”"Welcome to my hometown", the popular portrait gallery that has welcomed travelers to Stockholm and Sweden in the baggage halls at Stockholm Arlanda Airport for 20 years, has a new face: Benjamin Ingrosso. On Wednesday, the artist, songwriter and entrepreneur unveiled the painting together with Karl Eklund, Swedavia's airport manager at Arlanda.
Also present were media representatives and passing travelers who stopped to listen to Benjamin Ingrosso's song "Kite," which was played from a sound shower placed above the artist's portrait. Benjamin Ingrosso himself was visibly moved by the moment.
"I'm super proud to be hanging out here in Terminal 5 among all the inspiring Stockholmers. I've always walked by and thought it would be amazing to see myself on that wall, it's the first thing everyone sees when they come here from Sweden or any other part of the world. I love this city in so many different ways and am very happy to call it my hometown," says Benjamin Ingrosso.
Earlier this spring, a newly appointed jury consisting of representatives from Swedavia, Stockholm Business Region and the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce selected Benjamin Ingrosso as the next participant to take a place in the portrait gallery ”Welcome to my hometown” in the baggage hall in Terminal 5 at Arlanda. With a motivation containing words such as ”role model”, ”engaging” and ”authentic”, he is in good company with popular artist Barbro ”Lill-Babs” Svensson, hockey legend Börje Salming, swimmer Sarah Sjöström and other Stockholm profiles who have made significant contributions to the city in innovation, culture, sports, business, music, art or design.
− I am very happy and honored to welcome Benjamin to Arlanda and ”Welcome to my hometown”. The gallery is a much-appreciated feature at the airport that gives returning Swedes the opportunity to feel proud of their country and their capital and foreign visitors a chance to discover and get to know Sweden better. Benjamin is a role model for both old and young with his wonderful personality, his great commitment and warmth. He has a depth and breadth in his artistry that creates recognition across generational boundaries and his work truly touches on a deep level, says Karl Eklund, Swedavia's airport manager at Stockholm Arlanda Airport.
According to the press release.
