Millesgården, in the sculptor's park.

In 2008, I released my first photo book, Millesgården, in the sculptor's park.

The photo book Millesgården, in the sculptor’s park, takes you for a walk through the sculpture park in the grounds of the house formerly belonging to Swedish sculptor Carl Milles (1875-1955), located on the island of Lidingö, outside Stockholm.

As you walk around the gardens with their terraces, steps and fountains you will encounter not only statues, but gardeners, tourists, flowers, bushes and trees, all of which reflect the constantly changing rhythm of the seasons.

During the three years I was employed at Millesgården as a gardener, I carried with me a Vredeborch Felica camera (medium-format 6X6), and documented the everyday life in the park.

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Twelve photographs from the book

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From the foreword, by Agneta Pleijel

"A park, a garden, some sculptures, a borderland between nature and culture. Stone moulders, eaten away by vegetation and biology in the shape of spores. Here, time rocks us. What is time, if not an exercise in the art of a change that is so slow that man’s life is too short for it?

Nothing keeps still. Water dissolves and creates new forms.

The leaves of the ivy stroke gently the pierced feet of the Crucified. The spade rests for a moment in the hand of the gardener. Snow becomes light which becomes shadows. In real life, we often feel cold, but a strange calm reigns in this park. I love and admire Laurent Denimal’s photographs, they are peaceful and yet able to carry you away.

To see a flower blooming by the side of a stone is a miracle. Is it not old Poseidon, who has laid his head aside in order to ponder on life for a while? The notes played by the angel on his flute of stone ring out between some frosty twigs. An army of winged beings conquers the town, in the distance, with its music of stone that resounds with silence. (....)"

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The foreword is written by the Swedish author Agneta Pleijel and the presentation by Laurent Denimal (texts in Swedish, French and English).

It is designed by Johannes Molin and edited by Carlsson Bokförlag in Stockholm.

Stefan Nilson (Nerikes Allehanda) wrote an article about the book.

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An artist's edition containing twenty autographed copies of the book is presented in a black slipcase with one numbered and signed original print (silver gelatine and C-print), with a size of 18 x 18 cm. There are four different motiv.

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You vill find copies of

Millesgården, in the sculptor's park

at the shop !

Delivery in 2 to 6 working days worldwide

Price: 170:- sek / 15 €

to the shop

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Wadi Musa.

The city of Wadi Musa is located in southern Jordan, and is the nearest town to the archaeological site of Petra.

I traveled in Jordan for exactly 18 years ago, and was in Wadi Musa a few days between 11th and 14th of February, 2003. The six photographs presented bellow were taken Friday, 14th of February, 2003.

I had a short talk with the guy on the second photograph.

In my travel diary, I wrote:

”Friday, 14th of February, 2003 - Wadi Musa

He is watching me walking down the street and taking pictures. He comes out of his shop.

"What a nice camera! I had one of those once, too. But I threw it away, I couldn’t find any medium format rolls!"

He laughs. I look at him. He can see that my camera is a medium format. That's very unusual – and on top of that, he had one once but threw it away.

I ask him quickly: "How are you?"

"I'm fine, thank you," he answers. "Would you like some tea?"

"Sure!" I say, happy to be making contact.

The food shop he keeps is very small. Behind the counter there'sa little gas hotplate with a kettle on it.

"Takes an hour to boil the water", he says with a laugh.

He mixes together some honey and condensed milk in a jar, spreads it on bread, then hands me a piece.

"I pray a lot", he says. "I stay here all day long, listen to the koran on tape, and read it as well. Before, I worked as a guide, down here, in Petra. But it’s finished now. I want to be a good muslim."

My impression is that he's happy. He wears a white djellaba, and his beard is neat. He laughs and smiles a lot.

I ask him"Do you think there's going to be a war in Iraq?"

"Yes, I'm sure there is! It’s going to be a nightmare for the USA!"

I take a picture of him in front of his shop."

The Iraq War began officially on 20th March, 2003 with the invasion of Iraq by a United States-led coalition that overthrew the government of Saddam Hussein.

I sometimes wonder: where is this man now..?

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