RESEARCH_1

I moved to Sweden at the very end of 2020. Spending my first Christmas in a new country during the height of the pandemic was far from ideal. Isolated and uncertain, I filled my days with League of Legends and board games within the Russian-speaking community. Yet, alternative culture had always been a part of my life, and as the year unfolded, I was drawn to explore Sweden’s local art scene.

At one point, I nearly lost hope of finding my place here. Looking back, I realize this struggle wasn’t mine alone — many young Swedes felt the same way. But soon, a new generation of artists began launching ambitious projects, forging a movement that would redefine Swedish contemporary art.

This long read chronicles a piece of that transformation, weaving together stories from the V.A. collection and firsthand accounts of those who lived through it. It is also told through my own lens, as a newcomer, driven by a deep desire to understand, connect, and contribute to a scene in the making.