The Swedish national monument that never came to be

The Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Statue of Liberty in New York – many countries have national monuments that symbolise the country. Sweden doesn’t. Or do we, any suggestions? At the beginning of the 20th century, the Swedish parliament decided to hold a competition for a landmark for Sweden. But they were pranked. Lowe Smith Jonsson tells the story of how sculptor Sven Boberg ’trolled’ the competition with his own version of Mother Swea, mythical protector of Sweden. Normally, she is depicted as a powerful female warrior, holding a shield and standing beside a lion – Boberg’s version is anything but that. Let’s just say it’s a monument to artistic freedom.