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Jörgen Thornberg
I can jump higher than the sun, 2019
Digital
50 x 70 cm
If you can jump higher than the Eiffel Tower, it depends on the perspective and where you're standing, so beware of betting with the cunning one. Look at this picture where the boy's left-hand reaches higher than the descending Sun. I fell for the trick, and it cost his dad an ice cream when they returned to the harbour on Hydra. The older sister, who had her head at the same level but didn't wave her arms—girls don't do that—got an ice cream just like her little sister. And I got the picture.
The all-time world record for high jumping is said to be held by a eunuch from Sultan's palace in Constantinople. The eunuch, who was a fake eunuch, had been inside the Sultan's harem fooling around with a girl. Unexpectedly, the Sultan appeared, and for the phoney eunuch, the choice was simple: jump over the two-and-a-half-meter-high unclimbable wall or be beheaded. He jumped and cleared the wall with room to spare. Sotomayor, eat your heart out.
But the picture turned magical with the Sun setting after its daily high jump over the Earth. That's how people on Earth thought, that the Sun moved around the Earth and not vice versa. The one who made the mental high jump was Nicolaus Copernicus. In 1543, he detailed his radical theory of the Universe in which the Earth, along with the other planets, revolved around the Sun. His theory took more than a century to become widely accepted. Talk about a high jump.
The history of the high jump is a thrilling journey through time and space, where athletes have strived to reach the heavens. From ancient sand-filled pits to today's high-tech "all-weather" tracks, the evolution of the high jump has been somewhat of a metaphor for humanity's eternal quest to overcome its limits.
Let's start in antiquity, where high jumping was part of the Olympic Games in ancient Greece. Imagine an ancient Greek jumper, perhaps dressed in a simple tunic (or less), taking a run-up among the olive groves. The Greek jumpers didn't have access to modern techniques like the Fosbury Flop or even a bar; instead, they jumped over bull hides or simple wooden bars. An archetype from antiquity? Picture a sprightly, muscular Hercules look-alike, setting the standard for future high jumpers.
Fast forward to 1912, and we meet the American legend George Horine, who introduced the revolutionary "Western Roll" technique at the Olympic Games in Stockholm. His performance was as much a shock to the audience's aesthetic senses as a technical display. With a kind of rocking motion over the bar, he set a new world record at 2.01 meters, a height that left spectators gasping and competitors pondering whether they should turn their hands to something less challenging, like dusty philosophy or moose hunting.
But the story of the high jump isn't complete without mentioning Dick Fosbury, the man who would forever change high jumping. At the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Fosbury introduced the world to the "Fosbury Flop," a technique where the jumper goes over the bar back first, a move that initially had many questioning his sanity. But it quickly became the accepted method when he landed at 2.24 meters and took home the gold. It's hard not to love the somewhat clumsy yet charming Fosbury, whose jumping technique resembled something one might try after a few too many drinks at a corporate party.
Today, the men's world record stands at an incredible 2.45 meters, set by the Cuban Javier Sotomayor in 1993, and remains unchallenged like a mountain peak no one else has managed to climb. Sotomayor, who must have had some bird DNA in his genes, showed that humans can fly, if only for a second.
For women, Stefka Kostadinova from Bulgaria revolutionised the scene when she jumped 2.09 meters in 1987, a record that still stands today. Kostadinova, who likely had feathers hidden in her shoes, set a standard that inspires high jumpers worldwide.
High jumping is more than just a sport; it's a constant reminder that limits are meant to be overcome. Whether through heroic efforts in ancient Greece or a graceful backward flip in modern times, high jumpers continue to make us look up and wonder, "What's next?" And while we laugh at the early attempts and marvel at the modern masters, we can't help but feel deep respect for those who continue to raise the bar—literally and figuratively.
Comparing human athletic abilities to those of animals might feel like a fair fight until you realise that nature plays by a whole different rulebook. In the world of high jumping, humans have reached an impressive 2.45 meters, a record that seems almost supernatural. But set this against the stars of the animal kingdom, and our world record suddenly feels a bit less impressive.
