Photographer David Altrat captured the places he saw in Stockholm at the underground stations of the Swedish metro for his Metro series of photographs. 100 stations turned into complex paintings and unique projects, the Stockholm metro was called "the longest art exhibition in the world." Altrat said that although most metro stations in the world are made of gray, dull concrete, the Stockholm metro "invites you to stop, let your gaze wander and discover every detail."
A series of photos in the subway
Photographer David Altrath grew up in Datteln, Germany, and from an early age was fond of architecture. His Metro series captures intricate works of art and metro station designs in Stockholm, Sweden.
Altrath said he was keen on reading about metro stations, hearing that he was often called the "longest art exhibition in the world." The photographer wanted to make sure that the metro system matches its name.
“The thought of trying out this somewhat unusual art exhibition intrigued me, ” Altrath said. “It became clear to me that I should visit the Stockholm metro.”
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During a trip from Hamburg to Sweden, the photographer decided to set aside time to document Stockholm metro stations.
“For two nights, I wandered around the empty stations, which otherwise would have been too crowded to capture all their beauty and atmosphere, ” Altrat said.
Metro as an art exhibition
His images show vibrant colors and cave-like structures of the underground system. There are 100 stations in Stockholm, each of which has a unique design and art installations. More than 100 artists have contributed to the Stockholm metro since it first began to be adorned in 1957.
Communicating with the locals during his project, Altrat said that he "felt the pride of the local population for their well-groomed and beautiful metro."
“It feels like the stops are not random and that their design has a calming effect on passengers, ” he added. Everything seems to be going in an organized manner. ”
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The photographer believes that the monotonous architecture of most subways “often seems depressing” and that Stockholm train stations, on the contrary, provide a more pleasant journey.
“The Stockholm metro invites you to stop, let your gaze wander and see every detail, ” Altrat said. “This is one of the cleanest metros I've ever seen, ” he added. “Works of art are well-groomed and not spoiled by graffiti.”
Prior to working on this project, Altrath traveled to several metro stations across Europe, including Hamburg, London and Paris. Although he found the other stations impressive, he said the Stockholm metro system was his favorite because of the variety of art installations and color variations.
“The contrast between the rough tunnels and the skillful art makes this metro network the most beautiful and wonderful underground system, ” Altrath said.
According to Altrath, the metro "more than lives up to its reputation as the longest art exhibition in the world."
