The new Face of Far Right in Sweden

The new Face of Far Right in Sweden

The political climate in Sweden is changing, as an increasing number of people choose to put their votes on one of the nationalist or far-right political parties. This wave goes throughout all Europe, though to win over the somewhat reserved Swedish population, the well-tried violence and profatinies is not going to do the trick. A more subtle approach was needed.
The anti-immigration movement in Sweden has gone through a transformation the past few years, making the ideas appeal to more voters by adding intelligible, well-dressed and well-mannered spokespersons who addresses the common man.
The political tendencies also rubs off on other parts of the society, like presenting xenophobic and racist staements as art.
We have followed seven characters, seven faces that in different ways have been connected with anti- immigration, xenophobia or right-extremism. Showing the complex and versatile state of xenophobia in Sweden.

by Aldo Soligno

The political climate in Sweden is changing, as an increasing number of people choose to put their votes on one of the nationalist or far-right political parties. This wave goes throughout all Europe, though to win over the somewhat reserved Swedish population, the well-tried violence and profatinies is not going to do the trick. A more subtle approach was needed.
The anti-immigration movement in Sweden has gone through a transformation the past few years, making the ideas appeal to more voters by adding intelligible, well-dressed and well-mannered spokespersons who addresses the common man.
The political tendencies also rubs off on other parts of the society, like presenting xenophobic and racist staements as art.
We have followed seven characters, seven faces that in different ways have been connected with anti- immigration, xenophobia or right-extremism. Showing the complex and versatile state of xenophobia in Sweden.

