Greta thunberg as global icon

Nana Eshelman Håkansson, Arbetet, May 2019

Icon paintings by Greta Thunberg are becoming more common. Top row from left: Sara Khamkoed, Elina Tuomi, Gergana Bozhkova and MARYCULA. Bottom row from left: Steven Spazuk, Gabriella Schützer, Jo Hay and Ruurd van Schuijlenburg.

ART. "I do not want to belittle the initiative, but that the news that a fifteen-year-old climate activist is sitting with a poster outside the Riksdag gets more attention than the UNCHR predicts that by 2050 there will be between 250 million and one billion climate refugees, feels absurd to say the least." That is what I wrote in Sydsvenskan in August last year, when Greta Thunberg sat off her first school day in front of the Riksdag. Nine months later, she has become the front figure for a worldwide climate movement.

There is some kind of religious shimmer over Greta Thunberg. And it's not just about how many followers she has managed to mobilize, that she shook hands with the pope, praised Barack Obama and Bono and spoke at the UN. That's how she is portrayed, by both fans and the media. And the admiration of the world has also crept into the culture - in the form of art. The internet is full of portraits made by fans to pay tribute to her. Greta Thunberg fanart has become a phenomenon.

“I am thinking of orthodox icons”, says Margaretha Rossholm Lagerlöf,
professor emeritus of art history at the Department of Culture and Aesthetics at Stockholm University.
“The figure has a great authority - a leader for an awakening, for an awareness.”

At first glance, the pictures are very varied. They are made in different techniques and have different emotional character - but the message they convey is the same. They are almost shockingly similar. They are depicted frontally, ie straight from the front so that Greta herself is parallel to the image surface. Her eyes are fixed directly on the viewer, but at the same time it looks as if she has been looking at you for so long that her gaze has become glassy. She sees you, but still into herself.

Many of the artists I have interviewed say that Greta Thunberg gives them hope. That she is the future. Someone goes so far as to say that it feels as if Greta Thunberg carries the weight of the whole world on her shoulders - to compare with how Jesus took on our sins.

Fanart with movie stars and pop musicians has similar features, but without the special look, and those images are usually part of a given situation. The idol portrait of Greta Thunberg is, like icons, independent of the surrounding space.

“The figure has a great authority - a leader for an awakening, for an awareness.
A figure that represents an attitude to life, and not all people who are depicted do so, even if they are interpreted as personalities.
But this is another thing, a way into something existential in some way.
And that images from all over the world have such similarities, it reflects Greta's role as almost a spiritual leader”,
sums up Margaretha Rossholm Lagerlöf.

Iconic Images of Greta Thunberg

FINLAND: Elina Tuomi, teacher, illustrator and author, 32, Helsinki

- Greta Thunberg is a young woman with a task bigger than herself. She represents the strength, power and wisdom of our global youth. I have written and illustrated a book about exceptional Finnish women by drawing portraits of "sheros" - heroines from all over the world.

- Greta's activism has inspired millions of people. Because of her, my students have learned more about climate change and are willing to make a difference and change the future.

UNITED STATES: Jo Hay, Artist, 55, Provincetown, Massachusetts, USA

- Greta Thunberg is an example of pure human decency, dignity and courage.

- I was very touched by her serious expression on the pictures of her sitting on the ground with her now well-known "School strike for the climate" sign and knew immediately that I wanted to include her in my series "Persisters" where I depict contemporary brave women.

GERMANY: MARYCULA, street artist, Berlin

- Fan art sounds so stupid and reducing, as if it's about ordinary pop stars. My portrait is not fan art.

- I was the first to use the tag #artistsforfuture. I completely agree with Greta's demands on politicians. She is so convincing, genuine in speech and action. Now she's the face of a movement - maybe humanity needs a person like her. When I had finished the picture, I sent it to Greta and asked if she liked it. The answer was: YES.

BULGARIA: Gergana Bozhkova, illustrator, 29 years old, Blagoevgrad

- For me, Greta is a symbol of hope. Because of people like her, I believe there is still hope for our world to move in the right direction.

- Recently I saw her speech in front of EU leaders in Strasbourg and it inspired me to make the portrait of her. She was so direct and mature - she was probably the most mature person in that room. I believe that the social function of art is about showing that the world can change and inspiring people to change it.

CANADA: Steven Spazuk, artist, age 59, Franklin, Quebec

- I use black coal - a pollutant - to paint and pay tribute to Greta Thunberg. I did the portrait after seeing her TED talk. Her honesty, authenticity and sincerity made me feel that she was carrying the weight of the whole world on her shoulders.

- In addition to her intelligence and clairvoyance, I believe that the fact that she is so dedicated at such a young age makes her message so much more powerful. I can not thank her enough for lighting my flame of hope.

AUSTRALIA: Sara Khamkoed, 32, illustrator and writer, Gorokan

- I love the book Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls and imagined what Greta Thunberg's portrait would have looked like if she had been in the book. Through her unwavering commitment and determination, she has already accomplished so much.

- I want to be a part of spreading her important message and the portrait is my little way to contribute to the conversation about the need to act.

GERMANY: Ruurd van Schuijlenburg, 54, artist, Bundes in Lower Saxony

- Greta Thunberg is a young woman who clearly says: Stop abusing Mother Earth! She represents all those who see what is happening while responsible adults look away.

- I may sound negative, but my children make me hopeful. My contribution is to spread Greta Thunberg's strong stance with my drawings.

SWEEDEN: Gabriella Schützer, 28, is studying glassblowing, Uppsala

- My portrait of Greta Thunberg is part of a series of people I want to pay tribute to. I was inspired by her fantastic commitment to the climate and how she has influenced so many people.

- It was during a walk in early April that I got the idea of how I would portray Greta. I took with me both the withered and the green. It should symbolize the difference Greta makes and wants to make.