Halmstadgruppen
Halmstadgruppen (Halmstad group) is a group of artists who took their name as all the artists had their roots in Halmstad, where most of them were resident in the area Söndrum. The group consisted of six members.
During the years 1922-23 Axel Olson studied in Berlin for the Russian painter and sculptor Alexander Archipenko. Axel's brother Erik Olson and their cousin Waldemar Lorentzon studied in 1924 at Fernand Léger painting academy in Paris. Also Sven Jonson, Stellan Mörner and Esaias Thorén studied in Paris during that time. During their periods abroad they came in contact with modern developments in painting. Returning to Sweden, Halmstadgruppen was founded in 1929 and was unchanged until 1979, when Stellan Mörner died.[1]
The members of Halmstadgruppen were in the 1920s cubists and introduced surrealism in Sweden during the 1930s together with GAN (Gösta Adrian Nilsson, 1884–1965).[2] The members of Halmstadgruppen do, however, a distinctive mark in its Surrealism in which the Nordic light and the coast of Halland are often present.
Already during their life they created a permanent showroom in Mjellby farm, now Mjellby Art Museum in Halmstad. Here an extensive collection of Halmstad group works are exhibited.
More than paintings, Eric Olson has also created several stained glass windows for various churches. One example is the stained glass in the choir in Sofia Albertina church in Landskrona and the windows of the Catholic church in Halmstad.
Members
- Stellan Mörner, (1896–1979), born in Örebro.
- Waldemar Lorentzon, (1899–1984), born in Halmstad. Cousin with Axel and Erik Olson.
- Axel Olson, (1899–1986), born in Halmstad. Older brother to Erik Olson.
- Esaias Thorén, (1901–1981), born in Halmstad. Childhood friend with Sven Jonson.
- Erik Olson, (1901–1986), born in Halmstad. Younger brother to Axel Olson.
- Sven Jonson, (1902–1981), born in Halmstad. Childhood friend with Esaias Thorén.