Opening of the Exhibition "RAW POWER" @ Malmö Museums

MATS BÄCKER
RAW POWER
To make rock´n´roll photos is always about the relationship between the artist and the photographer. It can seem rewarding to make pictures of musicians. As the motif is already known, the photo will also become famous. But good photography is about going past the obvious; it’s about finding the unexpected.
Rock is basically about two things; music and style. And a whole lot of attitude of course. The picture of the artist is almost as important as the music. This is what rock photography has to relate to; enhance or mystify the picture of the artist. Or dare to deconstruct it.
From the end of the 70-s to the mid 80-s Bäcker made pictures of Swedish and international rock stars. He started his career in Lund and later moved up to Stockholm. In this exhibition we meet stars such as U2, Rolling Stones, Prince, David Bowie and Grace Jones. But also the new wave, bands from the post punk period in Sweden like Garbochock, TT-Reuter, Imperiet, Docent Död and Dag Vag, just to mention a few. Today Bäcker has left the rock scene and is currently working with classic performing arts like opera and dance.
Mats Bäcker (1958) is born in Hagfors. He has studied photography in Malmö and at Konstfack in Stockholm.
All the photos at this exhibition are hand made on silver gelatin paper and selenium toned.