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.

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

POSTED/UNPOSTED (2017)

Forty copies ready to post.

August 23rd, 2017: Finished my contribution to the Nordic project: POSTED/UNPOSTED – a book art project with special emphasis on letterpress printing from the Nordic countries: Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Åland Islands.

Around 30 artists, poets, printers and publishers who use (or have the potential to use) letterpress have been invited to contribute to a collaboration with constraints. We have all had to contribute with 40 letterpress printed envelopes with contents (both being of equal importance). All envelopes had to be C5 size (229x162mm).

Deadline September 1st, 2017.
By the end of September the organisers: Imi Maufe (Norway) and Lina Nordenström (Sweden) packaged the limited edition collection and sent copies touring around the Nordic countries and the world in the months/years to come. Each contributor got a copy of the limited collection.

The collaborative project was launched at the Bergen Art Book Fair October 19-22, 2017. (www.bergenartbookfair.no) and other venues followed.

Past Exhibitions:

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

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

Malmö Konsthall, Sweden – 6-12th May 2019

San Fransisco Center for the Book – 2nd Feb-29th April 2019 (see Posted / Unposted ++) This is a extended version with extra works by 9 of the participating artists called POSTED / UNPOSTED ++ and is part of Codex Polaris' Nordic Focus at the CODEX 2019 book fair and Symposium, USA.

SFCB produced a catalogue to go with the exhibition which is available from their website – www.sfcb.org

Grafikk i Väst, Gøteborg, Sweden – 5th-31st January 2019

Viborg Hovedbibliotek (The Main Library, Viborg), Viborg, Denmark, June 4 - August 6, 2018

Leeds Letterpress Conference – 19-20th July 2018

Galleri Pi, Copenhagen, Denmark, June 15 - July 7, 2018

turn the page – book fair, Norwich, UK May 25-26, 2018

Malmö Artist's Book Biennial, Sweden, April 20-21, 2018

Rönnells Antikvariat, Stockholm – March 2018

Konstfack Library (the University College of Craft, Arts and Design), Stockholm, Sweden, February 2018

Bergen Art Book Fair, Norway – October 2017

For more details: www.codexpolaris.com

All parts of Posted/Unposted by Ambeck Design, 2017.

POSTED/UNPOSTED
Digital vs. Analog: posting messages/updates vs. keeping it private/only for the few.

When one communicates online via platforms like Facebook most posts have the potential to be seen and read by hundreds if not thousands, as many have a large number of "friends" – not unlike writing a letter on the outside of the envelope rather than the inside – for all to read.

These were my initial thoughts/inspiration when presented with the theme Posted/Unposted.

Front of envelope close up.

Outer Design
To express this idea I sought Facebook posts which I felt expressed this deeper, private level which would have been shared with a much more select circle of people before online platforms existed.
I chose to digitally inkjet print these posts in the official "Facebook blue" using Helvetica Neue – the previous Facebook font before San Francisco – as used today with OS systems.
The posts are all in lowercase and no names are mentioned, though – between comments – a number of friends are randomly listed.
All this is printed on the outside of a standard British Brown Envelope. (1) because I like them and (2) because they have been/are part of my life since living in the UK for a number of years.
The envelope front is left blank, specifically where the stamp and address would ordinarily be placed. The pieces are for no one in particular, but for all who care to read.

Envelope with content.

Inner Design
The inside content is an SRA2 Munken Pure 120gsm folded sheet of paper with the Danish word "Privat" (Private) placed centrally, with red ink using wooden letterpress. The font used is unknown (indeed the word may include more than one font) and the letters were found in the UK.

Woodtype set to print & printed.

The reason for the large folded sheet reflects the "secret folded notes" which I first experienced as a late 1980s High School student in New Hampshire, USA before internet and mobiles became commonplace. The secret notes were used for love letters or just general teenage comments.

