The exhibition was produced as a group work, at the seminar for modern art at the Department of Art History in Lund. The publication (catalog) was added as a preparatory work for the exhibition under the direction of Associate Professor Sven Sandström.

The exhibition wanted to shed light on a stage in Valand’s history when students were taught under the guidance of the artist / teacher Endre Nemes. Museum director Gustaf Hedén writes in the preface “Since the exhibition planning at the Gothenburg Art Museum provided an opportunity for the exhibition to be taken over before it was dissolved, it has seemed well motivated to have it shown also in Gothenburg, where Valand Art School underwent radical changes with Endre Nemes as the school’s teacher. . ”. The preface also thanks Södertälje konsthalls curator Ingvar Clason, who was the commissioner for the exhibition.

But a certain criticism from Södertälje konsthalls side appears through a letter to Ingrid Mesterton at the Gothenburg Art Museum. The letter states that Södertälje wants to focus on the work the students made at the time for the leadership of Nemes. A stricter approach to the very idea of ​​the exhibition. The time as a student, instead of later with perhaps more successful or more interesting works by the artists.

Excerpts from letters from the art gallery: Even though Tage Törning’s paintings are good, they have nothing to do with Valand during the period of Endre Nemes. Nor are Eric Törning’s two paintings from recent years. Already Bengt Olsson’s collection was questionable in this respect and had Trotzig’s large painting been from his student days and the smaller a sample of today’s painting, it would have responded better to the Lundens’ intentions. When I wanted to make the exhibition better, I thought less about making it more attractive but instead more documentary and true. That not such an ambition has preoccupied everyone is a pity.

The catalog shows that the exhibition has been shown at Skånska konstmuseum, Lund and Gothenburg Art Museum. When the exhibition comes to Södertälje konsthall in June 1970, Eje Högestedt wishes, according to a letter, a broadening of the graphics department. He wants about 5 sheets for sale by each artist. Ingrid Mesterton encourages artists to submit or send directly to Södertälje konsthall.

Of the thirty artists represented from Valand during Endre Neme’s time, we find only one woman, Denice Zetterqvist.

Artists: Lennart Ason, Erland Brand, Rune Claesson, Leif Ericson, Sven-Erik Johansson, Valdemar Jordan, Leif Knudsen, Lennart Landqvist, Gunnar Larson, Bengt Lundin, Ralph Lundquist, Bertil Malmstedt, Acke Oldenburg, Bengt Olson, Bror Persson, Elmar Pilups, Ronald Reyman, Dennis Steen, Jan Stenvinkel, hardy Strid, Lars-Erik Ström, Staffan Tilander, Ulf Trotzig, Erik Törning, Tage Törning, Olle Waller, Denice Zetterqvist, Jörgen Zetterqvist, Olle Zetterqvist, Lennart Åsling.

Sources: Publication / catalog, the art gallery’s archive folder, compiled by Anneli Karlsson.