Johanna Frelin on Generational Change
Johanna Frelin, chief executive of Hyper Island, discusses how generational shifts are reshaping business, technology, and the way we learn — and why adaptability is the defining skill of the coming decade.
A series of conversations with fascinating people from the worlds of art, business, and culture.
The interview series offers an intimate window into the minds shaping today's creative landscape. Each conversation goes beyond surface-level questions, exploring the personal philosophies, working habits, and unexpected inspirations that drive artists, curators, and cultural entrepreneurs. Readers are invited to sit in on dialogues that feel less like formal Q&As and more like thoughtful exchanges between knowledgeable peers. Whether discussing the role of failure in the creative process or the shifting dynamics of the contemporary art market, these discussions reveal the human stories behind the work. It is a space where vulnerability meets expertise, and where every answer opens a new line of inquiry worth following.
Stockholm's art scene serves as a frequent backdrop for these conversations, reflecting the city's unique position as both a Nordic cultural hub and an internationally connected creative community. The interviews frequently touch on how local galleries, independent project spaces, and institutional museums coexist and feed into one another. Guests often share insights about navigating the balance between maintaining a distinctly Swedish artistic identity while engaging with global trends and audiences. From the cobblestone streets of Gamla Stan to the contemporary galleries of Östermalm, the city's geography becomes a character in these stories, grounding abstract ideas in tangible, lived experience.
What emerges across these interviews is a shared belief in art's capacity to foster genuine human connection. Many of the featured voices speak to the importance of making the art world more accessible, breaking down the barriers of jargon and exclusivity that can intimidate newcomers. They advocate for a more welcoming approach, where curiosity is valued over prior knowledge and where the act of looking is itself a creative practice. These conversations remind us that art is not a closed system for specialists but a living language available to anyone willing to engage. The goal is to inspire readers to visit a gallery, ask a question, and trust their own responses.
The series also explores the practical realities of building a life around art and culture. Conversations dig into the economics of creative work, the logistics of mounting exhibitions, and the day-to-day discipline required to sustain a practice over many years. Guests speak candidly about the moments of doubt that accompany any meaningful pursuit, as well as the small victories that keep them going. These interviews do not romanticize the artist's life; instead, they offer a grounded, honest portrait of what it takes to produce work that matters. For aspiring creatives and seasoned professionals alike, these stories provide both solace and a roadmap.
Artworks sits down with the people shaping the intersection of arts and business — from chief executives and cultural philanthropists to artists and entrepreneurs. Each conversation explores how creative thinking drives leadership, recruitment, customer experience, and sustainable growth.
Our interviews bring forward candid insights on what it takes to lead with imagination, why culture matters to the bottom line, and how the most forward-looking organisations are blending artistic sensibility with commercial strategy.
Johanna Frelin, chief executive of Hyper Island, discusses how generational shifts are reshaping business, technology, and the way we learn — and why adaptability is the defining skill of the coming decade.
Professor Lars Strannegård of the Stockholm School of Economics explores the tension between efficiency and creativity, arguing that the most valuable business ideas emerge when the two are held in productive balance.
A conversation with Marcus Eek about the Black Market art fair — its origins, its disruptive ethos, and what it reveals about the evolving relationship between independent artists and the commercial gallery system.
Jens Tillqvist straddles two worlds — employment law by day, rock music by night. He reflects on what the stage teaches about presence, risk, and building trust in professional life.