Between the outside and the inside the tension and huge difference in the past and present etiquettes and processes of our personal communication exists, and only opening the envelope allows the completion of the message of the piece.

I constructed my own folding as I didn't want the print to be folded, but it needed to fit within the C5 envelope.

Front and back of the "secret" folded note.

Note unfolding.

I used a HumanBook Press for the printing (my body weight and a book); the only press I have available.

Printing in progress August 2017.

Each of the forty copies are numbered and signed with my stamp on the inside of the envelopes.

Robo-Girl aka Ambeck Design

Red ink.

Stacked, ready to go.

October 19, 2017 a box arrived by post – my copy of the collection (No. 19) – exciting.

A parcel arrived with a box inside.

Inside the box was a catalogue listing each artist's work and then the whole collection of envelopes held together by a broad wrap-around held in place by two rubber bands. The work of Imi and Lina.

Once the rubber bands were off the collection could be viewed.

24 lovely pieces to be explored one-by-one.

Below some official images by Imi Maufe.

Image by Imi Maufe © 2017

Image by Imi Maufe © 2017

Image by Imi Maufe © 2017

Image by Imi Maufe © 2017

Image by Imi Maufe © 2017

Public collections which hold the collection:

• Göteborgs Universitets Bibliotek, Sweden (2023)

Pushing the Envelope (2015)

–by pigeon delivery Mette-Sofie D. Ambeck (March 2015).

– a touring exhibition of over 150 decorated envelopes celebrating 175 years of the first UK postage stamp – The Penny Black (May 6th 1840). Curated by Neil Hadfield, course leader for illustration at Hereford College of Arts.

I was kindly invited to take part in this show as I have previously taken part in the SHED show in 2005-06 curated by Andrew Baker. 

Above my humble contribution – the pigeon collage is made using the inside of envelopes.

Exhibition dates 2015

Hereford College of Arts – April 17-May 1

House of Illustration – May 6-16

Hay Literary Festival – May 21-31

www.houseofillustration.org.uk/whats-on/whats-on/pushing-the-envelope/

Images of all the envelopes can be seen on flickr set up by Neil Hadfield: www.flickr.com/photos/133993230@N04/sets/72157654801536202
Envelope sold to private collector September 2015.

Pigeon has arrived to the House of Illustration, London. Photo by Mike Nicholson May 6th 2015.

Al-Mutanabbi Street – a vicious circle (2013)

London Art Book Fair Twitter account by Whitechapel Gallery, London 13.09.2013. Image by Whitechapel Gallery.

I'm excited to announce that 'Al-Mutanabbi Street – a vicious circle' on Friday September 13, 2013 was awarded the Birgit Skiöld Memorial Trust Award of Excellence at the London Art Book Fair 2013 at Whitechapel Gallery in London, UK. One copy is now held at the National Art Collection, Word & Image Department at Victoria & Albert Museum in London.

I'm honoured to receive this prize for the second time in my career. Thank you to the selection panel of the Birgit Skiöld Memorial Trust.

Al-Mutanabbi Street – a vicious circle (2013)

In September 2010 I accepted the call to the project: 'An Inventory of Al-Mutanabbi Street' initiated by Beau Beausoleil (USA) in July 2010 and co-curated by Sarah Bodman (UK).

The purpose of the project is to “reassemble” some of the “inventory” of the reading material that was lost in the 5th of March 2007 car bombing of Al-Mutanabbi Street, Baghdad, Iraq – a street known for its booksellers – the literary and intellectual heart and soul for the community of Baghdad. On this day 30 people were killed and more than 100 wounded.

The international project will be raising funds for Médecins Sans Frontières while also honouring Al-Mutanabbi Street by creating work that holds both "memory and future" of what was lost that day.

Each artist has had a year to complete the work and has donated 3 copies to the project. One will be donated to the Iraq National Library in Baghdad. The other two copies are touring for the next few years in conjunction with shows of the Al-Mutanabbi Street Broadside Project as well as in shows of their own.

