09/05/2015

Hav & Himmel – Sea & Sky (2015)


Exhibition poster: 'Sea & Sky' by Ambeck Design (2015).
– Joint exhibition between Mette-Sofie D. Ambeck & Linda Newington at Doverodde Købmandsgård, Hurup Thy, Denmark – May 19th-June 28th, 2015.

As a result of Linda Newington’s residency at Doverodde Købmandsgård in May of 2014, she returned in May 2015 to exhibit a series of watercolours.
Drawings from her many walks along the North West coast and over 40 watercolour samples painted during the residency was the source for new paintings of light, skies, horizons and the dramatic sunsets seen at Agger beach and Tange.


'Watercolour samples I' – Inspired by sunsets at Agger, spring 2014 by Linda Newington.
Blue sketchbook and watercolours from Doverodde residency by Linda Newington (2014-15).
'Starting points' (sketchbooks) and framed pieces by Linda Newington (2013-15).
'Starting points' (sketchbooks in front) and framed watercolours on wall:'Postcards from Doverodde' by Linda Newington (2013-15). Behind in showcase Eshaness coast, Shetland – oil on board & oil on canvas also by Newington. On floor 'Sun' by M-S. Ambeck (2015).

Meanwhile my work in the show derived from my fascination with the fossilised sea urchins that are commonly found in the area of North Jutland in which I live and work, and which I have collected since I was a child. These are the subject of many myths which reflect the Norse legends.
As well as a series of six large photographic prints incorporating text there were three new book works especially created for this event:


On the floor: 'Sun'. On the wall from the left: 'Five pointed star''A drop of milk''Good luck starman' and 'Thor's fireball' – photographs on canvas by Mette-Sofie D. Ambeck (May 2015).

9 of the 12 pop-ups which were bound after the exhibition into one unique book: 'Pop-pindsvin/Pop-urchin'.


'Pop-pindsvin / Pop-urchin' playing with words. Mette-Sofie D. Ambeck (2015).

A unique 'pop-up' book expressing the Danish names given to sea urchins and the storage English translations of same (i.e "Petrified lake stick swine" or a "prude trollop"). The title of the book was going to be: 'Pop-pindsvin / Pop-urchin' and was going to be bound after the show ended on June 28th – but new thoughts are in progress.

'Pop-urchin' page: Paradisko/Paradise cow by Mette-Sofie D. Ambeck (2015).

'Stonedrops' by Mette-Sofie D. Ambeck (2015).
A second book work that comprises two pamphlet sections shaped like the urchins carrying the myths connected to them (that they fell from the sky) and which are hung as mobiles within the gallery space. The title of the installation is: 'Rain' while the individual books are 'Stonedrops'.

'Rain' by Mette-Sofie D. Ambeck (2015).


'Rain' and further back in the room: 9 pages from 'Pop-pindsvin / Pop-urchin' by Mette-Sofie D. Ambeck (May 2015).


'Rain' by Mette-Sofie D. Ambeck and wall behind watercolours by Linda Newington.
The third book work was a joint print-on-demand artist’s book: ‘Hav & Himmel – Sea & sky’ which Linda and I launched at the opening on May 19th.
The book combines both our work – watercolours and b/w photography.


'Hav & Himmel – Sea & Sky' hanging off the wall next to photo on canvas: 'Fallen from the sky' by Mette-Sofie D. Ambeck May, 2015.
Printed and perfect bound on demand by Blurb.co.uk
Softcover, 20 pages.
Stock: Mohawk Superfine Eggshell Ultrawhite, 148gsm.
Cover size: 16.8 x 17 cm
Edition: unlimited

ISBN 978-87-991309-4-8

In the public collection of Winchester School of Art and Manchester Metropolitan University Library All Saints.



Finally I also created a floor installation using sea urchins belonging to Doverodde Købmandsgård. The installation was called: 'Sun'.
'Sun' installation created with found sea urchins. Mette-Sofie D. Ambeck (2015).
Floor: 'Sun'. Wall from the left: 'Thor's fireball' and 'Cart wheel or pentagram man?' – photographs on canvas by Mette-Sofie D. Ambeck (May 2015).
Floor: 'Sun'. Wall from the left: 'Good luck starman', 'Thor's fireball' and 'Cart wheel or pentagram man?' – photographs on canvas by Mette-Sofie D. Ambeck (May 2015). Right wall: 'Blue Days series' and 'Shetland Walks' by Linda Newington.

Foreground: 'Sun' by Mette-Sofie D. Ambeck (2015). Wall: 'Blue Days series' and 'Shetland Walks' by Linda Newington.
Wall: watercolours by Linda Newington (2014). Floor: 'Sun' by Mette-Sofie D. Ambeck (2015). 'Good luck starman' – photographs on canvas by Mette-Sofie D. Ambeck (May 2015).
The exhibition was reviewed by the local newspaper: Thisted Dagblad on May 20th.
The cover of Thisted Dagblad May 20th, 2015. Photo by Peter Mørk.

"Sea and Sky-landscape and sound" Thisted Dagblad p.6-7, May 20th, 2015.
More images by Thisted Dagblad and Peter Mørk can be found here.