Lasse Svanberg (1937-2006) had a long career in photography and film, and his archive includes photographs, lithographs, collages and other material documenting his life and work.

Born in Nederkalix, northern Sweden, he grew up in a family engaged in the Social Democratic labour movement. From an early age, Lasse was deeply drawn to animals and nature, and later to the urban life in Stockholm.
He was influenced by the philosophy of the Bauhaus movement, and creativity was a way of understanding both himself and the world.

Svanberg trained photography at Stockholm School of Photography and Konstfack before continuing his studies at the Institute of Design in Chicago. There, he explored graphics, photography and film under the guidance of Aaron Siskind and Art Seagal, and later with Richard Avedon in New York.

His photographs include portraits and experimental studies, as well as images of the streets of Chicago and New York, their vibrant jazz scenes, architectural environments, and social life.

Lasse increasingly turned his focus towards moving images and worked as a cinematographer on several Swedish films, including Puss & Kram (Jonas Cornell, 1967), Äppelkriget (Hasse & Tage, 1971) and Barnförbjudet (Marie-Louise Ekman, 1979).
In 1968, he joined the Swedish Film Institute, where he worked for 34 years and became a distinctive voice in the field, known for his outspoken views and active role in public debate.
He was engaged in film technology and development, founding the magazine Teknik & Människa and later contributing to the development of digital cinema.

He had twin daughters, Clea and Gabrielle (1964), with American artist Nancie Swanberg; a son, John (1970), with fashion designer Cari Bengtsson; and a daughter, Sanna (1981), with film professional Susanne Roger to whom he was married until his death in 2006.

Black Notebook (Svarta skrivboken) is an ongoing writing and research project that began with a book Lasse and his daughter Sanna planned to write together already in 1996. The project takes its name from a notebook inherited from his mother Ester and brings together questions of memory, family history and artistic legacy.

For inquires, please contact:
sanna.svanberg[a]gmail.com