Göteborgs Konsthall – en 100-årig konsthistoria

For about 100 years Göteborgs Konsthall has exhibited art at Götaplatsen in Gothenburg, Sweden. The book, Göteborgs Konsthall – en 100-årig konsthistoria is a celebration of its century-long existence.

Göteborgs Konsthall – en hundraårig konsthistoria begins in 18th century Europe, when art exhibitions for the public were established, continues to the Jubileum Exhibition (Jubileumsutställningen) in Gothenburg in 1923 when the exhibition space was opened, and on to the present, the year of the Pandemic, 2020.

The book describes how various artistic, societal and political movements have affected the Konsthall, and how in turn the Konsthall has affected art, society and politics. This reciprocal relationship encompasses not only artists, artworks and people who worked at the Konsthall, but it also reveals how art is viewed in general. Additional aspects include Konsthall visitors and pedagogical work, national and regional cultural policies and the growth of the city of Gothenburg. All this illuminates the significance of Göteborgs Konsthall during its first 100 years.

A unique writing of history

Göteborgs Konsthall – en hundraårig konsthistoria is written by Andréas Hagström together with a number of invited writers. During his 20 years working at Göteborgs Konsthall Andréas Hagström has built up a physical and digital archive of its history. This material has now been further developed with a unique historical survey which also includes several different writers’ voices that add in-depth studies, analyses and perspectives.

Maria Görts describes the emergence of art associations and art galleries in Europe during the 18th century; Louise Wolthers writes about the first large scale international photographic exhibition in Gothenburg in 1929; Kajsa Widegren writes about gender and representation based on the history of the konsthall and Martin Gustavsson shows us the material conditions via Baumol´s dilemma and organizational amnesia. Lisa Rosendahl has invited a number of artists from different generations to share their views on Göteborgs Konsthall, and the artistic director Stina Edblom and curator Liv Stoltz reflect on the activities of the konsthall today and in the future.