Book of Sand / Singular Hands

“Book of Sand / Singular Hands” is a collaborative project between the artists Matt Bryans, Håvard Sagen, Ananda Serné and social anthropologist/sociologist Merete Jonvik. Together they explore the dormant mythologies of three specific locations in Rogaland: a historic mining landscape, a marketplace, and agricultural surroundings. These locations host the artist-run spaces Velferden Sokndal Scene for Samtidskunst, Studio17 (Nytorget, Stavanger) and Studio K (Kvernaland, Time). The three spaces are situated in culturally significant places currently undergoing transformation. The intention of “Book of Sand / Singular Hands” is to let echoes from these silenced places return and to inhabit the sonic/physical structures through an accumulating and multi-authored collaboration.

The work cycle is comparable to a collection of short stories, and each site as a chapter within a multi-authored narrative. The roots of the short story can be traced back to our beginnings as humans and the role played by storytelling and mythology. It can be rewarding to remember these beginnings in the oral tradition when navigating and understanding a place or a landscape. The details of the story would grow and change with the teller, and/or the telling.

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MATT BRYANS was born in London and lives and works in Ålgård. He studied Sculpture at Winchester school of Art, and MA Sculpture at Chelsea College of Art and Design. He often works with immersive, densely layered collections of found materials, crafting connections that cut across historical and cultural contexts.

MERETE JONVIK is a social anthropologist and sociologist. She has a PhD. in cultural sociology from the University of Stavanger, where she now works as an associate professor at the Department of Media- and Social Sciences. Her research areas are art sociology and cultural sociology. Jonvik has done research on participant strategies in art, and is interested in the very nature of art production.

HÅVARD SAGEN was born in Sandnes and lives and works in Stavanger. He studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture, Kunstskolen i Stavanger and Trondheim Academy of Fine Art. In his work, he experiments with non-traditional formats for art through collaboration, remote field trips and place-sensitive interventions in landscapes and architecture. He studies the elements that make up the architecture of our imagination.

ANANDA SERNÉ was born in the Netherlands and lives and works in Stavanger.  She studied literature and linguistics before obtaining an MA in Fine Arts from the Iceland University of the Arts. Ananda’s practice consists primarily of moving image, sound, language and textiles. Her work is often informed by conversations and collaborations with others, for instance with biologists, vocalists or translators.

This project is supported by Rogaland Fylkeskommune, Stavanger Kommune, Kulturrådet and Billedkunstnernes Vederlagsfond.