Märta Thisner: Mussels

Märta Thisner is one of Sweden’s most prominent photographers. Image-search her name and you’ll find a cross-section of recent cultural figures from the worlds of dance, music and literature. Her portraits have an immediate readability, a refined contrast between a careful gaze and the brutal contours of her flash, which seems equally suited to rock and poetry as it does to still-lifes with glass sculptures.

This is how she first came into contact with Åsa Jungnelius — at a photo shoot for the Public Luxury exhibition at Arkdes in 2018. Jungnelius is one of the most respected designers and artists in the country, constantly renegotiating the relationship between the two forms. Although glass is her primary element, Jungnelius’ work is to be considered contemporary art, with its integral parts of social commentary and criticism.

Tone Schunnesson, Swedish author and playwright, has contributed with a poem from the deep forest.

Märta Thisner is a Stockholm-based photographer. Since finishing photography school in Stockholm and in the UK, she has developed a noticeable aesthetic while capturing some of Sweden’s most captivating personalities. Thisner’s ability to capture a moment has made her a sought-after photographer in many industries, both commercial and creative. She approaches her subjects with respect and empowerment, highlighting their most human and sympathetic features while creating immersive portraits. Thisner has previously published Baby (Puss Publications & Sailor Press, 2023) and Drunk in Love (Journal, 2019).