It is the photographer and filmmaker Marja Helander who took the photo. For five days they worked to get the portrait.
– Marja had swan wings with her. It’s almost like I’m flying away in the picture. I think it symbolizes freedom. As an artist you are free in one way, and in another way you are stuck, says Britta Marakatt Labba.
“Good that they chose a Sami”
The state’s portrait collection is, according to the Royal Palace, the oldest national portrait gallery in the world. At Gripsholm Castle there are 800 of about 5,000 works. Every year, a new honorary portrait is donated, a portrait of a Swedish person who has done something important for society.
– It is not a small portrait that they put up. We talked about it, me and Marja, that the portrait that will hang there will be over a meter high and over a meter wide.
It is a long ceremony to be held on Saturday, including a performance by Jon-Henrik Fjällgren.
– It feels good that they choose a Sámi who has done something good for society for this year’s honorary portrait, maybe it is the first time, says Britta Marakatt Labba.
Britta Marakatt Labba tells more about the honorary portrait in the clip above.