act with new air MAGAZINE a magazine by MMW architects of NORWAY about everything nice
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MAGAZINE
act with new air MAGAZINE is a magazine by MMW architects of NORWAY For the Act With New Air exhibition in La Galerie D’architecture, Paris 2009 – 2010
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14-23: the gad gallery: architecture 24-29: my love she speaks like silence: fashion 30-31: Goksøyr & martens: art 32-35: it´s in my nature: streetart & architecture 36-45: villa bakke: architecture 46-53: running wild: fashion 54-55: form vs function: design 56-59: artitecture: art & architecture 60-69: låtefoss: architecture 70-71: exploring typologies: architecture 72-77: ulland & groos: fashion 78-79: snowball editions: art 80-81: anti: design 82-91: kiss the frog: architecture 92-95: bjørn brochmann: illustration 96-99: beauty is fleeting: art 100-107: knut bry: fashion 108-111: jan skomakerstuen: art
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MAGNE SAYS
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Dear reader and guest! It looks effortless when Bernard Tschumi presents his latest competition proposal, or as a breeze when Jean Nouvel put’s just a little extra in to his presentation of a project. But for those of you who know this business, know that behind every line, behind every drawing, lie years of effort and training. Without comparison otherwise – the same applies to this magazine you are now holding. A great deal of work is put down to reach the finish line. And it is with sincere pleasure and pride; that we now present the exhibition and the magazine ACT WITH NEW AIR. I am so proud of the people behind this work. It is a bunch of superstars, artists, architectural nerds and design freaks, - a design and competition loving wild bunch, representing a broad expertise on all fronts. You’ll meet them all in the magazine. For those who wonder what belonging I have in this landscape, I am the average architect, who had the pleasure to lead this team for many years now. I was not particularly good in school, I have not built that many projects, nor won many competitions, but together with this group we have had 12 fun and exciting years. To run an office is a lot of “milk & butter” work and a lot of stepped hillsides to climb, but being surrounded by god people as well as crazy projects, is what makes life worth living. We have tried to produce an exhibition and magazine you can cuddle up in a sofa with and enjoy, and recommend your best friends. To be able to improve, we do need help from you, readers. Tips and pointers, are as well received as positive and negative response. Our e-mailbox is always open and never full! Write us at: mail@mmw.no . What would you like to see from us next? Who of your ”heroes” do you think we should work with? What more would you like to know about architecture and design in Norway? How
can we help you with your projects? With ACT WITH NEW AIR we have wanted to inspire you by showing a wider range of understanding towards architecture and design. Whether we like it or not, the climatic changes are unpleasant consequents of our prosperity. We have gotten increased welfare, purchasing power and consumption in addition to warmer temperatures and more rain. Greenhouse gases like CO2 fill up our atmosphere, primarily due to our use of fossil fuel to cover the needs of our lifestyle. The building industry has a great potential to really take responsibility in this mater. We are not perfect, and we have made mistakes, used wrong materials and designed inefficient technical solutions. But our goal has always been to make minimal impact on the context, to be able to reuse and to design constructions that easily can be altered or just moved. Take a look, judge for our self and stay in touch! Enjoy!
Magne Magler Wiggen, Paris Décembre 2009.
