It came as a surprise to many people in the Stockholm art world when they realized that a huge, ambitious private art gallery had been built on an island in the middle of the archipelago. No one seemed prepared for the size of the space – roughly as big as the Modern Museum in Stockholm, founded and financed by the Baby Björn fortune. Now the audience is starting to find the spot that opened this June, and what time is better to get an excuse to visit the islands than the beautiful Stockholm summer?

Right now Artipelag is showing two exhibitions: “Platsens själ” (the Soul of the Place) and photography by Candida Höfer. The boundaries between what is outside and the inside of the space is not always clear at Artipelag, a space founded as a crossroads between nature, architecture and art in general.

One of the first shows, Platsens Själ, is taking that into account, basing the show on the antique idea that a spirit is looking after not just all living things, but also places and their “soul” (genius loci). The exhibition is trying to enlighten aspects of the spirit of the place and its relevance today, through historical (under the title “Historical appendix”) as well as contemporary art (under the title “På Plats/On location”).

Bo Nilsson, who is running Artipelag has worked extensively in Germany, which is apparent in the second show at Artipelag. It is the first larger solo exhibition by German contemporary photographer Candida Höfer in Sweden. 100 pieces are on show, with anything from her early black and white works to later pieces.

Platsens själ is showing until September 30th, Candida Höfer until October 28th. To get to Artipelag you either take the boat M/S Gurli from the Nybro quay outside of Dramaten or the bus from Vasagatan, opposite the Stockholm Tourist Centre. For more info on how to get there, visit artipelag.se