Marc Strömberg lives surrounded by colours, textures and creative chaos. His home, a small flat in Hägersten, south of Stockholm, is an exact reflection of his mind: saturated with stimuli, interwoven stories and childhood memories. Strömberg brings to life surreal heroes, fiery skulls and psychedelic creatures, the unmistakable hallmark of his style.
Almost 40 years ago, he was a kid from Umeå, pencil in hand, recreating his heroes on a sheet of paper as the TV showed Kriss Kross, Björk and Madonna in the heyday of the 90s. One of those heroes, Range Viper, a figure from the G.I. Joe line, was the first catalyst for his passion for drawing. We spoke to Swedish artist Marc Strömberg about his collaboration on ‘Cultural Ties’, Zalando’s latest project.
HIGHXTAR (H) – For those who don’t know you yet… Who is Marc Strömberg?
MARC STRÖMBERG (M) – I’m an almost 40 year old Swede, with lots of tattoos, and a head full of dinosaurs, monsters, hardcore songs and cartoons. I’m a producer and collector of soft drinks, and I’ve been drawing and painting non-stop since I was old enough to hold a pencil.
(H) – How did you get started in the art world?
(M) – I was born in ‘86 in northern Sweden, where it is cold and there is little light. I got involved in the local Hardcore Punk scene in my hometown Umeå when I was 10 years old, and since then I’ve played in bands, designed album covers, t-shirts and merchandising. Besides the Hardcore world, I got into graffiti and street art around the same time. I was climbing on roofs, painting on buildings and walls. It was a good breeding ground for creativity and developing my own style.
(H) – How would you define your artistic style?
(M) – My style has not changed much since I was a child, but has been refined to its essence. It is bold and simple, childish but extreme. Thick black lines, spots, strong colours, expressive characters. I paint with markers, brushes and spray cans.
(H) – We met you in Stockholm with Zalando’s ‘Cultural Ties’ campaign, how did the opportunity to collaborate with the brand come about?
(M) – I have previously collaborated with their local PR team on several fun projects. They contacted me because I work with several Swedish streetwear brands, artists and companies, and my style is recognisable enough to make an impression on the public.
(H) – ‘Cultural Ties’ celebrates culture, community and self-expression, how does your work, which is characterised by a mix of punk, hardcore and exuberant visual aesthetics, fit in with this philosophy?
(M) – Being involved in a specific subculture means you can connect with similar people from all over the world. I’ve made close friends from many countries thanks to the hardcore community. Touring, working on projects together and sharing the love for this culture has given me endless opportunities and joys. And SKILL, being able to experiment, play and learn. It has given me experience that I can use in bigger projects outside of this subculture.
(H) – What places in Stockholm do you think are key to soaking up the local?
(M) – I think looking for small, independent shops, shows and events is key. Where people are creative without the influence of big corporations. That’s where you’ll find new talent, uncensored and free expression.
(H) – With ‘Cultural Ties’ we explore how local communities are the real protagonists of fashion. What would you say sets Stockholm apart from other European cities?
(M) – Coming from a smaller city gives me a bit of an ‘outsider’ perspective. But, having lived here for 20 years, I am also part of Stockholm. Although my personal style could be described as ‘wild’, I don’t think Stockholm’s style is necessarily comparable to other parts of Europe. I think Stockholm knows how to combine a strict and tight aesthetic with a relaxed posture. It’s not elitist or exclusionary, but it’s not chaotic or abstract either.
(H) – Speaking of fashion, we know that in your day to day life you love to mix styles and break the rules. How important is fashion to you?
(M) – Although my personal fashion is quite simple, I support any fashion statement that dares to go beyond, that challenges the limits of good taste and current norms. I have tattoos all over my head, face, body and hands, so I think combining this with basic clothing creates a nice contrast. I don’t need to wear flashy patterns and detailed clothes when I have snakes slithering across my face and animals on my arms. I like bold colours and classic streetwear, but I’m very impressed with people who constantly push the boundaries with their more daring outfits.
(H) – In the campaign, Zalando highlights themes such as cultural diversity and the connection between different worlds. How does your visual work reflect this intersection between the global and the local, the traditional and the modern?
(M) – I use my art to communicate with people. A work of art is not real until someone else has seen it. It has no value just sitting on the floor of my studio. This is my form of expression and connection, so I always aim to show it to others. It allows me to travel to new places, meet new people and hopefully make their lives a little easier. I also continue to make my art without digital manipulation, which could now almost be seen as ‘traditional’. Obviously, when I make art for print, I need to digitise it, but for my artworks, murals and decorations everything is done by hand. Although my style of painting is clearly very modern in its expression.
(H) – The unique story of each city is told through the voices of the communities who are the protagonists. What do you want to convey with your work?
(M) – I try to take myself and my audience to a much better place than real life. I don’t reflect the reality we already live in. I want to transport them to a fantasy, where there are wonderful creatures, dinosaurs, monsters, ghosts, gods and ghouls. My art is a warp tunnel into a dreamscape, to give you a respite from the grey world we try to survive in.
(H) – We know you are no stranger to experimentation and are always looking for new ways to create. What techniques or formats would you like to explore in the future?
(M) – I would love to work with good animators. I’ve stopped trying to learn myself, but I’d love to find talented animators to collaborate with. I consume a lot of animated films, often preferring them to live action films. I often find that I can understand and relate better to animated characters and their expressions than to real human actors.
(H) – And finally, after this collaboration, what projects do you have in mind? How do you see yourself in 10 years?
(M) – I will be doing this until I sleep in my grave. I have sacrificed almost all the comforts of life to be able to do this. I don’t take out bank loans, I don’t have a savings account, I don’t have a rich mother. I live without security, but I live doing the art I’ve always wanted to do, so everything else is secondary. I am Punk and a free artist at my core and I will do ANYTHING to survive as such.
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