Chers lecteurs et visiteurs! Cela paraît peut être vain lorsque Bernard Tschumi présente sa dernière proposition pour un concours, ou bien une sorte de bavardage quand Jean Nouvel peaufine toujours un peu plus la présentation d’un projet. Pourtant, tous ceux qui sont de la partie, savent bien que derrière chaque ligne, chaque dessin, des années d’efforts et d’entrainement sont nécessaires. C’est sans comparaison et pourtant- il en est de même pour ce magazine que vous tenez à présent dans vos mains. Un travail intense a été fourni pour aboutir à la version finale. Et c’est avec un plaisir sincère et beaucoup de fierté que nous vous présentons cette exposition et le magazine ACT WITH NEW AIR. Je suis si fier des gens qui portent ce travail. Cette flopée de superstars, d’artistes, d’architectes et de designers acharnés, un groupe féru de concours et de design, regroupant à eux tous de larges compétences. Vous les rencontrerez en parcourant le magazine. Pour ceux qui se demandent où me situer dans ce paysage, je suis un architecte ordinaire, qui a eu le plaisir de gérer cette équipe et de coopérer avec eux pendant quelques années maintenant. Je n’étais pas spécialement doué à l’école, je n’ai pas encore beaucoup construit, ni gagné de nombreuses compétitions, mais avec ce groupe de personnes j’ai passé 12 années vraiment excitantes. Diriger une agence est un travail fastidieux, mais être entouré de personnes si précieuses et de projets fous est ce qui rend son sens à la vie. Nous avons essayé de fabriquer une exposition chaleureuse et un magazine à feuilleter confortablement installé dans un fauteuil et à recommander à vos meilleurs amis. De façon à nous améliorer, nous avons besoin de vous lecteurs. Nous sommes preneurs de tous types de critiques. Notre boîte email est toujours ouverte et jamais rassasiée ! Ecrivez-nous à mail@mmw.no.
Que désirez vous que nous vous montrions la prochaine fois? Avec lequel de vos ”héros” suggérez vous que nous collaborions? Que souhaiteriez vous savoir de l’architecture et du design en Norvège? En quoi pourrions nous vous aider dans vos projets? Avec ACT WITH NEW AIR nous avons voulu vous inspirer en vous invitant à partager notre compréhension large de l’architecture et du design. Que nous le voulions ou non, les perturbations climatiques ont des conséquences néfastes sur notre prospérité. Nous avons augmenté notre confort, notre pouvoir d’achat et créer de nouveaux besoins et par delà nous avons augmenté les températures et la pluie. Les gaz à effets de serre tels que le C02 remplit notre atmosphère et ce par l’épuisement des énergies fossiles qui ont du couvrir les besoins de notre mode de vie. L’industrie du bâtiment est grandement partie prenante dans la responsabilité de ce constat. Nous ne sommes pas parfaits, nous avons fait des erreurs, utilisé de mauvais matériaux et inventé des solutions inefficaces. Mais notre but a toujours été celui d’avoir le minimum d’impact sur le contexte, d’être capable de dessiner des constructions facilement transformables ou même mobiles. Jetez un œil et jugez-en par vous-même. Restons en contact ! Savourez!
MAGNE DIT
Magne Magler Wiggen, Paris Décembre 2009.
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we are
christin malen andreassen
Christin Malen Andreassen is in charge of Art Direction and part of MMW since 2009. Former employers: Out Of Step Magazine, V Magazine in New York and freelance designer. Christin is an expert on fresh magazines and smooth fashion.
Vendel Maria Brandal
Vendel Maria Brandal is M. Arch. from Aarhus School of Architecture 2006, and part of MMW since 2005. Former employers: AART and 3xNielsen both in Aarhus. She has 3 years of experience in architecture with special focus on tourism and stage design. Vendel is an expert on waterfalls and diplomacy.
Reidun FAUSKE
Reidun Fauske is in charge of Economy and part of MMW since 1998. Former employers: JBR McCann in Oslo. She has 25 years of experience in economy, advertisement, media and communication. Reidun is an expert on fast cash and Italy. 6
Rebekka Bondesen
Rebekka Bondesen is in charge of administration and staff, and part of MMW since 2001. Former employers: The Art Club, The Theater Central, Kjell Thorheim all in Oslo. She has 20 years of experience in architecture-, art- and cultural events. Rebekka is an expert on art- & design-fairs, floorball and good friends.
Charlotte Elstad
Charlotte Elstad is very soon M. Arch. from the Oslo School of Architecture and Design, and part of MMW since 2007. Former employers: Narud Stokke Wiig in Oslo. Charlotte is an expert on Oslo’s private art collector scene.