Take, for example, the flea, a creature that can jump up to 30 cm even though it is only a few millimetres long. If humans had the same jumping power relative to body length as a flea, we could jump over 90 meters wide and 50 meters high. This power is not just due to muscles but also an elastic substance in the joints that catapults the flea into the air—somewhat like a pole vaulter's pole.
It's not just fleas that would make humans feel inferior in high jumping. Dolphins can leap as high as 7 meters straight up into the air, and cougars can reach a height of 6 meters in a single bound. The record holder in the insect world, the meadow froghopper, can jump 400 times its body weight.
It's also notable that horses and humans reach similar heights in their jumps, even though horses weigh significantly more. The horse "Huaso" set a record by jumping 2.47 meters in 1949, demonstrating the extraordinary power and technique these large animals possess.
But what happens when we take our physical performances to other worlds, such as the moon or Mars? On the moon, where gravity is only one-sixth of Earth's, a human jump of 2.45 meters could transform into a spectacular 14.7-meter leap. On Mars, with one-third of Earth's gravity, the same jump
This would result in a 7.35-meter high jump. Imagine an Olympic game where high jumpers could easily surpass houses in height!
These cosmic conditions would revolutionise the sport of high jumping and give a new meaning to "space athletics." While the animals here on Earth might make us feel a bit limited, space opens up unlimited possibilities.
So, the next time you're impressed by a high jumper, remember some creatures do it better—and think about the heights we have yet to reach. And remember, although we humans may not be the best jumpers on Earth, we have the potential to be the superstars of space-high jumping!
Jörgen Thornberg
I can jump higher than the sun, 2019
Digital
50 x 70 cm
If you can jump higher than the Eiffel Tower, it depends on the perspective and where you're standing, so beware of betting with the cunning one. Look at this picture where the boy's left-hand reaches higher than the descending Sun. I fell for the trick, and it cost his dad an ice cream when they returned to the harbour on Hydra. The older sister, who had her head at the same level but didn't wave her arms—girls don't do that—got an ice cream just like her little sister. And I got the picture.
The all-time world record for high jumping is said to be held by a eunuch from Sultan's palace in Constantinople. The eunuch, who was a fake eunuch, had been inside the Sultan's harem fooling around with a girl. Unexpectedly, the Sultan appeared, and for the phoney eunuch, the choice was simple: jump over the two-and-a-half-meter-high unclimbable wall or be beheaded. He jumped and cleared the wall with room to spare. Sotomayor, eat your heart out.
But the picture turned magical with the Sun setting after its daily high jump over the Earth. That's how people on Earth thought, that the Sun moved around the Earth and not vice versa. The one who made the mental high jump was Nicolaus Copernicus. In 1543, he detailed his radical theory of the Universe in which the Earth, along with the other planets, revolved around the Sun. His theory took more than a century to become widely accepted. Talk about a high jump.
The history of the high jump is a thrilling journey through time and space, where athletes have strived to reach the heavens. From ancient sand-filled pits to today's high-tech "all-weather" tracks, the evolution of the high jump has been somewhat of a metaphor for humanity's eternal quest to overcome its limits.
Let's start in antiquity, where high jumping was part of the Olympic Games in ancient Greece. Imagine an ancient Greek jumper, perhaps dressed in a simple tunic (or less), taking a run-up among the olive groves. The Greek jumpers didn't have access to modern techniques like the Fosbury Flop or even a bar; instead, they jumped over bull hides or simple wooden bars. An archetype from antiquity? Picture a sprightly, muscular Hercules look-alike, setting the standard for future high jumpers.
Fast forward to 1912, and we meet the American legend George Horine, who introduced the revolutionary "Western Roll" technique at the Olympic Games in Stockholm. His performance was as much a shock to the audience's aesthetic senses as a technical display. With a kind of rocking motion over the bar, he set a new world record at 2.01 meters, a height that left spectators gasping and competitors pondering whether they should turn their hands to something less challenging, like dusty philosophy or moose hunting.
But the story of the high jump isn't complete without mentioning Dick Fosbury, the man who would forever change high jumping. At the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Fosbury introduced the world to the "Fosbury Flop," a technique where the jumper goes over the bar back first, a move that initially had many questioning his sanity. But it quickly became the accepted method when he landed at 2.24 meters and took home the gold. It's hard not to love the somewhat clumsy yet charming Fosbury, whose jumping technique resembled something one might try after a few too many drinks at a corporate party.
