HOLY SHIT at NAU Gallery
It is our great pleasure to introduce to you Rebecka ”Bebben” Andersson, long time favorite of ARRIVALS, now showing her new work at NAU Gallery. You have probably noticed Bebbens black and white maps of Stockholm. Her new project is a follow-up on the discussion about violence against women in the public space and the fear that brings. Bebben has used articles from the paper Metro. She has also created art by shooting with a Sig Sauer on paper to create holes in the art board. In between hanging and coffee inhalation we had a short talk with her.
Hey, Bebben! How are you?
I’m feeling excellent! Waiting for spring, but I’m pretty happy with the slushy weather too.
You are having an exhibition opening on Thursday at NAU Gallery. How does it feel?
It feels great, really! I haven’t even been nervous or stressed for it. I tried to provoke it by panicking over some details, but it’s not working. I am calm.
Your new exhibition is called ”Holy Shit”. Can you tell me a bit more about it?
I am showing drawings, a video, sculptures and collages. I think it’s a pretty straight-forward follow-up on my last exhibition NOLLI STHLM at NAU Gallery 2012. As a commentary to it. Or no, more like a deepening of it.
The exhibition NOLLI STHLM was a part of Bebbens Masters’ degree project from the Royal College of Art. Bebben made 24 drawings of Stockholm, so-called Nolli Maps, one for each hour of the day. The drawings shows her perception of the city and which areas of the city that are supposed to be public, open space. However, being a young woman on the streets of Stockholm both incorporates fear and limits one’s movement around the city. The different drawings shows how our access to the city fast shrinks around the darker hours of the evening and night.
How does The NOLLI project relate to Holy Shit?
Back in 2012, I showed a film at NAU Gallery based on the Nolli maps. That project was about fear. It was pretty vague, why am I afraid and what is it that I’m afraid of really? Holy Shit is also about fear. But now it’s more specific. It’s not so fucking weird that I’m afraid - look at this shit! [Violence against women] The exhibitions is about causes to fear and it’s impact. About an underlying violence.
Is there anything you want to say to your sisters out there?
JUST GO!
One last question… You are called ”Bebben”. Why?
It’s been there since I was about 9 years old. I don’t know why. Rebecka maybe wasn't fitting for me?
Gallery opening:
NAU Gallery
Thursday, January 15
17.00-20.00
Hudiksvallsgatan 4B
Bebben will be making new prints for ARRIVALS based on her ”Holy Shit” exhibition. Keep and eye out!