Kamilla Lang Hermansen Eirik Førde
Eirik Førde is in charge of Photography and part of MMW since 1998. Former employers: Norsk Form and Rockefeller Music Hall both in Oslo. He was MMW’s first real employee, have his own photo-studio and is MMW’s regular photographer. Eirik is an expert on sports photography and speed training.
JOAKIM SKAJAA
Joakim Skajaa is M. Arch from the Bergen School of Architecture 2004, and part of MMW since 2006. Former employers: Lund & Partnere, Saunders/Wilhelmsen, Sundt all in Bergen, Casagrande/Rintala in Helsinki and Boyarsky Murphy Architects in London. He is a part time teacher at the Oslo School of Architecture since 2007 and has 5 years of experience in architecture with special focus on break through concepts and competitions. Joakim is an expert on valuable rumors and kick starts.
Sindre Østereng
Sindre Østereng is M. Arch. from the Oslo School of Architecture and Design 1994, and part of MMW since 2001. Former employers: Einar Dahle, Jarmund/Vigsnæs, Lund Hagem, Bovim-Fuglu-Svingen and Niels Torp all in Oslo. He has 16 years of experience in architecture, project management and design. Sindre is an expert on successful constructions, Norwegian underground music and fly-fishing.
Kamilla Lang Hermansen is M. Arch. from Aarhus School of Architecture 2008, and part of MMW since 2008. Former employers: Dovista AS. Kamilla is an expert on acoustics and television studios.
Jonas Major
Jonas Major is M. Arch. from the Oslo School of Architecture and Design 2008, and part of MMW since 2009. Former employers: The Oslo School of Architecture and Design, Stiv Kuling and Ghilardi + Hellsten in Oslo. Jonas is an expert on beautiful drawings and string music.
Jannicke Spakmo
Jannicke Spakmo is soon M. Arch. from Aarhus School of Architecture, and part of MMW since 2009. Former employers: Boys of Europe. Jannicke is an expert on handling difficult clients and sports cars.
Magne Magler Wiggen
Magne Magler Wiggen is M. Arch. from the Oslo School of Architecture and Design 1993, and partner in charge of MMW since 1997. Former employers: Bernard Tschumi in New York and Niels Torp in Oslo. He is a professor at the Oslo School of Architecture and Design since 2006, and has 17 years of experience in all kinds of architecture; - both private and public. Magne is an expert on everything, - he thinks. 7
CONTRIBUTORS /CONNECTIONS
Steffen Aaland Steffen is a photographer based in Oslo. He has his background from University College Falmouth. Steffen is the photographer of the fabolous coverphoto as well as the whole story at page 46-53. Follow his work at www.steffenaaland.com.
Kari j. Brandtzæg Kari is a curator and art-historian with a dissertation on Russian art at the turn of the century. MMW have worked with her since 2003. For Act With New Air she have interviewed the artist Børre Sæthre for us and also written an essay about Kiss The Frog. Raf De Saeger Raf is a professor of Architecture and Urban design in Brussels. Raf have worked with MMW for years. He wrote the introduction part about MMW for Act With New Air.
Anette M. BASSO & GØRAN JOHANSEN Anette and Gøran are young and promising students at Bergen School Of Architecture and just came back to Norway after building a school in Mozambique. For Act With New Air they interviewed the talented street artist DOLK. BENEDIKTE KLUGE Benedikte is our correspondent in Berlin. She is a writer who is trying to survive in Germany. She made Out Of Step Magazine together with Christin Malen and has also written for Natt&Dag and other publications. She is a real star. STine pettersen & Thomas Ekström Stine Pettersen and Thomas Ekström graduated from UCCA with a photography degree in 2007 and 2008, respectively. They did the fashion story My Love She Speaks Like Silence from the Gad Gallery for us, This is their first collaboration. Knut Bry Knut is a big deal in the world of photography. MMW has worked with him on several occasions since the very start in 1997. For AWNA he takes us back to the 70´s and shows us the designes he made back then. Knut is a great inspiration for us, not only because of his visual work. 12
WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE SO MANY INTERESTING, old and new friends to help us out. Here are some of them
CREDITS
This magazine is made of us and all our friends. everyone who have contributed are people that have worked with or for us in the past and/or present. THANK YOU! WE could not HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU!
