Lab, Bologna, Italy 2015

Konstforum, Norrköping, Sweden 2014

Industrial World 014, MAST Collection, Bologna, Italy 2014

Ett sätt att leva/A way of life, Moderna Museet Stockholm, Sweden 2014

Grundemark Nilsson Gallery, AIPAD, New York, USA 2014

Between Realities. Photography in Sweden 1970–2000, Hasselblad Center, Gothenburg, Sweden 2014

Ett sätt att leva/A way of life, Moderna Museet Malmö, Sweden 2014

The Visible, Artipelag, Stockholm, Sweden 2014

Swedish Photography, Context Art Miami, Florida, USA 2013

Swedish Photography, SP-Arte, Sao Paulo, Brazil 2013

Swedish Photography, Context Art Miami, Florida, USA 2012

Swedish Photography, SP-Arte, Sao Paulo, Brazil 2012

Moderna Museet, Åter till verkligheten/Reality Revisited, Stockholm, Sweden 2009

Åmells c/o Konstnärshuset, Fotografins återkomst-Arbeten från ett intimistiskt decennium, Stockholm, Sweden 2009

Willy Brandt Haus, Christer Strömholms Fotoschule, Berlin, Germany 2003

Form/Design Center, Photography in Advertising, Malmö, Sweden 2003

Galerie Leger, Hommage à Ola Billgren, Malmö, Sweden 2002

Brecht-Haus, Fragment, Berlin, Germany 2001

Liljevalch Konsthall, 396 Fotografiska förälskelser, Stockholm, Sweden 2001

The Life Gallery, Photo Op, Stockholm, Sweden 2001

Skövde Konsthall, Nordiskt Foto, Sweden 2000

Lunds Konsthall, Vandraren, Sweden 2000

Nordbrabante Nuseum, Hertognbosch, Holland 2000

P-House, Networking, Tokyo, Japan 1999

Bildmuseet, Privat samling, Umeå, Sweden 1999

Hasselblad Center, Ur samlingarna, Göteborg, Sweden 1998

Stockholm Underground, UNDER/EXPOSED, Sweden 1998

Helsingborgs Museum, Blickens eko, Sweden 1997

Bildmuseet, Fotografihistorier, Umeå, Sweden 1995

Uppsala Konstmuseum, Deadline, Sweden 1995

Forum, Elkida, Stockholm, Sweden 1994

ICP, Stranger Than Paradise, New york, USA travelling exh. 1994

PROSPECTS-Contemporary Swedish Photography, Travelling exh. 1994

Fotografiska Museet i Moderna Museet, Prospekt, Stockholm, Sweden travelling exh. 1993

Spelets Regler, Stockholm, Sweden 1993

Centrum Szuki Wsp tczesnej Patac Ujazdowski, Pod ostona nieba, Warzaw, Poland 1993

Liljevalchs Konsthall, De refuserade, Stockholm, Sweden 1993

Malmö Konsthall, Från Skåne, Malmö, Sweden 1992

Museet for samtidskunst, Konkret, Oslo, Norway 1992

Kunsthalle Rostock, Ostsee-Biennale 1992, Germany 1992

D’Arte Galleria, Elkida, Helsinki, Finland 1992

Kampnagelfabrik, Zehn jahre junge kunst in Malmö, Hamburg, Germany 1991

Södertälje Konsthall, Yttre, Sweden 1991

Hasselblad Center, Konst-Fotografi, Gothenburg, Sweden Travelling exh. 1991

Moderna Museet i Stockholm, Lika med, Sweden Travelling exh. 1991

Moderna Museet, Spegling, Stockholm, Sweden Travelling exh. 1990

Charlottenborg, Nordic, Köpenhamn, Denmark 1990

Brandts Klaedefabrik Museum, Nordic Artistic Photography – a viewpoint, Odense, Denmark Travelling exh, 1987

Louisiana, Fred, Humlebaek, Denmark 1987

Germans van Eck Gallery, Conversions, New York, UAi 1986

Brandts Klaedefabrik Museum, Nordic Art Photography, Odeise, Denmark 1985

Rotterdamse Kunststichting, Het stilleven in de fotografie, Netherlands 1984

Sveaborg, Valokuva Taiteena, Helsinki, Finland 1984

Walker Art Center, The Frozen Image, Minneapolis, USA (travelling exh.) 1982

Konsthallen, Sju svenska fotografer, Pori, Finland 1981

Palais des Beaux-Arts, Le Moderna museet de Stockholm a Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium 1981

Photographers Gallery, Swedish Photographers, Wales 1981

Moderna Museet, Vargen, Stockholm, Sweden 1975

Publications

Välstånd, Photographs and poetry from the 70’s, Bokförlaget Boris, Stockholm 2018

MEN, Nationalmuseum Förlag, Stockholm 2017

This is a Photograph, Art and Theory Publishing, Sweden 2015

Sugimoto. Dawid. Callahan, Steidl Verlag, Germany 2015

KARS, DOG Förlag, Sweden 2011

JOBB/WORK, DOG Förlag, Sweden 2010

Verkligen, Arena Förlag, Sweden 2009

HYBRIS, Liljevalchs Konsthall, Sweden 2008

FSCC, Arkitektkopia,Sweden 2008

Merit, DOG Förlag, Sweden 2006

Beautiful Frames, Steidl Verlag, Germany 2001

Dappendix, ROLF Förlag, Sweden 1997

Daffisher, ROLF Förlag, Sweden 1995

M+M, Volkwang Museum, Germany 1993

ROST, DOG Förlag/Moderna Museet, Sweden 1983

Awards, Grants and Residencies

Bildkonstnärsfondens Stora Stipendium, Sweden 2004

Nominated for The Citigroup Private Bank Photography Prize 2002, England 2001

Konstnärsnämnden, Stockholm, Sweden 1994

Nominated for the ICP Infinity Award, New york, USA 1992

Edstrandska Stiftelsen, Malmö, Sweden 1991

Nocturne Kulturpris, Stockholm 1988

Sveriges Författarfond 1988

Konstnärsnämnden, Stockholm 1982

Sveriges Författarfond, Stockholm 1980

Konstnärsnämnden, Stockholm 1979

Collections (selected)

Absolut Art Collection

Bank of Luxembourg, LU

Bonnier Collection, Stockholm, SE

Camera Obscura Collection, Stockholm, SE

Centre for Creative Photography in Tucson, Tucson, AZ, USA

Centro Cultural Arte Contemporaneo, Mexico City, MX

Dorint Collection, Brussels, BE

Erling Neby Collection, Oslo, NO

Folkwang Museum, Essen, DE

Göteborgs konstmuseum, Götenborg, SE

Helsingborgs museum, SE

Kalmar konstmuseum, SE

Kristiansands museum, NO

Landskrona museum, Landskrona, SE

Lasse Åberg Collection, SE

Malmö Museum, Malmö, SE

Manfred Heiting Collection, DE

Moderna Museet, Stockholm, SE

Mölndals konsthall, SE

Nationalmuseum, Stockholm, SE

Norrköping konstmuseum, Norrköping, SE

Nyky taiteen museo, Helsinki, FI

Rogaland Kunstmuseum, Stavanger, NO

Statens Konstråd, Stockholm, SE

Statens Konstråd, Malmö, SE

Statens porträttsamling, SE

Strawberry Art, Oslo, SE

The Hasselblad Collection, Göteborg, SE

Upplands Konstmuseum, Uppsala, SE

Örebro Läns Landsting, SE