– Needless to say, but I will say it anyway!

– Thank you Synnøve Ringstad, for passing me this most unexpected «torch»! It is super enjoyable to revisit these works, actually take time to reflect on them and celebrate each other in general!

Mads Andersen’s artist book «Elusive Habitat»

– I'm always in awe of the way Mads Andersen elevates his Riso printed material to a quality you don't often expect from this technique! He is meticulous and patient with the process. I'd like to highlight his artist book «Elusive Habitat» as a prime example of this. Not only am I fond of his general approach to collage, blending tech-imagery with nature-imagery in an elegant noisy way, but also appreciate that layer of Riso-expression he adds with surprising color combinations and intense textures.

– When it comes to reproducing complex digital imagery in Riso, with a deep understanding of all the particularities of the technique, I will always think of this work.

Bjørn Staal’s «Entangled»

– We collaborated a million years ago (!) in a project and I have been following Bjørn's work pretty much ever since. As an technologist/artist working in between generative systems and experiential design, his work tends to be mind-blowing and unexpected in ways I'll never really fully understand. This latest addition to his explorations called «Entangled» hit in a novel way!

– Bjørn's interpretation of the Quantum (Particle) Entanglement is an interactive experience that he mastered by combining web-based interactivity and blockchain technology. A big concept that is virtually simulated in two browser windows.

– He recently had «Entangled» exhibited in Gent, Belgium, where the digital experience was translated into a physical multimedia robotics installation.

Åge Peterson’s «B-open 2016—2022

– This is almost a «needless to say» but I will say it anyway! B-open, an art festival in Bergen that invites artists to open their studios to the general public, has been illustrated by Åge Peterson for 7 years. I love how you can clearly see an evolution over the years, but also the consistent interpretation of «many rooms» into three dimensional depth, which was only replaced in his last edition (2022) by a more poetic dancing metaphor. These posters have pretty much become a collectible!

Ingrid Bjørnaali’s film «Extra Terrestriality»

– I was only recently introduced to Ingrid Bjørnaali's work but I'm already all in. As a big fan of the whole photogrammetry visual expression, this animated film was a dream.

– «Extra Terrestriality» consists of 3D animated photogrammetry and sound based on field recordings from The Tablelands (Newfoundland) and Fagradalsfjall (Iceland), a film narrated by the artist. The mix between the 3D and image feels fresh, and the animation is hypnotic.

– Highly recommend listening with headphones for all those field immersive sounds.

– This work is currently on display at Høstutstillingen Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo.

Name one or more inspiring international/foreign work that you would like to have done yourself.

The Royal Studio’s identity for The Lovie Awards 2019

– A big kudos to this Portuguese studio! The Royal Studio has an infinite capacity to be uncompromising and restless in their graphic explorations. João Castro and his team developed this joyous identity for The Lovie Awards 2019 that is as refined as it is playful, a combination I don’t consider that easy to juggle. I just love how text is turned into image, image into text and how all this child-like energy is beautifully executed.

Wang & Söderström’s «Techno Mythologies»

– Wang & Söderström's work has always fascinated me. The form and color language they have developed over the years in their 3D world is just so vibrant and feels synthetic and tangible at the same time.

– Recently I had the pleasure to visit their most recent works exhibited in Christian IV's Brewery, part of Christiansborg Castle, in Copenhagen. In this exhibition they've elevated the 3D print to a whole new level of sophistication and, as a full sensorial experience with their augmented reality pieces, sound and light design, it felt ethereal, mysterious and immersive.

– The juxtaposition between their work and the royal sculptures that are permanently housed in these rooms was truly otherworldly.

Ines Cox’s book «SAVE»

– Ines Cox runs a design studio in Antwerp and produces everything from exhibition identity, book design, branding and research. Her work always feels poetic and intimate to me!

– Ines Cox's book «SAVE» «looks at designers' relationships with their computer and digital processes». She is an observer and avid documenter of the aesthetics designers encounter when producing graphic work in their computers. She imitates desktop interfaces into layout, drawings and print, with a minimalist and almost ironic touch.

– This book is a large object though it feels ephemeral and delicate, it truly is a graphic poem and I wish I had done it!

Bérénice Golmann’s «Fabrics of the future» for Ganni

– This initiative by Ganni-Lab introduces three new «earth-friendly and innovative» fabrics to their iconic Bou bag design. Each fabric derives from different byproducts, such as olive oil production waste, plant fiber, cellulose grown by bacteria. It is so beautiful how Bérénice Goldmann, at Pitch Studios, interpreted these three fabrics into visual narratives. I just love when 3D mimics materials with their sensorial properties and tells stories otherwise impossible or very difficult to tell. The blend here between the tactile and the sublime delivered true eye candy!

Who would you like to pass the baton to and why?

– I would like to pass the baton to Christian Bergheim. Because he has been of great influence to me and I miss ping-ponging exciting projects like this, as we did when we worked together. He is one of the co-founders of Grandpeople, worked at ANTI and is now at Norwegian Rain. I'd like to hear what’s inspiring him these days besides the big outdoors. Also, let’s go for a drink Christian, it’s been too long!