Today, the men's world record stands at an incredible 2.45 meters, set by the Cuban Javier Sotomayor in 1993, and remains unchallenged like a mountain peak no one else has managed to climb. Sotomayor, who must have had some bird DNA in his genes, showed that humans can fly, if only for a second.
For women, Stefka Kostadinova from Bulgaria revolutionised the scene when she jumped 2.09 meters in 1987, a record that still stands today. Kostadinova, who likely had feathers hidden in her shoes, set a standard that inspires high jumpers worldwide.
High jumping is more than just a sport; it's a constant reminder that limits are meant to be overcome. Whether through heroic efforts in ancient Greece or a graceful backward flip in modern times, high jumpers continue to make us look up and wonder, "What's next?" And while we laugh at the early attempts and marvel at the modern masters, we can't help but feel deep respect for those who continue to raise the bar—literally and figuratively.
Comparing human athletic abilities to those of animals might feel like a fair fight until you realise that nature plays by a whole different rulebook. In the world of high jumping, humans have reached an impressive 2.45 meters, a record that seems almost supernatural. But set this against the stars of the animal kingdom, and our world record suddenly feels a bit less impressive.
Take, for example, the flea, a creature that can jump up to 30 cm even though it is only a few millimetres long. If humans had the same jumping power relative to body length as a flea, we could jump over 90 meters wide and 50 meters high. This power is not just due to muscles but also an elastic substance in the joints that catapults the flea into the air—somewhat like a pole vaulter's pole.
It's not just fleas that would make humans feel inferior in high jumping. Dolphins can leap as high as 7 meters straight up into the air, and cougars can reach a height of 6 meters in a single bound. The record holder in the insect world, the meadow froghopper, can jump 400 times its body weight.
It's also notable that horses and humans reach similar heights in their jumps, even though horses weigh significantly more. The horse "Huaso" set a record by jumping 2.47 meters in 1949, demonstrating the extraordinary power and technique these large animals possess.
But what happens when we take our physical performances to other worlds, such as the moon or Mars? On the moon, where gravity is only one-sixth of Earth's, a human jump of 2.45 meters could transform into a spectacular 14.7-meter leap. On Mars, with one-third of Earth's gravity, the same jump
This would result in a 7.35-meter high jump. Imagine an Olympic game where high jumpers could easily surpass houses in height!
These cosmic conditions would revolutionise the sport of high jumping and give a new meaning to "space athletics." While the animals here on Earth might make us feel a bit limited, space opens up unlimited possibilities.
So, the next time you're impressed by a high jumper, remember some creatures do it better—and think about the heights we have yet to reach. And remember, although we humans may not be the best jumpers on Earth, we have the potential to be the superstars of space-high jumping!
Jörgen Thornberg
Malmö
Lite om bilder och mig. Translation in English at the end.
Jag är en nyfiken person som ser allt i bilder, även det jag fäster i ord, gärna tillsammans för bakom alla mina bilder finns en berättelse. Till vissa bilder hör en kortare eller längre novell som följer med bilden.
Bilder berättar historier. Jag omges av naturlig skönhet, intressanta människor och historia var jag än går. Jag använder min kamera för att dokumentera världen och blanda det jag ser med vad jag känner för att fånga den dolda magin.
Mina bilder berättar mina historier. Genom mina bilder, tryck och berättelser. Jag bjuder in dig att ta del av dessa berättelser, in i ditt liv och hem och dela min mycket personliga syn på vår värld. Mer än vad ögat ser. Jag tänker i bilder, drömmer och skriver och pratar om dem; följaktligen måste jag också skapa bilder. De blir vad jag ser, inte nödvändigtvis begränsade till verkligheten. Det finns en bild runt varje hörn. Jag hoppas att du kommer att se vad jag såg och gilla det.
Jag är också en skrivande person och till många bilder hör en kortare eller längre essay. Den följer med tavlan, tryckt på fint papper och med en personlig hälsning från mig.
