Interview: Swedish artist Hakan Strand exhibiting landscape photographs at Oklahoma City gallery

"Lamp Post" by Hakan Strand

A version of this feature appears in Monday’s Life section of The Oklahoman.

Swedish photographer brings landscapes to Oklahoma City
Hakan Strand’s “Focus on Light,” an exhibit of black-and-white images that emphasize serenity, simplicity and seclusions, is on view this month at Visions in the Paseo art gallery.

“I used to work as an anesthetist in a trauma center. Very stressful environment, I mean, 100 percent, the whole day. So in the beginning, I actually took the camera with me to go out and have some peace and quiet. But I liked it so much, I was thinking one day, ‘This is what I really want to do. And I’ve been working hard for many, many years.’ And now my dream came true, and I have never looked back, not a single day,” Strand said, standing amid a collection of his photographs on exhibit at gallery in the Paseo Art District.

“When you work like this, I mean, it has to take time. You have to work slowly. You can’t do anything fast, that’s going to ruin the result. And I like the slow way of working. It’s wonderful.”

Swedish artist Hakan Strand is showing his black-and-white landscape photos in an exhibited titled "Focus on Light" through October in Visions in the Paseo Gallery.

Strand, who grew up 10 miles outside Stockholm and has lived in the Swedish capital for more than 30 years, began transitioning from his medical career to his new vocation as a professional photographer in 1991. He has made his living as an artist for about six years, primarily showing his black-and-white photographs around Europe.

“I’ve had a few group exhibitions in the United States before, but this is my first solo exhibition,” Strand said. “It’s great for me to come over here to the United States and have an exhibit. I’m quite thrilled about that. And hopefully it’s going to be more.”