Opening of the Exhibition NORDIC NATURE 2025
After a day full of exciting activities, we headed to the second floor of the library for the opening of the exhibition. The hall was already filled with residents and library staff, with around 50 people in attendance. Refreshments were offered, and the mingling began, accompanied by admiration for the books and lively conversations surrounding them.
Left: Jökull Sævarsson / Specialist – Special collections.
Middle: Stefán Jón Sigurðsson / Bookbinder and event organizer.
Right: Ólafur Engilbertsson / Exhibitions and publicity manager
After a while, everyone gathered in the auditorium for the official opening, which was led by the Director of the National and University Library Örn Hrafnkelsson and the Exhibition Curator Ólafur Engilbertsson. A representative from the Icelandic bookbinding group JAM Stephen Hannah expressed gratitude for the excellent cooperation and funding the Tækniskólinn, Grafìa, Iðan, NBS, and the National and University Library of Iceland in the purchase of the 3D-scanner, which has made it possible to scan books — an instructive yet complex process.
Right: Kristjana Guðbrandsdóttir / Head of Print- & Media at Iðan Educational Center.
Finally, I, Kristine Novika from NBS, thanked all those involved for their great teamwork and reminded everyone that this exhibition is unique in terms of the diversity of the participants’ crafts and its presentation format, which includes a web catalogue and 3D-scanning of books. This format makes the exhibition accessible to many more people, regardless of where they live. The exhibition features 59 works bound by both amateur and professional bookbinders and book artists from all Nordic countries. I pointed out that one of the goals of the NBS Society is to be inclusive.
The Exhibition group concluded that Thea Steenkamp’s book displayed all the qualities necessary to receive the PA Prize (150 EU). The technical craftsmanship of the book is exceptional. Its content is reflected in its design and means of expression -” The ray of light in the dark day that symbolizes life in the North for most of the year.” The book reflects on the Nordic nature in an outstanding way.
The bookbinders from Iceland, along with everyone involved in creating the exhibition and the NBS participants who traveled to Iceland, went to the Viking Restaurant for dinner.
- By Kristine Novika