Graphic novel artist Mats Jonsson at Bildmuseet

It was not until the death of Mats Jonsson’s grandfather that his children and grandchildren discovered that they were Sámi. This secret had remained hidden in a bentwood box filled with documents from the grandfather’s time as a reindeer herder.

Jonsson has been depicting his life in comic-book form since he was 15 years old. Over the years, what began as simple, everyday anecdotes and stories about phobias and unrequited love has developed into an artistic endeavour to explore both the present day and its long historical roots.

He finally plucked up the courage to approach the family’s unspoken sore point: the bentwood box.

Mats Jonsson has drawn the story behind his family secret in black ink on white card as he uncovered it in the archives and in the memories of old people. Time and again while working on the graphic novel När vi var samer [When We Were Sámi], he came across signs of how throughout his life he had been surrounded by Sámi artefacts and traditions without understanding their meaning.

In the exhibition Still Sámi, Jonsson now painstakingly compiles the traces of Sápmi and places them side by side with his own drawings, in an attempt to fill the space that silence hollows out in those who grow up assimilated.

– Originals are complemented by storyboards, sketches, notes and sources of inspiration to give an idea of the outer and inner turmoil from which they emerged, Jonsson explains. As time passed, my studio increasingly came to resemble a serial killer’s lair in a film – a jumble of notes, photos, books, archival finds and clues.

Mats Jonsson (b. 1973, Södertälje) lives and works in Sandslån, Ådalen. He has published seven autobiographical graphic novels and four illustrated children’s books. När vi var samer(2021) was awarded the Björn Nilsson Prize for cultural journalism by the national newspaper Expressen and is the first graphic novel to be nominated for the August Prize in the fiction category. Mats Jonsson’s goal is to depict his entire life in comic-book form.

Press Preview on Thursday 16 June (RSVP)
Mats Jonsson will present his exhibition in conversation with museum curator Lisa Lundström. Preview of the retrospective exhibition Nancy Holt / Inside Outside on the same occasion.

Opening of two exhibitions on Art Friday 17 June 17:00–00:00
Mats Jonsson / Still Sámi is inaugurated at 20:00 with a conversation between Mats Jonsson and Lisa Lundström. During this evening, the museum is also opening the major retrospective Nancy Holt / Inside Outside. Also, we are proud to present Sweden's foremost post-punk band on Bildmuseet's stage (see upcoming press release). Open workshop, DJ and bar.

Further information
Lisa Lundström, museum curator
lisa.lundstrom@bildmuseet.umu.se, 090-786 9512
Helena Vejbrink, press contact
helena.vejbrink@bildmuseet.umu.se, 090-786 9073