PUBLISHER: mmw architects of norway Editor in chief: art directION: design: christin malen Andreassen www.christinmalen.com Project manager: rebekka bondesen WRITERS: CHRISTIN MALEN ANDREASSEN Anette Margrethe Basso KARI J. BRANDTZÆG RAF DE SAEGER KASHIF IQBAL Gøran Johansen BENEDIKTE KLUGE photographers: rolf m. aagaard STEFFEN AALAND CHRISTIN MALEN ANDREASSEN Frederik Arff KNUT BRY Thor Brødreskift stefano campo antico Nils Petter Dale dolk Christophe Echard THOMAS EKSTRöM EIRIK FØRDE Espen grønli JIRI HAVRAN Espen Henningsen svein hertel-aas STINE PETTERSEN Jan Skomakerstuen martin sunde skulstad Bjørnar Slensvik børre sæthre Cover photo: steffen aaland 3d letters: Kamilla Lang Hermansen
find us at www.
.no
This Magazine was published in connection with the exhibition ACT WITH NEW AIR in La Galerie d’Architecture, 11 Rue des Blancs-Manteaux, 75004 Paris, open December 12th 2009 to January 16th 2010. The exhibition was made possible due the gracious sponsoring by:
With additional support from :
Translation: Håvard Hodne Virginie Mira A special thanks to : The Norwegian Embassy in Paris Minister of Foreign Affairs Norsk Form Exhibition : Rebekka Bondesen Charlotte Elstad Kamilla Lang Hermansen Virginie Mira Jannicke Spakmo Magne Magler Wiggen mmw architects of norway : Rebekka Bondesen Sindre Østereng Vendel Maria Brandal Charlotte Elstad Reidun Fauske Eirik Førde Jonas Major Joakim Skajaa Jannicke Spakmo Magne Magler Wiggen Print: Zoom Grafisk AS, Norway
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act (kt) n. 1. The process of doing or performing something: the act of thinking. 2. Something done or performed; a deed: a charitable act. 3. A product, such as a statute, decree, or enactment, resulting from a decision by a legislative or judicial body: an act of Congress. 4. A formal written record of proceedings or transactions. 5. One of the major divisions of a play or opera.
GAD Gallery
/ GAD GALLERY CollaboratorS: Rebekka Bondesen, Jon Arne Jørgensen, Siri Sverdrup Liset, Sindre Østereng, Magne Magler Wiggen Structural Engineering: Uniteam AS type of Space: mobile gallery Client: Alexandra Dyvi Total Floor Area: 258 m2 Principal Materials: Steel, Glas, Wood, Gypsum Principal Structure: Steel containers Location: Tjuvholmen, Oslo, Norway Tøyen, Oslo, Norway Period of Conception: Open from 11. November 2006 Photos: Eirik Førde Text: MMW Architects of Norway 16
GAD Gallery
GAD
Mobile exhibition GAD is based on the idea that this semi- temporary gallery, can be disassembled, moved and reassembled easily at any location, within a few days. Ten ordinary steel containers make the basis of the project. Five of them generates the ground floor, three surrounds the central first floor courtyard and the final two closes the square shaped building, giving access to the top floor balcony. Industrial ladders and stairs connect the containers, as they are a part of the main circulation system through the gallery. By designing the components to overlap only partly, the composition of the building seems light and airy, giving GAD lot`s of protected and exposed outdoor space.
