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The Man Behind the Camera: Roger Lärk’s Legacy
Roger Lärk is no stranger to the streets of Trollhättan, nor to the assembly lines of the Saab factory that once defined the city. As a long-time photojournalist for TTELA, he was on the front lines of Saab’s most pivotal moments.
From the golden years of expansion to the gut-wrenching closure of the factory, Lärk’s camera documented it all. His work is raw, authentic, and deeply human. Now, nearly 100 of his most striking images are on display at the Saab Car Museum in the exhibition Roger & Saab.
Biography
Roger Lärk (instagram account) is a Swedish photographer born on April 23, 1951, in Fuxerna, Sweden. He developed an early interest in photography and began his career shooting portraiture in a studio setting, later taking on assignments for the Swedish Navy along the country’s coasts (before returning briefly to studio work). Eventually, Lärk transitioned into press photography and became a prominent photojournalist in the region of Trollhättan. He is best known as a long-time press photographer for the local newspaper TTELA (and its predecessor Trollhättans Tidning), as well as a freelance photographer, with a career spanning several decades. Through these roles, Lärk built an extensive body of work capturing the people and events of his community.
Notable Works
Over the years, Roger Lärk has produced a vast archive of photographs documenting everyday life and historic moments in western Sweden.
He worked for the regional press from the early 1970s onward, covering a wide array of assignments in news, community events, industry, and sports. Some of his key projects and iconic photographs include:
- The Saab Chronicle: Lärk closely followed the fortunes of the Saab automobile company. As a TTELA press photographer he covered Saab’s ups and downs, digging through his archives to later present nearly 100 images spanning 1973 to 2013 in a dedicated series. These photographs capture factory scenes, car launches, and the human side of Saab’s history in Trollhättan.
- Local Sports Heroes: He documented memorable sports moments and personalities in the region. For example, Lärk photographed Swedish wrestler Frank Andersson receiving Trollhättan’s prestigious sports medal in 1974 – an image that preserves a proud local achievement. He also covered many other sporting events from youth competitions to major championships, contributing to the visual record of West Sweden’s sports history.
- Trollhättan Community and Heritage: Much of Lärk’s work serves as a chronicle of everyday life and change in his hometown. He has captured everything from city infrastructure projects and cultural festivals to school events and political happenings. In recent years, he has curated this historical photo archive on a personal photoblog, sharing images from the 1970s onward. This popular photoblog – effectively a digital time capsule – presents highlights of his large image portfolio and offers “a real time journey in pictures”. A collaboration with Innovatum Science Center in 2024 also made a selection of about 50 of his historically significant photographs of Trollhättan available in an online image archive for the public
In the 1970s, Lärk’s lens captured scenes like rally drivers and international visitors at Saab events, reflecting the local industrial culture and excitement of the era. He also chronicled community life such as infrastructure projects and sports celebrations, producing images that have become part of Trollhättan’s visual history.
Exhibitions
Roger Lärk’s photography has been showcased both in physical exhibits and online collections. In 2025, the Saab Car Museum in Trollhättan launched a major retrospective exhibition titled “Roger & Saab – Människor och Saab genom pressfotografen Roger Lärks kamera” (“Roger & Saab – People and Saab through the press photographer Roger Lärk’s camera”). This exhibition opened on March 15, 2025 and features nearly 100 of Lärk’s photographs taken between 1973 and 2013. The images on display highlight the interplay of the Saab automobile company with the local community – focusing on employees, events, and everyday moments connected to Saab’s story. According to the museum, the Roger & Saab photos not only depict an important part of Trollhättan’s history but also illuminate interesting episodes in Saab’s saga. In these pictures “the person rather than the car is at the center,” and they evoke a mix of emotions, both for viewers and for Lärk himself reminiscing over decades of coverage. The exhibit was scheduled to run through the end of 2025, as part of the Saab Car Museum’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
Beyond this, Lärk effectively opened up his archive to the public via digital platforms. In partnership with Innovatum Science Center, a curated selection of his historic Trollhättan photos has been made accessible in an online image archive (often referred to as the “RL-series”). This digital exhibition, first released in 2024, allows people to explore dozens of Lärk’s photographs of 1970s-era Trollhättan, complete with captions and context Lärk’s ongoing photoblog also serves as a virtual showcase of his work, where he regularly posts old photographs and stories, thereby exhibiting his life’s work to new generations of viewers.
Roger & Saab: A Photographic Time Capsule
Opening on March 15, 2025, this exhibition serves as both a celebration and a reflection. It marks the 50th anniversary of the Saab Car Museum and invites visitors to step back in time. Rather than just focusing on the machines, Lärk shifts the spotlight to the people who built, drove, and lived Saab. This human-centric approach makes the collection not just a display of history, but a deeply emotional experience.
- The Rise and Fall: Lärk captured the prosperity of Saab’s expansion into global markets as well as the devastating decline when the factory closed its doors.
- A Worker’s Story: His images depict not just executives and engineers but also factory workers whose livelihoods were tied to Saab.
- Saab Spirit: Beyond the workplace, his work captures Saab enthusiasts, car launches, and everyday life surrounding the brand.
“I Feel Both Joy and Sadness” – Roger Lärk Reflects
Lärk himself describes mixed emotions when revisiting these photographs. “Saab touched so many lives. You could feel it everywhere,” he says. His work doesn’t just chronicle the company’s corporate journey; it tells the story of a community bound together by a brand. The exhibition aims to evoke memories and stir emotions, making it more than just a collection of images—it’s an experience.
What to Expect at the Exhibition
Located in the auditorium of the Saab Car Museum, the exhibition will run until December 31, 2025. This is just the first major event in the museum’s anniversary celebrations. Visitors can expect:
- Large-scale prints of Lärk’s most powerful images
- Never-before-seen shots from behind the scenes at Saab
- Exclusive commentary from Lärk himself on the stories behind the photos
- A journey through four decades of Saab history
Why This Exhibition Matters
For Saab enthusiasts, this is a rare opportunity to witness history through the eyes of someone who lived it firsthand. Lärk’s work is a reminder of Saab’s legacy, its people, and its impact on Swedish industry. Whether you were a Saab employee, a devoted owner, or simply someone who admires the brand’s history, Roger & Saab is an exhibition you won’t want to miss.
