NADJA
HALLSTRÖM
Sweden
The Last Wild Horses
The horse is a universal symbol of freedom. While the majority of Americans value wild horses and want to see them preserved and protected, the Bureau of Land Management who is in charge of all public land, plans to eradicate wild horses and continues to allow intensive commercial livestock grazing on public lands. Chasing such a strong symbol of freedom because of profitable interest becomes a reminder of the distance between reaching the dream of freedom (how it once looked) and the cynicism that often characterizes people’s view on nature today. What happens when we fail to protect the wild animals, when we tame nature into an obedient tool? The hunt for the last wild horses is a prey on a threatened species, like so many before. But also a predatory act on man’s dream of being able to live with the wild, to be in harmony with nature instead of being its superior.
The pictures featured in the series The Last Wild Horses were taken at a Wild Horse Rescue Center in the US. At the center, people are working to rehabilitate wild horses and teaching them to trust people. In her images, Hallström depicts the people who are rehabilitating these wild horses and who are fighting for their survival. A friend of hers, Diane Delano, started the nonprofit Wild Horse Rescue Center in Florida about 20 years ago. Since then, she and her volunteers have saved hundreds of horses, including also other animals. Once a wild horse has been captured by the Bureau of Land Management, it is illegal to release them into the wild again. Diane’s goal is to rehabilitate and tame these horses so that they will be able to trust people and get new loving homes. Diane is currently taking care of 47 horses. Her home is a fantastic place and the animals thrive there. The photographer also visited South Dakota, Utah and Colorado to meet other amazing people who are working in this field. Majority of photographs featured in The Last Wild Horses were taken in 2019.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
Nadja Hallström (b. 1980) focuses primarily on the artistic expression within photography. Her work spans within the fields of wild horses, portraits and personal projects. Hallström grew up in Stockholm within the family of a rich art tradition. She works as a freelance photographer and is widely assigned by different book companies, film companies and magazines. Hallström has lived and worked in Stockholm, Berlin, New York and in Greece. She has received grants from The Swedish Art Committee (2018), The Swedish Journalist Organization (2018), The Film base (2017), Helge Ax:son Johnsons (2016), Längmanska Culture Fund (2012) and Helge Ax:son Johnsons (2009).
Furthermore she has been involved in the following books: Personligt: samtal med fritänkare (portraits of Georg Klien, Stellan Skargård, Lena Andersson, Sara Mohammad, Christer Fuglesang, Eva Dahlgren, among others) and En röd stuga med en halvmåne på gave’ (portraits of Jessika Gedin, Sverker Sörlin, Paulina Neuding and Heide Avellan). Hallström has exhibited in solo shows at Eyubi Stockholm (2007), Elverket Stockholm (2008), Neg Pos Frankrike (2009), and in group shows at Planket Stockholm (2007), Mois off de la Photo Paris (2008), M&C Saatchi London (2008), Centre for Photography Stockholm (2009), Moderna Museet Stockholm (2009), the Swedish Embassy Berlin (2010), Planket Stockholm (2011), Planket Berlin (2011), Väsby Konsthall (2011), The Vanderbilt Republic Gowanus Loft New York (2012), Planket Stockholm (2013) and Gallery Kontrast (2014).