The outskirt is made in the spirit of the Swedish documentary photographer – and honorary member of Moment – Sune Jonsson, a constant inspiration for Johan’s work. The ongoing project depicts the everyday life of people living in the rural areas of Northern Sweden – the very same area Jonsson shot his photos of small farmers and people living in the outskirt of northern Sweden, fifty years ago.
Today, as a result of the ungoing urbanization, 85% of the Swedish population lives in the big cities. Many houses on the northern countryside are standing empty and elderly dominates the demographics. This has led to a depressing and onesided depiction of the northern parts of Sweden.
But, despite this development, there are many who feel a strong identification with their homeland, and who can not imagine moving elsewhere. The love of the nature and the pride of their roots are keeping them from moving.
With The outskirt Johan Bävman wants to broader the context and share another side of Norrland and the everyday life of people living there. A life that involves love and friendship, and pride of their work and their native place.
Book:
The Outskirt is a part of the book ”Scandinavian Moments”.
Released in 2014.
Buy the book at Bokus
Midsummer night's dream, the sun seems to never disappear. It´s the brightest day of the year. Ragna Asjölander and Emil Karlsson has inaugurated there own carved sauna raft in Volgsjön.
Inland Railway departs once a day, the train puffs through sparsely populated areas slowly so that all the tourists have the opportunity to enjoy the northern landscape.
Laila Lahrström visit is much appreciated by Lars Nolin. Laila works in home care in Vilhelmina and make home visits to older people who have decided to stay in their home in spite of depopulation in the area.
On the outskirts of the mining town of Gällivare. The district is an exception to the depopulation of the effected area. Here it is, rather, a development that takes place and the mine is hiring peoples again. Here there is a future for those who want to live in sparsely-populated areas.
There is not much to do for the youths in the village of Vilhelmina except to drive around with the cars around in the village. When they become bored they often go to the neighboring village two hours away.
The small white wooden barracks is Gällivares refugee camp. Here live many nationalities while waiting for their asylum decisions.
Auto Sport is big in the countryside. The day after midsummer, it is our tradition to go on midnattsolrallyt of Vilhelmina.
Nils Karlsson splitting firewood for the upcoming cold winter. The temperature in winter can be below -25 ° and snow depth sometimes is one meter. Then it is important to bunker up with wood to provide heat during the winter.
Micki and Emelia waiting for their parents to be ready with the shopping in the neighborhood store in the Vilhelmina.
Thorbjörn Frisk sit and looks out over the Great Lulevattnet in his wife parents home in Porjus.
Yangmei Ke Magnusson is one of few who move into Vilhelmina recently. Yangmei found it difficult at first to move away from Shanghai with 27 million inhabitants to Vilhelmina, with its 7,000 inhabitants in the municipality.
Anders's interested in scooters are very big. He does'´t want to wait for the snow to be able to drive the scooter, it is just as easy to ride it on the lake summer times, if you drive fast enough.