The containers are insulated on the inside, and covered with sheets of plywood and sheetrock (gwb) all painted white, giving the space clean surfaces excellent for a gallery.The containers are penetrated with circular windows placed opposite each other or they have roof lights and floor- to -ceiling safety glass windows at the end of each container, that are letting large amounts of crisp northern light flow into the building. GAD is an open and extroverted unit, suitable for any environment and an exciting playground to expose art.
Ten ordinary steel containers make the basis of the project.
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GAD Gallery
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GAD Gallery 1: Main gallery 2: Store room 3: Project gallery 4: Terrace gallery 5:Reception 6: Office 7: Kitchen 8:Bathroom 9: Technical room 10: Roof terrace gallery
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My love she speaks like silence A fashion story from the GAD Gallery
thanks to Frøken Dianas Salonger, Velouria Vintage, Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair and Princesse tam.tam.
PHOTO BY STINE PETTERSEN AND THOMAS EKSTRöM STYLING BY Emma Päiviö MODEL IS Kaja from topmodels
IT’S IN MY NATURE ...IS THE WRITING ON A CABIN-WALL DEEP IN THE WOODS, SOMEWHERE IN NORWAY
I want people to feel that it has been painted just for them
text by Gøran Johansen & Anette Margrethe Basso photos by ROLF M. AAGAARD AND DOLK
ome of us travels the world in search of great architecture. Norways most known streetartist, Dolk, travelled to the north of Norway for his love for old worn down walls, and in the suitcase, he brought the most urban phenomenon of them all. As a street-artist, working with stencils, paint and spray, the workplace is normally urban city- walls. But sometimes, opportunities beyond imagination occurs: who would have thought that two street-artist would get permission to cover several walls of old abandoned houses in a rural countryside of Norway with large scale street-art-pieces? For Dolk and his friend Pøbel, that initiated the stunt, this became reality during the summer of 2009. So, how does this affect the architecture of the place? What happens to the surrounding space? We`ve all seen street-art while walking around in the city; political, social or just for fun. You notice it, and walk past. But something different happens, when the enclosed surroundings of the urban city changes into a beautiful nature-scenery, with an endless horizon. And in comparison; doesn’t this constitute the very essence of architecture as well; the context of what we create, or build? 32
As architect-students in Norway, to work in both urban and rural space is a part of the education. To understand the living space, both abstract and definite, you need to develop tools for communicating with the surroundings. Whether it be art, performance or sketching in 1:1, it is always important to translate your thoughts into something that relates to what already is. This could also be transformed into what street-art is all about. According to Dolk, The project in Lofoten is about taking a cityscale-phenomena like street-art, and place it in a different context where high-rises turns into mountains. “An interaction with nature”, he called it. For him, the art-pieces created a whole new dimension in Lofoten, and became “something out of a fairytale”. This goes to show that street-art has as much of a punch on an abandoned farm, as on a simple city-wall. The only difference is that the pieces are more limited to the people. Dolk himself admits to have a passion for architecture, especially old buildings. As the passion has increased/grown, it has taken him around Europe to work on old walls. According to the artist, Barcelona, Lisbon and Berlin are all examples of places where these great, old walls can be found, and his pieces can be seen in all of these cities. As
