In the summer of 1912, the Stockholm Olympics went down in history as the “Sunshine Olympics.” They were the first Games with participants from five continents, the first where women were allowed to compete in swimming, and the first in which Sweden was the most successful nation.
Now, set and costume designer Lehna Edwall is creating a new exhibition that takes a holistic approach to the event, from sporting achievements to life and the spirit of the times in the capital.
“A spectacle”
For Edwall, who has previously worked with Dramaten productions and the Eurovision Song Contest, the goal is to portray the "living world" that an Olympics entails.
The Olympics are also a spectacle. Sports are so much theatre, dramaturgy and stars. My hope is that the visitor will feel that they are stepping into a clear world, that they are transported to what it sounded, looked and felt like back then, in 1912, says Lehna Edwall.
The exhibition room is divided into different themes and scenographies. There are birch trees like those that swayed in the wind outside the Stockholm stadium in 1912, a yellow carpet marking the running tracks and a large, shining sun that is supposed to convey the heat that characterised the Games - heat that was so intense that a Portuguese runner died of heatstroke and the officials, in an era without sun protection, were completely burned.
The exhibition is intended to remain in the main exhibition at the National Sports Museum in Stockholm for a decade. A central feature of it are twelve sculptures of heroes - and anti-heroes - from the Games.
Human stories
Visitors will meet, among others, Greta Johansson, the first Swedish woman to win Olympic gold in diving, and the legendary American all-round athlete Jim Thorpe.
We have worked hard to highlight the human stories behind the results. Who were the people? Who even got to go and watch the Olympics? It was only people who could afford to pay, says Lehna Edwall, who also wants the visitor to be able to interact with the story through, for example, virtual reality jumps and interactive stations.
The “Sunshine Olympics” opens to the public on July 7th.
The 1912 Summer Olympics were the fifth modern Olympic Games and were held in Stockholm. The main venue was the Stockholm Stadium, which was built for the purpose.
The Games came to be called the "Sunshine Olympics" because of the unusually sunny and warm weather during the competitions.
The medal league was won by Sweden, according to the points calculation at the time.