See a list of artists and exhibitions and further details of the project:

http://www.al-mutanabbistreetstartshere-boston.com/about.html

http://www.bookarts.uwe.ac.uk/mutanmain12.htm
Article Egypt Independent by M.Lynx Qualey, March 2013 www.egyptindependent.com/news/artists-and-writers-search-common-street-iraq

Article The Guardian by Ellie Violet Bramley, January 2014 www.theguardian.com/books/2014/jan/21/literary-project-baghdad-bookselling-district

Al-Mutanabbi Street – a vicious circle (2013)

Al-Mutanabbi Street – a vicious circle

Baghdad was once founded and built in a circular way and its name at the time was: Madinat al-Salaam or ‘City of Peace’. This has a sad irony now - and, being a child of the early 1970’s, I only associated Baghdad with death and war - rather than peace - from watching so many television news reports.

From the outside the conflict feels never-ending – with no resolution in sight – a tragic vicious circle. This book represents that but is also a tribute to Al Mutanabbi Street – a street where thoughts and ideas were – and are – exchanged in book form.

Al-Mutanabbi Street – a vicious circle (2013)

Laser engraved covers onto grey boards (by Tom Sowden, UWE Bristol), inkjet printed text and hand-cut and burnt illustrations by the artist. Papers: Fabriano Accademia, white 200 gsm & 160 gsm. Binding: pamphlet stitched.

Size: 20 x 20 cm

Edition of 10 – of which 3 copies have been donated to the project.

Completed in February 2013 – 1 year, 5 month and 7 days late!

In the public collection of Manchester Metropolitan University Library All Saints, Tate Collection, William Allan Neilson Library at Smith College Mass. USA, the National Art Collections, Word & Image Department at Victoria & Albert Museum, San Francisco Center for the Book, CA, USA and the Artists’ Books Collection Winchester School of Art Library, Winchester, UK. Also held by international private collectors. The edition is sold out.

The book was launched at the Bristol Artists Book Event (BABE) at the Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol, UK – April 20-21, 2013

The first group show for it to be part of was:
The John Rylands Library, Manchester, UK – February 6 - July 29, 2013
then:

Center for Book Arts, New York City, in collaboration with Poets House, New York City –  July 10 - September 14, 2013

The book was submitted for the Minnisota Center for Book Arts Prize 2013 – further details of the book can be seen: http://mcbaprize.org/ambeck/
The book was also on display at The Sheffield International Artist's Book Prize 2013 exhibition at Bank Street Arts, UK.

Al-Mutanabbi Street – a vicious circle (2013)

Group Exhibitions

Shed

Title of work: robo-powershed –a robotic dream shed. A place to relax and power up, while watching the cogs grow and the birds spark. All wind-powered and environmentally friendly, of course. Size of frame: 25.4 x 25.4cm Shed was part of the event: 'News From Nowhere: Visions of Utopia', curated by Steve Wheeler. Venue: Waltham Forest Theatre, Lloyds Park (behind William Morris Gallery) Walthamstow E17, London, UK 10-18 September 2005. http://www.art-tracks.net/Utopia%20folder/particip.html Shed 2, curated by Andrew Baker Visual Communication Gallery, Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, Holt Street, Birmingham B4 7DX, UK 13-31 January 2006 www.shedshow2.com Shed 3 – Utopian Sheds, curated by Andrew Baker University College for the Creative Arts at Epsom Ashley Road, Epsom, Surrey KT18 5BE, UK 17th May - 9th June 2006 www.shedshow3.com

'Robo-powershed' was later created into the illustration 'robo-power home' and featured in the London based magazine 'Crossfields' in the 2nd issue: 'Home', December 2006. (www.wiredesign.com/crossfields)

Both images: 'robo-powershed' and 'Robo-Power Home' are featured in the Galleri section of the Danish Designers members magazine: 'inform lounge edition' 04/06.