Photo by Rolf M. Aagaard
Photo by DOLK
Photo by DOLK
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with (w, wth) prep. 1. In the company of; accompanying: Did you go with her? 2. Next to; alongside of: stood with the rabbi; sat with the family. 3. a. Having as a possession, attribute, or characteristic: arrived with bad news; a man with a moustache. b. Used as a function word to indicate accompanying detail or condition: just sat there with his mouth open. 4. a. In a manner characterized by: performed with skill; spoke with enthusiasm. b. In the performance, use, or operation of: had trouble with the car. 5. In the charge or keeping of: left the cat with the neighbors. 37
VILLA BAKKE
/ VILLA BAKKE CollaboratorS: Kjetil Johansen, Helle Gundersen, Kathrine Nyquist, Øyvind Schulstock, Rebekka Bondesen, Nina Edwards, Virginie Mira, Jon Arne Jørgensen, Håvard Trosterud, Sindre Østereng, Nils Petter Haugland, Hallstein Guthu, Mikael Pedersen, Jo Espen Bjerk, Astrid H. Heiberg, Eirik Førde, Tore Magler Wiggen, Magne Magler Wiggen Structural Engineering: Munthe-Kaas and Udnes AS Main constructor: Oslo Byggentreprenør AS type of Space: Privat residence Client: Jan Andreas Bakke Total Floor Area: 700 m2 Principal Materials: wood, concrete, aluminum Principal Structure: to paralLel cores, holding concrete slabs Location: Sandvika, Norway Period of Conception: 2004 Photos: Eirik Førde, Espen Grønli, Jiri Havran, Nils Petter Dale, Svein Hertel-Aas Text: MMW Architects of Norway 38
VILLA BAKKE
VILLA BAKKE
Rebuilding of detached house Villa Bakke is an existing villa outside Oslo originally drawn by Nissen & Bryhning architects in 1965. The client wanted the architectonic expression of both exterior and interior design to correspond to the new functions of the house and underline its flexibility. The original concept and existing materials of the villa should not interfere with the new design, but rather be integrated wherever possible. The fact that the client has an interest in art, especially sculpture, inspired the concept. The three floors of the building are supported by two parallel cores - a core of fire made in concrete, and a core of water made in aluminum. The core of fire is a minimalistic cubical block that gathers
all the fireplaces of the house. The core of water is shaped as an organic object and gathers all the bathrooms. The two cores break through the plane of the roof and become parts of the exterior: one as a bathroom with a panoramic view, and the other as an outdoor fireplace. From the bathroom you can walk out into the Zen roof garden, over to the white concrete outdoor dining area.
The three levels of building are supported by two parallel cores
In 2004 Villa Bakke recived the Norwegian Concrete Associations prize: - “The Concrete Slate� - a prize given for aesthetically, environmentally and technically excellent use of concrete in architecture. 39
VILLA BAKKE
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1: Kitchen 2: Living area 3: Void 4: Library 5: Entrance 6: Bedroom 7: Bathroom 8: Garage 9: Swimming pool 10: Atrium 11: Media room 12: Technical room 13: Studio apartment
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VILLA BAKKE
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VILLA BAKKE
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running wild in the fields of concrete
FOTO by STEFFEN AALAND STYLING by Jeanette Hoff hair and makeup by Ingrid Bruvik Model is Helen from TFM architect is Arne Eggen arkitekter as Thanks to Elisabeth & Laredo at stalldokkebjerget
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ULLAND & GROOS THEY MAKE CLOTHES INSPIRED BY THE NORWEGIAN NATIONAL OUTFIT AND THE 80´S. THE 80´S ARE NEVER COMING BACK, BUT NORWEGIAN TRADITIONS ARE NOT NEAR FADING.
