Here it comes (finally), the last pictures from the vernissage. You still have time to see his exhibition, Wednesday-Sunday 1pm-5pm, until the 27th of July in Ribbingsfors.
The carride there. Belongs to a friend of the family who invited me to go with him. Below: outside the barn where the exhibition took place. | 
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Self portrait. I admire those who dare to make them...
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There wasn't enough electricity in the barn and the light went on and off. In a sense it was kind of charming and since we were lucky with the weather, there was enough sunlight to watch the paintings anyways. I wouldn't recommend going there a cloudy or rainy day though. They also intended to show a video, but there wasn't enough power to do that.
Bengt's inauguration speech. It was kind of bittersweet since he talked a lot about the statue which initially was supposed to be bought by the municipality of Kristinehamn. Bengt was the one who made sure the Picasso sculpture was installed in Kristinehamn. Then there was Carl Nessjar, friend with Picasso, who actually made the statue based on Picasso's design. Those three were supposed to get one monument each in the city. Picasso and Nessjar already have theirs. Bengt doesn't.
Bengt said he had tried to communicate with the municipality about five times but they never called back. Then after they'd decided not to buy the sculpture, they called and wanted him to participate next year at the 50 year anniversary of the Picasso sculpture. He told them to go to hell.
I remember the local news paper writing about it and from my point of view it seemed like no one was in charge from the local authorities, then they argued about the price, then Bengt made a copy of the statue and the authorities had some kind of event around it to decide weather they should buy it or not. In the end they decided not to buy it. Why go through so much trouble? First of all, why do people think that art and culture should be free? Second, if you think it is too expensive, negotiate about the price first. If you don't want to pay the price that's fine, but why let the artist make a real copy of the sculpture (which he paid for himself for thousands of SEK) so they can organize an event around it if you're not even interested in buying it from the beginning?
I know all stories have different versions and since I haven't talked to anyone from the municipality I cannot be objective about it. This is just based on Bengt's speech and what I've heard and read in the media.
Bengt said he had tried to communicate with the municipality about five times but they never called back. Then after they'd decided not to buy the sculpture, they called and wanted him to participate next year at the 50 year anniversary of the Picasso sculpture. He told them to go to hell.
I remember the local news paper writing about it and from my point of view it seemed like no one was in charge from the local authorities, then they argued about the price, then Bengt made a copy of the statue and the authorities had some kind of event around it to decide weather they should buy it or not. In the end they decided not to buy it. Why go through so much trouble? First of all, why do people think that art and culture should be free? Second, if you think it is too expensive, negotiate about the price first. If you don't want to pay the price that's fine, but why let the artist make a real copy of the sculpture (which he paid for himself for thousands of SEK) so they can organize an event around it if you're not even interested in buying it from the beginning?
I know all stories have different versions and since I haven't talked to anyone from the municipality I cannot be objective about it. This is just based on Bengt's speech and what I've heard and read in the media.
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Below: One of his first paintings at the upper left corner. To the right, one of his Nils Holgersson illustrations. To the lower left and right, abstract painting with thick layers of oil and lovely color combinations.
We ended the day with this lovely sallad at Sjötorp while the boats were passing by. A great excursion!
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