Paula Urbano

Archives: Itineraries to the Future.

Opening & Block Party: 18 May in Botkyrka konsthall’s new space in Fittja!

Artists: Paula Urbano, Nisrine Boukhari, Muhammad Ali, Khaled Ramadan, Pia Sandström och Esme Bulduk & Zeliha Agrali. Curator: Abir Boukhari.

The first presentation in Labyrint & The Archive is in dialogue with the exhibition FROM HERE and curated in collaboration with Abir Boukhari, co-founder of AllArtNow. In 2016, Abir spent six months in Residence Botkyrka in Fittja, and has since then contributed to Botkyrka konsthall’s programme. AllArtNow is considered to be the first independent collective space for contemporary art in Syria, but has since 2012 operated in a nomadic way, collaborating with various institutions around the world.

In Residence Botkyrka, Abir has been interested in connecting with artists in the diaspora as well as reflecting upon issues of displacement and exile. In her recent projects, she suggested “the archive” as a way to understand the creative chronology of moments and place. In the archive of Residence Botkyrka, she has selected a number of works that were produced before, during or after artists’ stays in Fittja, or works that engages with the multi-layered experiences of the place – suggesting an itinerary for the future.

Botkyrka konsthall in Fittja is presenting a new space where history meets the present and the future through a living archive, exhibitions and programmes.

Labyrint is a publishing platform for artist’s book that was initiated in 2006, and has since contributed to a number of exhibitions and pedagogical projects. It has also become a unique collection of artist’s books. Artist and co-founder Pia Sandström together with Andreas Berthling, have adapted the archive to the new premises and designed a space where visitors can engage with the many stories and get inspired to create new works for the future.

The history of Botkyrka konsthall spans thirty years back in time. The vast archive has become an ongoing project of discovering, highlighting and following up on art projects, artworks and ideas that have taken form within the programme over the years. Here, we invite guests to explore what has been and suggest new framings and additions. The archival design is made by artist / designer Kamen Zlatev.