Shaping Spaces: How Art Reflects Elekta’s Values as a Swedish Multinational Company

The collection, however, was created by Elekta’s founder, Laurent Leksell, who has been a passionate art collector for over 40 years. His interest took off during his studies at the Stockholm School of Economics.

“I was fascinated by art as an expression connecting to society as it has developed over the years. Art provides a much-needed perspective to both my economics background and Elekta as a high-tech company. Culture is an important balancing and quality-enhancing factor in my decision-making, in my view of and commitment to the world around me – and, not least, my understanding of it. Art provides valuable perspectives on what is happening around us,” says Laurent Leksell.

As Elekta grew, Leksell wanted the company to have its own collection, not just for aesthetic reasons.

“Art creates a staff value and an environment that provides a perspective beyond the technical and clinical. Because we work with such severe diseases, art becomes a source of stimulation for staff.”

Elekta initiated an early collaboration with Kungl. Konsthögskolan (Mejan), and the company also considered art an element in its design philosophy. Today, art is activated through lectures for staff, a culture club, and an art lottery. As a medical device company, Elekta is also aware of the many studies that show that the art surrounding them affects employees and patients in many different ways.

“Of course, in some cases, you have to adapt the art to the audience in the room––but many times, looking at art can bring back memories and emotions in a way that benefits the patient, for example. We have also given away works to waiting rooms because some art can ease patients’ anxiety before a decision or procedure.”

At Elekta, art generates discussion and has sparked an interest among some employees that has extended beyond the workplace. Art has been shown to increase the well-being of both employees and international visitors–although there have also been times when some works have raised questions or irritation. But one conversation later, this has, without exception, turned into curiosity and interest.

“In the beginning, I hung my own art at Elekta, but we professionalized the whole thing a few years ago, partly because I didn’t want my personal taste to take over. Consideration is given to how and where the art is hung, to internal and external visitors, and to the fact that there must be a relevant mix of artists and expressions,” says Leksell.

The focus is on contemporary art, and the artists represented are 99 percent Swedish. Elekta has been collecting for 40 years, and works that reflected contemporary life 40 years ago naturally reflect something else today. However, seeing social changes and reflections through the artworks is also part of the collection’s idea. One of the latest additions is a mechanical work by Lap-See Lam, whose artistic practice equally reflects Elekta’s Swedish roots and the company’s substantial and extensive activities in China.

“The collection has become quite representative of the decades that Elekta has been around. Although I am an omnivore in terms of art, Elekta mainly buys Swedish art that reflects Sweden and the current Swedish art scene. We operate in 120 countries with about 5,000 employees, of which about 300 are Swedish. When international customers come here, art becomes part of emphasizing Elekta’s Swedish identity.”

Several artists in Elekta’s collection have also been represented at Market Art Fair. Leksell visits the fair every year and sees great value in the fact that Sweden, through Market Art Fair, can offer a platform where the best Swedish gallerists and artists can meet collectors and the general public.

“Sweden has a broad and deep art scene and many collectors–the only Nordic country that can match that, as a market, is Denmark. It is a challenge for Swedish artists and gallerists to compete with the huge distribution machines that exist internationally. The fair thus creates an important opportunity for Swedish artists to reach both Swedish and Nordic Collectors and an international audience.”