Bookbinding Workshop with Olle Essvik

This workshop covers the basics of bookbinding, where you will learn various techniques and forms for creating books. We will use simple tools that you will handle yourself.

For the workshop, bring a material that you want to develop into book form. You can also work with blank pages and bind them into a notebook or some other form of publication.

Olle Essvik’s workshop is based on the book Göra, Gömma och Förstöra (Essvik&Nordqvist). The book, which is included in the registration fee, is about how to make, destroy, and hide books. It is a practical manual in bookbinding as a medium for DIY publishing, as well as an image-based exposé of historical book destruction, banned books, censorship, and bookmaking as a subculture. The book is based on Essviks work and teaching in bookbinding and is aimed at those who are interested in working with bookbinding or artist books.

Together the workshop and the book form a good starter kit for making books on your own.

Olle Essvik is an artist and publisher. In addition to his artistic activities, he teaches at HDK-Valand at the University of Gothenburg. Together with translator and artist Joel Nordkvist, he runs the publishing house rojal.
Essvik teaches bookbinding and artists’ books and has held workshops nationally and internationally at everything from universities and art museums to smaller groups who want to learn the basics of bookbinding. Current projects include the photo book The Stream and forthcoming participation in Supermarket in Stockholm.


Practical information

No prior knowledge is required. The course is given on two occasions, during the morning and afternoon and takes 4 hours.

Sign up for the course by emailing:
anmalan@centrumforfotografi.se no later than Sun, March 15.

Please let us know whether you wish to participate in the morning or afternoon session, or if you are available for both times. Registration is binding.

Max 10 participants/group

Cost: 800kr+VAT, incl. the book Göra, Gömma och Förstöra.

The workshop is organized in collaboration with Fotoförfattarna within the Swedish Photographers’ Association.

Photography Olle Essvik, Helga Härenstam