Lars Vilks. Scania. Sweden.There has been several failed attempts to end the life of Swedish artist Lars Vilks after he in 2007 made drawings of the prophet Mohammed with the body of a dog. To this day he is under constant police protection. Under supervision of armed guards, he continues to work with his life's work, Nimis. He says he is against Islam, and to this day continue to include images of a Mohammed-faced dog hidden - or in plain sight - in most of his artwork. Kim Fredriksson. Landskrona. Sweden.The past continues to haunt Kim Fredriksson, who left his extreme nationalist life behind two years ago. As a former member of neo nazi organisation Blood and Honour, his new socialist lifestyle have made him a lot of enemies. And as a father of two children, he struggles to keep walking the line, staying sober and out of trouble. Stefan Jacobsson. Sjöbo. Sweden.With a violent neo-nazi background and a criminal record, Stefan Jacobsson is today a white collared family father and the leader of The Party of the Swedes. In a wellpolished and polite manner he explains how the Swedish race should be kept pure by making people of foreign background leave the country. Dan Park. Malmö. Sweden.Dan Park has several times been convicted for the racist contents of the posters he puts up throughout the city of Malmö. He lives off the society he despises, has no job and no income. Making his first exhibition in a real art gallery was suppose to turn things around. Instead he found himself being arrested for displaying racist material, including a photo collage of three named black men hanging by the neck from a bridge. Riots during Dan Park’s exhibition. Malmö. Sweden.Dan Park has several times been convicted for the racist contents of the posters he puts up throughout the city of Malmö. He lives off the society he despises, has no job and no income. Making his first exhibition in a real art gallery was suppose to turn things around. Instead he found himself being arrested for displaying racist material, including a photo collage of three named black men hanging by the neck from a bridge. Sam Meyari. Malmö. Sweden.Sam Meyaris parents are originally from Iran, and the young man now struggles with is own identity as he is active in a right-wing populistic party who wants to stop immigrants from coming to Sweden. As he tries to blend in with the Swedish population, he can't escape his Persian ancestry and his family constantly challenges his political involvement in the Sweden democrats Kim Fredriksson. Landskrona. Sweden.The past continues to haunt Kim Fredriksson, who left his extreme nationalist life behind two years ago. As a former member of neo nazi organisation Blood and Honour, his new socialist lifestyle have made him a lot of enemies. And as a father of two children, he struggles to keep walking the line, staying sober and out of trouble. Stefan Jacobsson. Sjöbo. Sweden.With a violent neo-nazi background and a criminal record, Stefan Jacobsson is today a white collared family father and the leader of The Party of the Swedes. In a wellpolished and polite manner he explains how the Swedish race should be kept pure by making people of foreign background leave the country. Park. Malmö. Sweden.Dan Park has several times been convicted for the racist contents of the posters he puts up throughout the city of Malmö. He lives off the society he despises, has no job and no income. Making his first exhibition in a real art gallery was suppose to turn things around. Instead he found himself being arrested for displaying racist material, including a photo collage of three named black men hanging by the neck from a bridge. Sam Meyari. Malmö. Sweden.Sam Meyaris parents are originally from Iran, and the young man now struggles with is own identity as he is active in a right-wing populistic party who wants to stop immigrants from coming to Sweden. As he tries to blend in with the Swedish population, he can't escape his Persian ancestry and his family constantly challenges his political involvement in the Sweden democrats Doris Cüch. Sjöbo. Sweden.Doris Cüch is 86 years old and running as a candidate for the Sweden democrats in Sjöbo in the election in September this year. Being robbed and bound in her home by a man of foreign descent eight years ago made her choose to become active in a party who wants to stop immigration. Doris is the oldest female active Sweden democrat ever. Riots during Dan Park’s exhibition. Malmö. Sweden.Dan Park has several times been convicted for the racist contents of the posters he puts up throughout the city of Malmö. He lives off the society he despises, has no job and no income. Making his first exhibition in a real art gallery was suppose to turn things around. Instead he found himself being arrested for displaying racist material, including a photo collage of three named black men hanging by the neck from a bridge. Dan Park. Malmö. Sweden.Dan Park has several times been convicted for the racist contents of the posters he puts up throughout the city of Malmö. He lives off the society he despises, has no job and no income. Making his first exhibition in a real art gallery was suppose to turn things around. Instead he found himself being arrested for displaying racist material, including a photo collage of three named black men hanging by the neck from a bridge. Sam Meyari. Malmö. Sweden.Sam Meyaris parents are originally from Iran, and the young man now struggles with is own identity as he is active in a right-wing populistic party who wants to stop immigrants from coming to Sweden. As he tries to blend in with the Swedish population, he can't escape his Persian ancestry and his family constantly challenges his political involvement in the Sweden democrats Dan Park. Malmö. Sweden.Dan Park has several times been convicted for the racist contents of the posters he puts up throughout the city of Malmö. He lives off the society he despises, has no job and no income. Making his first exhibition in a real art gallery was suppose to turn things around. Instead he found himself being arrested for displaying racist material, including a photo collage of three named black men hanging by the neck from a bridge. Dan Park's exhibition. Malmö. Sweden.Dan Park has several times been convicted for the racist contents of the posters he puts up throughout the city of Malmö. He lives off the society he despises, has no job and no income. Making his first exhibition in a real art gallery was suppose to turn things around. Instead he found himself being arrested for displaying racist material, including a photo collage of three named black men hanging by the neck from a bridge. Lars Vilks. Scania. Sweden.There has been several failed attempts to end the life of Swedish artist Lars Vilks after he in 2007 made drawings of the prophet Mohammed with the body of a dog. To this day he is under constant police protection. Under supervision of armed guards, he continues to work with his life's work, Nimis. He says he is against Islam, and to this day continue to include images of a Mohammed-faced dog hidden - or in plain sight - in most of his artwork. Sam Meyari. Malmö. Sweden.Sam Meyaris parents are originally from Iran, and the young man now struggles with is own identity as he is active in a right-wing populistic party who wants to stop immigrants from coming to Sweden. As he tries to blend in with the Swedish population, he can't escape his Persian ancestry and his family constantly challenges his political involvement in the Sweden democrats Riots during Dan Park’s exhibition. Malmö. Sweden.Dan Park has several times been convicted for the racist contents of the posters he puts up throughout the city of Malmö. He lives off the society he despises, has no job and no income. Making his first exhibition in a real art gallery was suppose to turn things around. Instead he found himself being arrested for displaying racist material, including a photo collage of three named black men hanging by the neck from a bridge. Riots during Dan Park’s exhibition. Malmö. Sweden.Dan Park has several times been convicted for the racist contents of the posters he puts up throughout the city of Malmö. He lives off the society he despises, has no job and no income. Making his first exhibition in a real art gallery was suppose to turn things around. Instead he found himself being arrested for displaying racist material, including a photo collage of three named black men hanging by the neck from a bridge. Scania. Sweden.