photo & illustration by christin malen andreassen Graphics by jon anders gaasland MAKE-up by julia lyon designers are ulland & groos Styling by ulland & groos models are Agathe Høistad Guttuhaugen & Julia lyon
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Beauty is fleeting
AN interview with børre sæthre
text by av Kari J. Brandtzæg all works by børre sæthre photos by Thor Brødreskift & Børre Sæthre
he main subject of Børre Sæthres room installation beauty’s summer dead, is a dead overturned white tree besieged by 66 ravens. The installation was exhibited in the final room of “The Frog”, MMW’s exhibition pavilion at Tullinløkka in 2005. In this blacked out room the tree’s horizontal lines can vaguely be seen on the pavilions curved and oval structure, as a mythical and futuristic scenery. In retrospect Sæthre regards this installation as one of his most demanding and ambitious. Børre Sæthre is an original artist with a rare ability to work with large installations and he uses advanced materials science with subtle control to seduce his audience. With visual and often luxurious perfection his installations float in the twilight zone between fiction and dream: Carpeted floor, automated walls, fascinating sound and light effects and a futuristic interior design. Beautiful stuffed animals emerge in dreamlike, enclosed sceneries, as a melancholy reminder of innocence, sexuality and death. With several successful installations including at The Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art in 2001, Galerie Loevenbruck in Paris, the Bergen Festival Exhibition 2007 and PS1 in New York in 2008 Sæthre reaches out to a wide, international audience. But it seems that the art of Børre Sæthre especially appeals to the French. He has since 2000 cooperated with the reputable Galerie Loevenbruck in Paris, and has in recent years had several exhibitions in France. Sæthre was recently represented at the well-known French art fare FIAC (Forum International Art Contemporain) with the work the trust I never dared. This work received positive mention in Le Figaro, and was purchased by the new art collection Fondation Frances à Senlis. 96
Sæthre´s art has fascinated me for a long time and he was an obvious choice for the exhibition Kiss the Frog! The Art of Transformation, an exhibition of international contemporary art I curated at the Norwegian National Gallery in 2005. In October 2009 I met up with Børre Sæthre in his studio in Oslo. The studio appeared more like a storage space and showed obvious signs of a busy artist. We immediately started to share memories from doing Kiss the Frog! The Art of Transformation and talked about the challenges Børre encountered interacting with MMW’s temporary pavilion from 2005 at Tullinløkka. Børre Sæthre: I have like Magne (mmw) always been fascinated by pneumatic structures and included pneumatic elements in several earlier works and installations. But this was of course impossible here and the physical framework forced me to think diversely related to the surroundings. But I supported the attempt to create a “museum” inside a temporary, pneumatic structure. This was a demanding dimension both for me as an artist and for the architect. KJB: You have in previous interviews emphasized your general fascination for the temporary, and in particular circuses? BS: Yes, I remember when I was a child I used to cycle down to the square the circus used for the circus tent. It only took a few hours to put up the tent, and in the evening we were taken to a magic and fantastic world. It was strange to return the next day only to find some sawdust left on the ground. These early memories of temporary and transitory structures made me particularly engaged in “The Frog”-project. It was at the same time both alluring and challenging to create an exhibition on a parking lot in an inflated temporary structure, and to make it a museal experience. I had to create something
different for the exhibition compared to my earlier work. KJB: In what way was beauty’s summer dead different? BS: During my working process with the installation some incidents occurred both personally and professionally that made me reconsider my point of view as an artist. The reality suddenly became harder. In my opinion it is important to be personal and share personal experience in your art. This had consequences for the installations conceptual and physical development. KB: Is this related to the darker atmosphere in your exhibitions lately? I believe that your lighter and more exclusive interiors with sliding doors and a chillout lounge feel is replaced with a rougher and darker expression. You have almost evolved from a Utopian sci-fi aesthetics á la 1960’s James Bond to the writer Michel Houellebecqs more dystopic themes? BS: I like that characterization. But there has also been an upsetting atmosphere in my earlier work. Similar to the pornographic a darker existentialism is more obvious materialized and exposed now. But I still have the idea that I am working on the same project over and over again, and when I finish a project I always look back to grasp what I believe I can do better next time. These cycles also reflects where you are in your life. The thought sometime occur that maybe people become more disillusioned when they reach mid-life, and statistically are closer to death. KJB: But you just turned 40! I experienced that beauty’s summer dead conveyed several themes related to beauty, suppressed lust, death and perishability. In the installation a soundtrack played William Shakespeare’s sonnet # 104:“To me fair friend, you never can be old, for as you were when first your eye I eyed, such seems your beauty still.”
The LUSTLUX Years
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Act With New Air exhibition in La Galerie D’architecture, Paris 2009 – 2010 116