| Positive Future
| | The optimism for the future around the turn of the century found an expression in the many exhibitions in many countries, where products and capacities were shown. |
The optimism for the future around the turn of the century found an expression in the many exhibitions in many countries, where products and capacities were shown.
The first Nordic Art and Industry Exhibition took place in Copenhagen in 1871 and in 1903 Helsingborg was the host. In 1914 the first Baltic exhibition opened in Malmo, but in the middle of the exhibition the First World War broke out.
The Age of the Exhibitions
The optimism for the future was clearly shown in the many world exhibitions, which were arranged and they were meant to show all that man now was able to make. These large, spectacular events went hand in hand with the fast industrial expansion in Europe. After the first world exhibition in London in 1851, Vienna followed in 1873 and Paris was next in 1889.
The display of goods, buildings and inventions were a kind of directory of the future, and some times unusual edifices left as monuments for the exhibitions, like for instance the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Also the North was seized with exhibition ardour and in the Sound region you could experience the so-called Industry and Art Exhibition in Copenhagen in 1872 and 1888. In Helsingborg Oscar II opened an Industry and Art Exhibition in June 1903 and at the same time opened the terrace stairs under Kärnan. Lund invited to an exhibition in 1907, where most of the town park was laid out.
The Industrial Exhibition in Helsingborg |
The Sound and the Baltic
The big Baltic exhibition in Malmo in 1914 received the greatest attention. Exhibitors from Denmark, Germany, Russia and Sweden were to demonstrate what industry and culture in these countries could offer. The exhibition should illustrate, what the countries around the Baltic Sea had in common. South-western Scania expected to have great significance as a centre in the Baltic region, which was expected to be established after the fast development of the ferry service between Malmo and Copenhagen and the train ferry connection from Trelleborg to Germany.
Trelleborg to Germany.The Sound Junction
When it came to traffic Scania had landed between Denmark and Eastern Europe. The Southern Sound had become a real centre of passenger traffic, and it was not only local transports. Copenhagen developed into and important harbour for shipping to USA. Many emigrants left, but also emigrants´ relatives left to visit. Many earlier emigrants returned to Scandinavia and Copenhagen and Malmo
The Baltic Exhibtion in 1914
The interest for the exhibition was great in the whole region. Ferdinand Boberg, the great architect of Art Nouveau in Sweden, was the man behind the style of the exhibition buildings. Swedish companies dominated the industrial part, but Danish and German industries were also richly represented.
But it was difficult to attract a large number of Russian exhibitors. However, it was easier to exhibit a fine Russian art collection. Many of the Russian art objects stayed after the exhibition. In the turbulence that the world war and the Russian Revolution had created, they were never sent back and this is why Malmo Museum has and interesting section of Russian art.
The Baltic Exhibition in Malmo 1914 | 
Mikhail Terestjenko | 
The Roller Coaster |
The War Comes
In the middle of the exhibition the First World War broke out, which meant that Russians and Germans became enemies. Exhibited German cars were called home, people became nervous and the number of visitors fell. It was a rude awakening from the dreams of a Baltic region. The Swedish journalist and author, Jan Olof Olsson described the end of the exhibition:
“During the Baltic exhibition the world war broke out – the Scanian summer festival was changed into catastrophe. There was much symbolism in the mark of the exhibition, the world’s tallest tree tower collapsed during a storm.”
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