BEK at Bergen Art Book Fair BABF – April 10.–12.
Published
BEK is participating in Bergen Art Book Fair from April 10–12, with four printed works. The printed works for sale are Al-Mashrou’ – A Conversation between Shuruq Harb and Samira Makki, Gadder by Ingrid Bjørnaali, the new edition of Structure and Synthesis – The Anatomy of Practice by Mark Fell and the artist (sound) book Hamskifter by Kjersti Sundland.
Bergen Art Book Fair
Friday to Sunday, April 10.–12.,
Bergen Kunsthall, Rasmus Meyers allé 5
Opening Friday, April 10
Saturday and Sunday, April 11.-12. 11:00-17:00
Al-Mashrou’ – A conversation between Shuruq Harb and Samira Makki
Al-Mashrou’ – A conversation between Shuruq Harb and Samira Makki is an interview between Samira Makki and Shuruq Harb about Harb’s film “al-Mashrou’”. The interview discusses the film’s themes, the process of making it, and the historical and political context surrounding the project. It also touches on broader topics like documentary filmmaking in Palestine, the concept of archives, and the idea of interrupted futures.
Gadder
Gadder is a collection of dead, standing trees that artist Ingrid Bjørnaali has visited and sought out as monuments in bogs across Norway, Finland, and Estonia. The trees have been photographed and transformed into 3D models using photogrammetry software, combined with text based on research and field notes from the visited bogs.
The book is risograph-printed at Blekksprutn risotrykkeri, using three colors on 150g paper, in a limited edition of 50 copies, each sewn together by machine. It was produced in connection with the exhibition Testing the Membranous Boundaries at Lydgalleriet in January 2025, organized by Bergen Center for Electronic Arts as part of BEK’s 2025 opening week. Special thanks to the Mustarinda residency and curator Karolin Tampere, in collaboration with EKKM/Contemporary Art Museum of Estonia, for the guided tour in Soomaa National Park, Estonia.
Structure and Synthesis – The Anatomy of Practice
Structure and Synthesis – The Anatomy of Practice by Mark Fell is an amalgam of workbook and manifesto that interweaves diagrammatic sketches, procedural systems, drawings, and photographs with philosophical essays, cutting polemics, instructional texts, and fragments from the artist’s personal notebooks, offering multithreaded perspectives on time, technology and aesthetics.
Hamskifter by Kjersti Sundland
Hamskifter is composed of explorations and repetitions; what remains and what is added in the translation from one language to another? What happens to the original content when it is given other voices? What emerges when historical material is reintroduced into the present, and where does this journey through time lead? The sound of Hamskifter is recorded in Western Norway, Finnskogen, and Hallingdal. The episodes include biographical, historical, and mythological elements, with the recordings taking the listener to the various recording locations. The episodes combine recordings of the artist’s own and others’ conversations with reinterpretations and songs. Hamskifter explores the interplay between humans, nature, and the influence of plants on our psyche.
The artist (sound) book consists of a double-sided, black-and-white screen print in an edition of 150, along with a five-part sound work. The publication includes a link to the project website, where the audio component is streamed. Folded format: 36.5 × 50.5 cm. Unfolded format: 71 × 100 cm. Printed at Trykkeriet Senter for Samtidstrykk, 2025.
Contributing artists: Ole Christian Ellestad, Renate Synnes Handal, and Mekdes Weldehanna Shebeta. Sound designer Martin Mikkelsen contributed voice, sound recording, editing, and concept development. Pauliina Pollanen provided voice for the Finnish reinterpretations in Part 3.
Supported by: Billedkunstnernes Vederlagsfond, Arts Council Norway
Sound studio facilities and equipment provided by Bergen Centre for Electronic Arts
Website: PART
Bergen Art Book Fair (BABF) is an annual art book and self-publishing festival showcasing local, national and international artists and small press publishers.
Accessibility
The entrances with universal design are usually not open, and you must contact our reception upon arrival to gain access. Use the bell on the left side of the main entrance at the end of the staircase. To get to the bell from the street level, you will find a dropped kerb between the green light pole and the white flag pole.
Due to the building’s design and structure, you will receive assistance from the staff to navigate and move between the first floor and second, the different exhibition rooms and Landmark cafe.
Images: 1) Structure and Synthesis – The Anatomy of Practice Photo: Urbanomic 2) Al-Mashrou’ – A conversation between Shuruq Harb and Samira Makki Photo: BEK 3) Gadder Photo: Sasha Azanova/BEK 4) Design: Mads Andersen/Bergen Art Book Fair