malarky
December 31, 2009
INTERVIEW WITH PHOTOGRAPHER MALCOM FALLENIUS
April 20th 2009 , I sat down on the sunny steps of the Royal Library in Stockholm, with music photographer Malcolm Fallenius that generously let us glimpse at the man behind the camera. During the past years, Malcolm Fallenius aka Malarky has been taking pictures of people in his apartment, breathtaking landscapes and the great artists Shout Out Louds, Robyn, The Dears and Lykke Li, among many others. He has an exceptional talent for capturing objects just the way they are, creating a sincerity that is often sensual and occasionally comical. Fallenius once came to a costume party I had dressed as a rodent. It is unclear whether he was a rat or a mouse. As a man of many qualities, he is in his uniqueness, a prototype of the creative Stockholmer.
What does Malarky mean?
It means bullshit in English and is some kind of game in Swedish.
Dream band or artist to go on tour with?
Metallica in the early 80’s and Gangstarr in the late 80’s, that way I get both sides of the story.
Passport or paparazzi photographer?
Passport photographer
Black and white or color film?
B/W, because I hate adjusting the colors in photoshop.
How important is it to know the subject whom you are taking a picture of?
If you are a really good photographer it shouldn’t matter. But I’m not that good… Hehe. Usually it is people I know, or the person is so used to having their pictures taking that they are very professional and make things easy for me.
What do you think of photography as a political medium?
A picture says more than a thousand words! It is really good because a photo affects you more than a text. And some people are lazy and don’t read all the text, but at least they see the picture. The text is important too, but the photo is really important.
What is your dream project?
I like to document something for a really long time. Like with Shout Out Louds,I love to follow them around. But my dream job is to document a Formula 1 team for one year. It`s almost like a band tour but more with more oil and more sexism.
Which is your favorite pose?
The jumping pose. It creates a funny picture.
What camera would you bring to a desert island?
My Nikon F3, it’s my grandfather’s old camera.
What is the most sell out thing you could do?
I’ve already done it – taking pictures of meat. But then I donated some of the money to a vegan runners club.
How would you define Swedish beauty?
Blue skies and blue water. And blue berries.
You seem to be eager to find a serious girlfriend. What would an ad for you look like?
Crazy bitch from the ghetto! (Laughing). Skinny boy with big shoes looking for sporty, funny, creative skinny girl with big shoes. (By big shoes he means running shoes.)
A dream date?
The charming character Zooey Deschanel play in The Yes Man.
What’s your advice to be creative?
See a lot of things. Inspire yourself – read, listen to music, go to a museum. Just think in your bed. No, the best way is to have a pen and paper next to your bed. Most of those ideas turn out to be crap but at least they were good ten hours earlier.
If you would chose another creative field, what would it be?
Illustration. I’d like to draw the faces of people with a pencil.
Annie Leibovitz or Robert Capa?
Capa. He was braver. He risked his life.
How is your inner child doing?
Great, great.
http://malarky.se/
By Ebba Akerman
Published by: The Swede Beat
