Klara Källström & Thobias Fäldt

In their practice, Klara Källström and Thobias Fäldt make extensive use of historical reference and historical juxtaposition to make sense of the present, including the status of photography. They invite us to be critical of dominant narratives about the world today, while examining how photography is used in the creation of these narratives. A guiding principle in their oeuvre are the gaps between what is visible and what is told. By exploring the limitations, challenges, and possibilities of photography, the artists aim to unfold and expose overlooked parts of official history as well as contemporary narratives. This is where nuances, critical perspectives, and questions reside. These are the stories that are uncomfortable and difficult. They would most likely have no natural platform in the public arena if they did not appear in Källström-Fäldt’s projects. The artists' exhaustive body of work on Julian Assange and WikiLeaks is perhaps the most striking example of their commitment to exploring narratives that do not fit a certain mould. The ongoing project examines the media image of Assange following his exposure of US war crimes. Looking into the gaps of the Assange story, the artists shed light on anti-democratic forces and attacks on press freedom. Building on the insights of their work, Duncan Forbes, Head of Photography at Victoria and Albert Museum in London, has written an essay investigating the ways in which Källström-Fäldt approach questions of historical consciousness and historical process in their work. Text: Johannes Wahlström, Dragana Vujanović Östlind.