Sigla Binda at Entrée

Artist: Nanna Gunhild Amstrup, Kristin Þóra Guðbjartsdóttir, Solveig Landa, Rita Marhaug, Svanborg Matthíasdóttir, Imi Maufe, Ingiríður Óðinsdóttir, Anna Snædís Sigmarsdóttir, Sigurborg Stefánsdóttir, Randi Annie Strand

Exhibition title: Sigla Binda

Venue: Entrée, Bergen, Norway

Date: November 11, 2021 – January 23, 2022

Photography: Bjarte Bjørkum / all images copyright and courtesy of the artist and Entrée, Bergen

The terms sigla (sailing) and binda (binding) are two of many common words between the Norwegian and Icelandic languages. They both have several concrete and abstract meanings related to our very existence, to the sea that connects us, to artistic practice with traditions and innovations, and to the historical ties and documents between nations.

Norway and Iceland have common cultural roots, through the Norwegian settlement in Iceland, through language, storytelling traditions and not least through their connected book history. The iconic stories about Norway, written down in Iceland, are priceless and a central part in defining our modern states and self-understanding as cultures, even today.

The text-image combination and its physical carriers; the stone tablet, the papyrus scroll and the codex format, have had a magical attraction since the dawn of history. They can be overpowering objects that link us to the people of the past, to the divine and to the law. To explore the potential of the book format to serve artistic expressions are at the core for the two artists groups from Norway and Iceland.

Codex Polaris is an artists’ book group based in Bergen, Norway. Their purpose is to create opportunities and exhibition platforms for artists who work with books in the Nordic countries. In addition to exhibition activity, Codex Polaris invites guest curators and organizers to work on various networking projects. The projects and texts focus on the artists’ book in the span between the local and the international perspective. Codex Polaris is run by Rita Marhaug, Imi Maufe and Randi Annie Strand. Arkir (quires) is an artists’ book group based in Reykjavik, Iceland. Members of the group have been working and studying book art together since 1998.

Arkir had their first solo exhibition in 2005 and have since then had several exhibitions both in Iceland and abroad. They are interested to share views on book art with fellow artists around the world. The members are Anna Snædís Sigmarsdóttir, Arnþrúður Ösp Karlsdóttir,

Áslaug Jónsdóttir, Bryndís Bragadóttir, Helga Pálína Brynjólfsdóttir, Ingiríður Óðinsdóttir, Kristín Guðbrandsdóttir, Kristín Þóra Guðbjartsdóttir, Jóhanna Margrét Tryggvadóttir, Sigurborg Stefánsdóttir and Svanborg Matthíasdóttir.

Sigla Binda showcases new artists’ books from ten artists inside Entrée’s new interior structure for the coming year, designed by artist Magnhild Øen Nordahl. The interior consists of walls, shelves, tables, and stools made of stained, painted, and laminated poplar and spruce, produced by Aldea Center for Contemporary Art, Design and Technology. The new interior is designed to temporarily transition the gallery from a whitecube into a space for social and discursive art projects throughout 2022. The shelves and furniture are made in a flexible system that can be rearranged by the users to facilitate workshops, lectures, books, presentations and more.

Sigla Binda, an exhibition of unique artist books at the Entrée. All photos: Bjarte Bjørkum

Anna Snædís Sigmarsdóttir, Stafróf– Alphabet (2021). Linocut

Kristín Þóra Guðbjartsdóttir, Villimey (2021). Ink on paper, woven with text sheets from The Legend of the Ice People

Sigurborg Stefánsdóttir, Fjell og daler (2021) and Fjöll ig daler (2021). Pastel colors on paper

Imi Maufe, Malbik Endar (2003/2020). Letterpress, recycled paper, rubber stamped, vinyl, perfect bound, MDF, plywood, acrylic paint, router drawings

Randi Annie Strand, TINGBOD (2021). Wooden objects and rolled paper with prints and photographs

Rita Marhaug, STELLA POLARIS (2021). Shaped painted veneer sheets with various elements of text and images in silkscreen and gravure and sealskin

Sigla Binda, an exhibition of unique artist books at the Entrée. All photos: Bjarte Bjørkum

Ingiríður Óðinsdóttir, Sigling (Sailing) (2021). Textile stitching on paper

Anna Snædís Sigmarsdóttir, Mynjar / Oldsaker (2021). Etching / rust

Kristín Þóra Guðbjartsdóttir, Lava (2021). Printed and folded paper

Nanna Gunhild Amstrup, Et Godt Sted at Våkne (A Good Place to Wake Up) (2021). Graphite drawings printed as cold-set on newspapers

Rita Marhaug, STELLA POLARIS (2021). Hardcover book, text and images in gravure, font; Rita Marhaug, STELLA POLARIS (2021). Hardcover book, text and images in gravure, font in silkscreen, sealskin binding