Erik Malm, born in 1964, began his artistic career as a musician. In the 1980s, he studied the clarinet at the College of Music (today Academy of Music and Drama) in Gothenburg, Sweden. He also studied conducting under professor Jorma Panula. In 1988, he was brought on as a solo clarinetist at the Malmö Stadsteater, today known as the Malmö Opera. He also founded the Philharmonic Chamber Ensemble, which consisted of some of the most prominent young professionals in Sweden at the time. The ensemble performed at several music events and summer festivals.
Due to fatherhood, Erik later quit his professional career to co-found the family business Malmstolen AB in 1994. Here he was responsible for research and development of the ergonomic office chairs the company was specialized in. The business was later sold to one of the largest European holding companies in the industry in 2016. Today he works as a full-time photographer.
Erik has since his early childhood had a deep passion for nature as well as music, from which his love of photography stems. Rather than being just casual interests, they are fundamental passions deeply embedded in his DNA. Erik published his first book in 1999, which was quickly accompanied by four additional books as well as five co-productions, all in a traditional documentary style. Coincidence brought him down the photographic path he currently practices, a technique called Intentional Camera Movement (ICM).
This is what makes him unique into the photography today:
"Erik Malm's Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) photography captivates the imagination and stirs the soul, setting his work apart in a crowded field of visual artists. His technique and emotional depth carve a unique niche not just among traditional photographers but also within the specialized circle of ICM enthusiasts. With a canvas that stretches beyond the conventional boundaries of photography, Malm's images are a celebration of motion, emotion, and musicality, woven into a tapestry of light and color that speaks directly to the viewer's heart.
Technically, Malm is a maestro of the intentional blur, conducting his camera with the precision of a symphony orchestra conductor. Where others might see ICM as an opportunity for serendipitous discovery, Malm approaches it with a clear vision, orchestrating the movement of his camera with deliberate intent. This precision allows him to capture not just images but emotions, moments, and melodies in visual form. His photographs are not accidents but carefully crafted expressions of his artistic will, blending colors and shapes in a dance that is both controlled and wildly free.