Flertalet bilder startar sin resa i min kamera. Enkelt förklarat beskriver jag bilden jag ser i mitt inre, upplevd eller fantiserad. Bilden uppstår inom mig redan innan jag fått okularet till ögat. På bråkdelen av ett ögonblick ser jag vad jag vill ha och vad som kan göras med bilden. Här skall jag stoppa in en giraff, stålmannen, Titanic eller vad det är min fantasi finner ut. Ännu märkligare är att jag kommer ihåg minnesbilden långt efteråt när det blir tid att skapa verket. Om jag lyckas eller inte, är upp till betraktaren, oftast präglat av en stråk av svart humor – meningen är att man skall bli underhållen. Mina bilder blir ofta en snackis där de hänger.
Jag föredrar bilder som förmedlar ett budskap i flera lager. Vid första anblicken fylld av feel-good, en vacker utsikt, fint väder, solen skiner, blommor på ängen eller vattnet som ligger förrädiskt spegelblankt. I en sådan bild kan jag gömma min egentliga berättelse, mitt förakt för förtryckare och våldsverkare, rasister och fördomsfulla människor - ett gärna återkommande motiv mer eller mindre dolt i det vackra motivet. Jag försöker förena dem i ett gemensamt narrativ.
Bild och formgivning har löpt som en röd tråd genom livet. Fotokonst känns som en värdig final som jag gärna delar med mig.
Min genre är vid som framgår av mina bilder, temat en blandning av pop- och gatukonst i kollage som kan bestå av hundratals lager. Vissa bilder kan ta veckor, andra någon dag innan det är dags att överlämna resultatet till printverkstaden. Fine Art Prints är digitala fotocollage. I dessa kollage sker rivandet, klippandet, pusslandet, målandet, ritandet och sprayningen digitalt. Det jag monterar in kan vara hundratals år gamla bilder som jag omsorgsfullt frilägger så att de ser ut att vara en del av tavlan men också bilder skapade av mig själv efter min egen fantasi. Därefter besöks printstudion och för vissa bilder numrera en limiterad upplaga (oftast 7 exemplar) och signera för hand. Vissa bilder kan köpas i olika format. Det är bara att fråga efter vilka. Gillar man en bild som är 70x100 men inte har plats på väggen, går den kanske att få i 50x70 cm istället. Frågan är fri.
Metoden Giclée eller Fine Art Print som det också kallas är det moderna sättet för framställning av grafisk konst. Villkoret för denna typ av utskrifter är att en högkvalitativ storformatskrivare används med åldersbeständigt färgpigment och konstnärspapper eller i förekommande fall på duk. Pappret som används möter de krav på livslängd som ställs av museer och gallerier. Normalt säljer jag mina bilder oinramade så att den nya ägaren själv kan bestämma hur de skall se ut, med eller utan passepartout färg på ram, med eller utan glas etc..
Under många år ställde jag bara ut på nätet, i valda grupper och på min egen Facebooksida - https://www.facebook.com/jorgen.thornberg.9
Jag finns också på en egen hemsida som tyvärr inte alltid är uppdaterad – https://www.jth.life/ Där kan du också läsa en del av de berättelser som följer med bilden.
UTSTÄLLNINGAR
Luftkastellet, oktober 2022
Konst i Lund, november 2022
Luftkastellet, mars 2023
Engleson Galleri Caroli, april 2023
Hydra, Greece June 2023
Engleson Galleri Caroli, oktober 2023
Toppen, Höllviken december 2023
Luftkastellet, mars 2024
Torups Galleri, mars 2024
Venice, May 2024
Luftkastellet, oktober 2024
Konst i Advent, December 2024
Galleri Engleson, Caroli December 2024
Jäger & Jansson Galleri, april 2025
A bit about pictures and me.
I'm a curious person who sees everything in pictures, even what I express in words, often combining them, for behind all my pictures lies a story. These narratives, some as short as a single image and others as long as a novel, are the heart and soul of my work.
Pictures tell stories. Wherever I go, I'm surrounded by natural beauty, exciting people, and history. I use my camera to document the world and blend what I see with what I feel to capture the hidden magic.
