Ambeck Design: 2018

24/10/2018

Smørhul (2018)

Smørhul by Mette-Sofie D. Ambeck (Oct. 2018)

Smørhul was created to be part of Bibliotek Nordica – a portable library of Nordic artists' books created in A6 format with deadline October 1st, 2018. The theme for the project was 'Nordicness'.
The project was organised by Imi Maufe (N/UK), Megan Adie (US/DK/S) & Bent Kvisgaard (DK).
See images of the very first display of the project in Viborg, DK: www.vingaards-officin.dk/438052607

My contribution: Smørhul
As a native Dane it seems foreigners think my country is a small, almost idyllic fairytale place – in Danish it would be called a smørhul (butter hole). I take a different view – and this piece is a reflection of that.

Pamphlet stitched booklet with hard cover in a slipcase.
Pages hand-cut by the artist, text: inkjet printed.
 Hardcover: ink-rolled with hand-cut & peeled board.
Papers: Cream, van Gelder – Simill Japon 225+130gsm.
Cover: Grey board with red ink.
Slipcase: Naturel, Clairefontaine – Paint On 250gsm.
Cover size: 14.8 x 10.5cm / Slipcase: 10.6 x 15 x 0.9cm
Language: Danish & English
Edition: 22 + 2 AP (No. 1-11 have been donated to the project)
Completed in October, 2018
First shown at the Small Publishers Fair, at Conway Hall, Holborn, London, UK (Nov.9-10, 2018)

In the public collection of Manchester Metropolitan University Library All Saints, Winchester School of Art Library: Special Collections and The British Library.

Smørhul by Mette-Sofie D. Ambeck (Oct. 2018) – inside cut page.

Bibliotek Nordica is part of Codex Polaris – Book art projects organised from Norway.

Bibliotek Nordica was first launched at the Nordic focus of the Codex Book Fair
/CODEX 2019, Craneway Pavilion, Richmond, California, USA 3-6.02.2019

BABE - Bristol Artists' Book Event, Arnolfini, Bristol, UK - 30-31.02.2019

Frankfurt Book Fair - on the Bergen kommune stand, Frankfurt, Germany 17-20.10.2019

Konstepidemin, Konstepidemins väg 6, 413 14 Göteborg, Sweden 2-24.11.2019

2021

Rom for bøker / Room for Books – Kristiansand Kunsthall, Norway 30.01-21.03.2021

Bókverk | Book art (Bibliotek Nordica – A Library from the North) – National and University Library of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland 17.05-22.08.2021

CHART Art Fair 2021 (9th Edition) – Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, Denmark 26-29.08.2021

via Bibliotek Nordica: www.chartartfair.com/exhibitors/codex-polaris

2022

Malmö Artist Book Biennale, Sweden 6-7.05.2022

BOOKED 2022, MUU Helsinki Contemporary Art Centre, Finland 25.11-18.12.2022

2023

Small Publishers Fair, London, UK 27-28.10.2023

2024

Torpedo Bookshop, Sofies Gate 11, 0170 Oslo, Norway 10.01.2024 18:00

BinBagBooks (2017)

The first two BinBagBooks by Mette-Sofie D. Ambeck (Nov. 2017).

Each book is created from one Danish paper bin bag from Thisted council. A type of paper bin bag used nationally in Denmark until about 10 years ago when black biodegradable plastic bags were introduced instead. The type of bag used is one-layered, made from a nice heavy recycled stock. Often the bin bags were made with two thin layers of paper, which would have been of no use for this purpose. Thankfully I found 11 unused bags my mom had saved, among many two-layered bags.

Danish one-layered bin bag from Thisted council. Photo M-SDA 2017

When used as dustbins, the bags are held in place in a metal stand as shown in the image below – here photographed in the museum: Den Gamle By (The Old Town) in Aarhus. The use of bags are slowly but surely however being replaced by hard plastic wheelie bins all together.

Metal dustbin stand, Den Gamle By, Aarhus, Denmark 2019. Photo M-SDA

The first two books – Trash and Rubbish – were made for the Small Publishers Fair in November 2017, and sold swiftly.
For the Small Publishers Fair in November 2019 another 4 were made: Trash, Rubbish, Garbage and Junk – of which Garbage and Junk are still available.
The books can be used as note/sketch books or just kept as they are – piece of art in their own right.

Second batch of BinBagBooks by Mette-Sofie D. Ambeck (Nov. 2019).

Paper: Each book is made from one unused original bin bag (pages+cover).
Each has 120 pages of Danish brown bin bag, with print and pockets.
Stitched with hardcover.
Cover size: 17.4 x 12.4 x 2.1cm
Edition of 11, each unique – four titles used: Trash, Rubbish, Garbage and Junk.
First copy made November 2017, the rest of the edition not yet completed.
Launched at the Small Publishers Fair, at Conway Hall, Holborn, London, UK (November 2017)

In the public collection of Winchester School of Art Library: Special Collections, University of the West of England (UWE) Library – Special Collection at Bower Ashton, Bristol and Manchester Metropolitan University Library All Saints.

Second batch of BinBagBooks by Mette-Sofie D. Ambeck (Nov. 2019).