Nordiska Museet Explores Nordic Life in Its Largest Exhibition to Date

As a finale to the museum’s 150th anniversary, Nordiska museet in Stockholm is launching its largest ever exhibition initiative – Nordic Life. Presenting 4,000 artefacts, images, and archive materials from the museum’s extensive collections, the exhibition Nordic Life tells a coherent story of life in Sweden and the Nordic region over a 500-year period. After five years of preparations, the exhibition will open on 10 February 2024.

The exhibition is about the people of the Nordic region and how life there is constantly transforming.

“This is Nordiska museet’s unique story, a story that no one else can tell. Nordic Life is based on the museum’s extensive collections, which have been built up over more than 150 years. Focusing on the history of Sweden, within an overall Nordic framework that includes our neighbouring countries, we portray life in the Nordic region based on real human stories and the lives of individuals,” says Sanne Houby-Nielsen, Director of Nordiska museet.

The exhibition chronicles movements, encounters, and changes over the centuries and highlights important turning points and events that have shaped history. The chronological narrative takes visitors on a journey through history with an emphasis on three historical tracks: Family, Nature, and Ideas. Historical voices from everyday life are interwoven with commonplace and iconic objects.

Human Destinies, Encounters, and Life Stories Brought Into Focus

The exhibition narrative is centred on 22 portraits of historical individuals, which combine to provide an understanding of similarities and differences across the ages. The 16th-century traveller Samuel Kiechel, the 17th-century landowner Maria Sofia De la Gardie, the 18th-century midwife Catharina Koberg, and the 19th-century confectioner Wilhelm Davidson are some of these.

Sami History in a Nordic Context

Sami cultural history is a consistent theme of Nordic Life. While there are some larger sections specifically dedicated to the subject, Sami everyday life is woven into the larger narrative throughout the various tracks of the exhibition. Three historical figures portrayed are Inga from Tingavaara from the 16th century, Lars Nilsson from the 17th century and Kristoffer Sjulsson from the 19th century. Around 300 Sami artefacts from the museum’s collections and archives are on display, including a dozen unique drawings by the Sami writer and artist Johan Turi (1854-1936).

Present Day in the Exhibition

For this exhibition, the museum has collected stories and objects that reflect what it can be like to live in the Nordic region today. This work has provided an opportunity for an in-depth exploration of the meanings of the concepts of Family, Nature, and Ideas to present-day Nordic Life. The museum has interviewed about eighty individuals with a great variety of personal experiences. The exhibition highlights a selection of meaningful objects and stories that serve as peepholes into a wide range of experiences, feelings, beliefs, and dreams.

An Immersive, Visual, and Artistic Experience

Nordic Life is Nordiska museet’s largest exhibition initiative ever. It extends across the entire top floor and covers 27 rooms and 1,700 square metres. The exhibition is produced by Nordiska museet and designed by MUSEEA.

Films and specially designed sound environments have been created and produced for the exhibition by Hildurs AB. The interiors combine scenography with digital elements, including projections of natural scenery and artworks that complement the exhibition’s narrative and reflect the habitats of people in their own times. Throughout the exhibition, the four seasons serve as a unifying theme for the design alongside the forest and nature.

The Entire Story in One Publication

A richly illustrated publication is published in conjunction with the exhibition. It follows the organisation and themes of the exhibition, and presents Nordic history from the 16th century to the present day. The publication focuses on movement and change in a Swedish context, and features stories about major historical processes on the one hand, and everyday experiences on the other. Around 50 contributing researchers and specialists present new and current knowledge. The publication is in Swedish.

Press Event

A press preview of Nordic Life will take place on Wednesday 7 February from 9 to 11 am. Please note that seating is limited.

If you would like to attend, please contact press officer Sofia Hiller at sofia.hiller@nordiskamuseet.se.