Skateboarders – one with a t-shirt emblazoned with the command “obey” – on Karin Boye’s terrace beside the new wing of the city library. Someone has dressed the poet in a rainbow cape. … Continue readingObey
Protesting and protecting the Sd
In the run-up to the Euro elections now in May and the Swedish general and local elections in September, the Sweden Democrats (Sd), our home-grown fascists (with seats in parliament) have been getting out and about. On Wednesday they came to Gothenburg. These photos show the protesting and protecting of the Sd that went on at Drottningtorget which is a major commuter hub. Like many people I happened upon them on my way home from work – their meeting was no doubt planned to cause the maximum amount of disruption. There were about six party members present (five of them are visible in the above photo if you look carefully) and they had attracted 500+ protesters, many of whom stood with their backs turned – a non-violent way to demonstrate one’s opposition. But there were plenty of people who faced them or only stood half turned (as you can see from the photo below) and most of the protestors were also vocal in their protest. In between, (bottom photo) the police tried keep the two groups apart and ensure that both sides could exercise their democratic rights without coming to blows. Afterwards the Sd speaker complained that the police had not cleared the square of the protestors. The Sd don’t have a very well-developed concept of democratic rights.
… Continue readingProtesting and protecting the Sd
Rainfall
A sudden rainfall – the rain splashing on paving stones and bouncing off again under bench illuminated by a light under the seat – outside the refurbished library at Götaplatsen. … Continue readingRainfall
Audience
This is the audience just before the start of the performance of “Un tango avec le Baron” at Folkteatern’s Red Stage. A cctv image of the audience was projected on to a giant screen at the back of the stage. … Continue readingAudience
Kettly Nöel and Koffi Kôkô
Above: Kettly Nöel (of Mali) looking cool and a little guarded directly after dancing the part of le Baron’s consort in the ballet “Un tango avec le baron” at the Gothenburg Dance and Theatre Festival. She was recieving an award (which the woman who was giving it kept assuring everyone was money).
Below: Koffi Kôkô (of Benin), not quite so cool, who danced the part of le Baron (Samedi).
The ballet seems to have toured Germany before coming to Sweden. The only English language link about it I can find is this on the website of the Hellarau European Centre for the Arts in Dresden. Here is a link to an article about Kettly Nöel from Huffington Post, and one about Koffi Kôkô from Culturebase.net. … Continue readingKettly Nöel and Koffi Kôkô
Sofie Reed
Sofie Reed, Swedish-American blues-roots/blues-folk performer, at the Göteborgs Blues venue on SS Marieholm Saturday 17th May. A one-woman band, she played dulcimer, guitar, ukulele and mouth-organ and sang her own and other people’s songs. An exciting and enjoyable performance – much appreciated by the crowd who stood close around the stage making her a bit difficult to photograph. Hence the closeups.
Above: Sofie Reed on dulcimer.
Below: There is really no elegant way to play the mouth-organ. (And there’s always some bastard with a camera ready to catch you doing it.)
Bottom: By way of making up for the harmonica photo.
… Continue readingSofie Reed
Göteborgs varvet 2014
The Gothenburg half-marathon – Göteborgs Varvet – took place yesterday on 17th May in fine weather and with a record turnout (according to Göteborgs-Posten) our local paper, of 48,202 runners and around 200,000 who stood alongside and watched. This photo taken through the front window of a number 1 tram on Götaälvs bron. … Continue readingGöteborgs varvet 2014