From press release:
Jockum Nordström has created the "Vasaloppet motifs" in 2022
The assignment to create the traditional Vasaloppet motif in the anniversary year 2022 went to the Stockholm artist and author Jockum Nordström. On the occasion of the 100th anniversary, he chose to create not one, but two works: "År genom skog" for the poster and "Blida" for the diploma.
The annual posters with Vasaloppet motifs are a tradition that dates back to 1935. The posters are an important symbol of the Vasaloppet and have over the years become desirable collector's items.
Historically, the motifs have been developed in different ways and with different techniques, but in recent years they have always been based on the core of the Vasaloppet: tradition, experience and challenge. Since 2014, the annual Vasaloppet motif is also on the diploma.
Jockum Nordström is an artist and author. His two Vasaloppet motifs are collages, a technique he often works in. The basis for the collages is Jockum's own drawings, where in most cases he has made many different versions of each detail that is included in the finished work.
Jockum remembers that as a child he was fascinated by the TV pictures from the Vasaloppet start in Berga village.
- For me, the Vasaloppet is that crowd of skiers in the start and the affable atmosphere. I hardly think at all that it is a competition.
In his work with the two Vasaloppet motifs, he has been inspired by old Dala paintings, mainly in terms of the colour scale and certain figures, such as the dog and the horse seen in "Blida".
- It is not so planned when I work, but more of a feeling that takes over. But I have done it my way and there are no Dala horses here. What I wanted to access was a slightly naive room picture and it is probably also inspired by the Dala painting, I would say.
Jockum himself has not ridden the Vasaloppet, but as a young man he skied a lot.
- At that time, there was more snow in the Stockholm area. Now you see roller skiers and inline skiers instead. And every time I do that, I think "there is someone who will go to the Vasaloppet", that is my first association.
The artists of recent years behind the Vasaloppet motifs:
2015 Fredrik Lindqvist, Kristianstad
2016 Lisbeth Boholm, Falun
2017 Kerstin Bergman, Gagnef
2018 Anders Ståhl, Leksand
2019 Mia Malmlöf, Stockholm
2020 Ernst Billgren, Stockholm
2021 Nygårds Karin Bengtsson, Höganäs
For more information:
www.vasaloppet.se
