SÍM

SIGLA BINDA
an exhibition with unique artists’ books by
Nanna Gunhild Amstrup
Kristin Þóra Guðbrandsdóttir
Solveig Landa
Rita Marhaug
Svanborg Matthíasdóttir
Imi Maufe
Ingiríður Óðinsdóttir
Anna Snædís Sigmarsdóttir
Sigurborg Stefánsdóttir
Randi Annie Strand


Opening Day
Saturday November 27th, from 12-5pm

Roundtable conversation with guests
Sunday November 28th, from 12-2pm

Exhibition is open Thurs - Sun 12-16 until 16. Jan
(certain dates closed over holiday period

Entrée, Markeveien 4b, Bergen, Norway



//English//

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. SIGLA BINDA showcases 10 new artists’ books inside Entrée’s new interior structure, designed by artist Magnhild Øen Nordahl.

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 has 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.

There is also a publication with further presentations of each artist that follows the exhibition, and we welcome you on Sunday for a roundtable conversation with the artists and invited guests.

The exhibition is supported by Arts Council Norway and Skjal Translation.

SIGLA BINDA will travel to Íslensk Grafík gallery in Reykjavik where it opens in June 2022.

Image: Svanborg Matthíasdóttir, HAF/HAV (2021).


Opening hours Entrée (until January 16, 2022)
Thursday 12-4pm
Friday 12-4pm
Saturday 12-4pm
Sunday 12-4pm
www.entreebergen.no
www.codexpolaris.com