The Imaginarium of Carl Linnaeus
Exhibition produced in cooperation with Destination Uppsala
Creative Director, set design, styling
and photo: Richard von Hofsten
Poems by Richard von Hofsten,
english translation by David McLeod
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.
CARL LINNAEUS
1707-1778
ENG
" With tender hand and inquisitive gaze
I choose to be curious with methodical ways
The trees and the flowers, their colours and shapes
Beguiling my mind and providing escape
To manage my home with care and concern
And fairly assure nature’s teachings are learned
So full and profound are the riches of earth
Laid before us, a treasure of limitless worth
In life I’m a wanderer but my vision is locked
On a goal down a road all too easily blocked
My ambition, it burns with an untold flame
Is it wrong to want history to remember my name?
After effort unending, I readily sleep
Sweet solace from dreaming I eagerly reap
For rest is unthinkable when toil is my choice
I hear flowers and verdure, I follow their voice... "
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
the exhibition in Sweden:
IN THE STREETS
OF UPPSALA...
Richard giving a guided tour on
opening day 23rd of may, 2013.
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 abroad:
WORLD EXPO
in Qingdao, China
International Horticultural Exposition 2014 took place in Qingdao. 36 countries
participated, Sweden included.
"From the earth, for the earth"
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 "International Horticultural Exposition 2014"
in CCTV news
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)
Go behind the scenes of
the extensive 1,5 years of work
(english subtitles)
Contact Me
Let me know if you are interested in displaying the photographic
work on Carl Linnaeus - "the Prince of botanists"