top of page
Linné-FILM24.jpg

The  IMAGINARIUM  of  
CARL  LINNAEUS

Exhibition produced in cooperation with Destination Uppsala
​
Art Direction, Set design, Styling
and Photo by Richard von Hofsten
 
Poems by Richard von Hofsten,
english interpretation by David McLeod
​
CARL LINNAEUS
1707-1778

SWEDISH

" Ett obotligt driv efter förståelse av världen 

som jag väljer att nyfiket utforska och ordna.

Färger och former i blommorna, i träden, 

som berusar mitt lyhörda sinne längs färden.

 

Naturen, mitt hem skall med omsorg förvaltas

och känsligt behandlas med ömhjärtad hand.  

Vetgirigt, art efter annan jag låter gestaltas.

Oändligt förmöget är mitt botaniska land.

​

Vilsen i livet, dock med målet i sikte,

jag valt denna väg som ej ansågs för given. 

Vad skall det av detta driv tänkas bli?

Är min dröm om nåt mer för mitt liv överdriven?

 

Även jag somnar in efter ansträngande slit.

Jag seglar iväg, söker drömmarnas tröst. 

Imorgon är en dag full av ambitiösa sysslor.

Jag ser blommor och väsen, jag följer dess röst... "

Linnaues-Hongkong-screens-2-marks-1.jpg
dream away...

A young Linnaeus falling asleep in his work studio.

Location: The Linnaeus Museum in Uppsala, Sweden, with authentic props from 18th century.

Styling and set design: Bente Rolandsdotter

vitsippa.png

ANEMONE

Thimbleweed       /       Vitsippa​

With a cautious glimpse, I looked up

and caught the eye of the spring Sun.

All too suddenly the life she once promised me 

became our focus and together we made men 

reconsider the stress of their step.

Med nyfiken blick jag trevande lockas

av vårsolens pånyttfödda löfte om kraft.

Var varsam med var du sätter din fot

på barndomens bräckliga ängar.

 Carl Linnaeus  (1707-1778) was one of the worlds first ecologists and founder of the taxanomy system. He is considered to be one of the most influential swedes in world history. Richard von Hofsten´s portraiture of the dream world of a young Linnaeus is his debut exhibition and was first displayed in the streets of Uppsala, Sweden, in 2013. The year after it was chosen to represent Sweden at the world expo Horticultural Exposition 2014 in Qingdao, China, and during Business of Design Week in Hongkong the same year.

Richard von Hofsten´s ambition with the exhibition is to communicate the beauty of nature and inspire visitors to see the life and meaning behind even the most mundane things in the world, such as a little flower.

Richard has made an interesting 

interpretation of Linnaeus scientific legacy. The combination of the intense fashionportraits and the botany is very exciting. He has really managed to capture the “inner being” of the flowers and gives us a completely new view on Linnaeus.

 

Sofie Blomgren 

Project Manager 

Destination Uppsala

First impression is that it is an ambitious piece of work...the portraits are fabulous, dreamy, romantic and dramatic.

 

Martin Alm 

Lidingö Tidning

Magical pictures with a strong sense of storytelling in splendid historical 

environments.

 

Heléne Almqvist 

Gods&Gårdar magazine

After witnessing Richards exhibition many visitors response was; wow, flowers actually have a life of their own. His pictures come alive through his strong sense of storytelling and interesting combination with poetry.

 

Sandy Li Schenzi 

YES International Group.

Project Manager for the Swedish Pavilion at the International Horticultural Exposition 2014.

​

The exhibition in Sweden:

IN THE STREETS
OF UPPSALA...

Richard giving a guided tour on opening day May 23rd, 2013.

The exhibition abroad:

WORLD EXPO
iN QINGDAO, CHINA

International Horticultural Exposition 2014

took place in Qingdao, China. 36 countries participated.

Location: Qingdao, China
Estimated number of visitors:
12 million.

The three square kilometers wide theme park was created to inspire visitors to think about the human impact on the world and the footprints we leave in our surroundings regarding environmental pollution and climate change.

The swedish pavilion had
"The swedish garden" as its theme, replicating the garden of Carl Linnaeus in Uppsala.
The legacy of the swedish
scientist worked as a platform from which discussions about a sustainable future where engaged in.

The exhibition in media

A story on Richard and his exhibition was broadcast on "Sverige!", the biggest tv show
for culture and art in Sweden,
due to its participation in exhibitions abroad.
(no subtitles)
The "International Horticultural Exposition 2014"
in CCTV news
Go behind the scenes of
the extensive 1,5 years of work
(english subtitles)
von Hofsten vit trana-01.png
COPYRIGHT Richard von Hofsten
bottom of page