Emerging from the vibrant student life of Kungshamra in Stockholm, a surprising artistic giant awaits. The Skulptur av Picasso, also known as the Diving Seagull, soars 25 feet into the air. This isn’t a typical Picasso, with vibrant colors and abstract figures. The Skulptur av Picasso is a concrete behemoth, born from a collaboration between Picasso and Norwegian artist Carl Nesjar. They met in 1957, sparking a unique partnership. Nesjar had developed a method of embedding small, black rocks into concrete, effectively “painting” with stone. Picasso, ever the innovator, saw the potential. Together they chose a drawing of a diving seagull, and using Nesjar’s technique, transformed it into the monumental Skulptur av Picasso we see today. This enormous concrete bird perches atop a sledding hill in the heart of a 1960s student housing complex, a testament to the unexpected beauty that can arise from collaboration and a forward-thinking vision. Architect Allan Skarne, a lover of concrete and the mastermind behind the Kungshamra complex, donated the Skulptur av Picasso in 1969. It was a fitting addition to his prefab concrete creation. The Skulptur av Picasso stands as a bold fusion of art and architecture, a hidden gem amidst the bustling student life. It reminds us that art can appear in the most unexpected places, soaring high above everyday life.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to