Recirculating Resistance Stories: Reflections on Environmentalism and Art at Nämforsen
Abstract
SummaryRephotography is a powerful form of revising and recirculating visual narratives, and is entangled with environmentally concerned artistic practice and art history. From a documentary arts perspective, this text reflects on recirculating microhistories raised through rephotographic practice at the industrialized river rapid Nämforsen in Sweden. Through archival study and fieldwork inherent to rephotographic practice, forgotten stories of resistance emerge. Among the many image-makers at Nämforsen were Eduard (Edvard) Bechteler and Ruth Zachrisson who undertook acts of resistance to hydropower development in a variety of ways that might today be understood as environmentalism. These microhistories have a striking relevance as Northern Sweden is once again the subject of industrial exploitation, this time under the banner of the so-called “green transition”.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Ecocriticism and Environmental Literature
American Environmental and Regional History
Geographies of human-animal interactions
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Konsthistorisk tidskrift/Journal of Art History
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Volume
- 95
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 46–65
- Publication date
- 2 January 2026
- Language
- EN