“Even if the worlds I create often are impossible, I want it to seem like they could exist. Realism is an important ingredient in my image-making. I always prefer to shoot as much as possible on site, in the environment where it's meant to take place, rather than in a studio, and then combine it later”, Erik Johansson says.
Erik Johansson c/o AGENTMOLLY&CO is the wizard that, with equal amounts technical skill, curiosity, and boundless imagination, manages to conjure up worlds that at first feel familiar to us, until we realise that they are not familiar at all. Managing to create places that challenge both reality and your imagination – that is what artist and photographer Erik Johansson does. His skilfully composed, surrealistic photographs invite the viewer to an exciting journey. One where each detail is carved out to take you beyond reality, to the stories of the surreal reality. The stories that, among other things, are meant to make you reflect on what we are doing to the planet.
As a photographer and retoucher Erik Johansson tests the boundaries between what is real and what is fiction. He describes his both unique and acclaimed style as unreal ideas implemented in a realistic way, with a touch of humour. Since 2012 he has been living in Berlin, working with his own projects and clients such as Google, Adobe and Microsoft. For him, taking photographs is rather collecting material in order to realise his ideas and a finished picture can consist of hundreds of photographic images. Each new project is a new challenge and Erik’s goal is to make each picture look as realistic as possible. Erik grew up on a farm in Västergötland. "Growing up in the Swedish countryside has had a great impact on my visual style. Many of the environments I use in my pictures are places around where my parents live, with wide open landscapes and small red houses". Erik had an interest in drawing and computers from an early age, escaping to other worlds through his computer games. "When I was 15 I got my first digital camera, which opened up new doors for me." However, it was the manipulation of the photograph that interested him the most, being able to create something that could not be captured with the camera. In 2005 he moved to Gothenburg to study computer science at Chalmers University of Technology. During his studies, he began publishing pictures online, which in turn led to offers of commissioned work from various local advertising agencies. He began freelancing in tandem with his studies, landing more and more assignments. On graduating from Chalmers he decided to continue freelancing full-time as a photographer. "Although I still think that interaction design is a very interesting topic, photography and retouching are my passions."
Erik Johansson 'Places Beyond'
06/12/2019 - 01/03/2020
Fotografiska Stockholm
www.fotografiska.com/sto/en
Erik Johansson c/o AGENTMOLLY&CO is the wizard that, with equal amounts technical skill, curiosity, and boundless imagination, manages to conjure up worlds that at first feel familiar to us, until we realise that they are not familiar at all. Managing to create places that challenge both reality and your imagination – that is what artist and photographer Erik Johansson does. His skilfully composed, surrealistic photographs invite the viewer to an exciting journey. One where each detail is carved out to take you beyond reality, to the stories of the surreal reality. The stories that, among other things, are meant to make you reflect on what we are doing to the planet.
As a photographer and retoucher Erik Johansson tests the boundaries between what is real and what is fiction. He describes his both unique and acclaimed style as unreal ideas implemented in a realistic way, with a touch of humour. Since 2012 he has been living in Berlin, working with his own projects and clients such as Google, Adobe and Microsoft. For him, taking photographs is rather collecting material in order to realise his ideas and a finished picture can consist of hundreds of photographic images. Each new project is a new challenge and Erik’s goal is to make each picture look as realistic as possible. Erik grew up on a farm in Västergötland. "Growing up in the Swedish countryside has had a great impact on my visual style. Many of the environments I use in my pictures are places around where my parents live, with wide open landscapes and small red houses". Erik had an interest in drawing and computers from an early age, escaping to other worlds through his computer games. "When I was 15 I got my first digital camera, which opened up new doors for me." However, it was the manipulation of the photograph that interested him the most, being able to create something that could not be captured with the camera. In 2005 he moved to Gothenburg to study computer science at Chalmers University of Technology. During his studies, he began publishing pictures online, which in turn led to offers of commissioned work from various local advertising agencies. He began freelancing in tandem with his studies, landing more and more assignments. On graduating from Chalmers he decided to continue freelancing full-time as a photographer. "Although I still think that interaction design is a very interesting topic, photography and retouching are my passions."
Erik Johansson 'Places Beyond'
06/12/2019 - 01/03/2020
Fotografiska Stockholm
www.fotografiska.com/sto/en