My images tell my stories. Through my pictures, prints, and narratives, I invite you to partake in these stories in your life and home and share my deeply personal perspective of our world. More than meets the eye. I think in pictures, dream, write, and talk about them; consequently, I must create images too. They become what I see, not necessarily confined to reality. There's a picture around every corner. I hope you'll see what I saw and enjoy it.
I'm also a writer, and many images come with a shorter or longer essay. It accompanies the painting, printed on fine paper with my personal greeting.
Many pictures start their journey on my camera. Simply put, I describe the image I see in my mind, experienced or imagined. The image arises within me even before I bring the eyepiece to my eye. In a fraction of a moment, I see what I want and what can be done with the picture. Here, I'll insert a giraffe, Superman, the Titanic, or whatever my imagination conjures up. Even stranger is that I remember the mental image long after it's time to create the work. Whether I succeed is up to the observer, often imbued with a streak of black humour – the aim is to entertain. My pictures usually become a talking point wherever they hang.
I prefer pictures that convey a message in multiple layers. At first glance, they're filled with feel-good vibes, a beautiful view, lovely weather, the sun shining, flowers in the meadow, or the water lying deceptively calm. But beneath this surface beauty, I often conceal a deeper story, a narrative that challenges societal norms or explores the human condition. I invite you to delve into these hidden narratives and discover the layers of meaning within my work.
Picture and design have been a thread running through my life. Photographic art feels like a fitting finale, and I'm happy to share it.
My genre is varied, as seen in my pictures; the theme is a blend of pop and street art in collages that can consist of hundreds of layers. Some images can take weeks, others just a day before it's time to hand over the result to the print workshop. Fine Art Prints are digital photo collages. In these collages, tearing, cutting, puzzling, painting, drawing, and spraying happen digitally. What I insert can be images hundreds of years old that I carefully extract so they appear to be part of the painting, but also images created by myself, now also generated from my imagination. Next, visit the print studio and, for certain images, number a limited edition (usually 7 copies) and sign them by hand. Some images may be available in other formats. Just ask which ones. If you like an image that's 70x100 but doesn't have space on the wall, you might be able to get it in 50x70 cm instead. The question is open.
The Giclée method, or Fine Art Print as it's also called, is the modern way of producing graphic art. This method ensures the highest quality and longevity of the artwork, using a high-quality large-format printer with archival pigment inks and artist paper or, in some cases, canvas. The paper used meets the longevity requirements set by museums and galleries. I sell my pictures unframed, allowing the new owner to personalise their artwork, confident in the lasting value and quality of the piece.
For many years, I only exhibited online, in selected groups, and on my Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/jorgen.thornberg.9. I also have my website, which unfortunately is not constantly updated - https://www.jth.life/. You can also read some of the stories accompanying the pictures there.
EXHIBITIONS
Luftkastellet, October 2022
Art in Lund, November 2022
Luftkastellet, March 2023
Engleson Gallery Caroli, April 2023
Hydra, Greece June 2023
Engleson Gallery Caroli, October 2023
Toppen, Höllviken December 2023
Luftkastellet, March 2024
Torup Gallery, March 2024
Venice, May 2024
UTSTÄLLNINGAR
Luftkastellet, oktober 2022
Konst i Lund, november 2022
Luftkastellet, mars 2023
Engleson Galleri Caroli, april 2023
Hydra, Greece June 2023
Engleson Galleri Caroli, oktober 2023
Toppen, Höllviken december 2023
Luftkastellet, mars 2024
Torups Galleri, mars 2024
Venice, May 2024
Luftkastellet, October 2024
Konst i Advent, December 2024
Galleri Engleson, Caroli December 2024
Jäger & Jansson Galleri, April 2025
Utbildning
Autodidakt
Medlem i konstnärsförening
Öppna Sinnen
Med i konstrunda
Konstrundan i Skåne
Utställningar
Luftkastellet, October 2022
Art in Lund, November 2022
Luftkastellet, March 2023
Engleson Gallery Caroli, April 2023
Hydra, Greece June 2023
Engleson Gallery Caroli, October 2023
Toppen, Höllviken December 2023
Luftkastellet, March 2024
Torup Gallery, March 2024
Venice, May 2024