Kamilla Stokkevåg

What do you wish to explore?

A space or a piece of furniture can determine how people move and may even encourage movement and exploration. With this as a starting point, I wanted to look closer at how stories are conveyed in a library room. As a backdrop to my project, I have investigated the district of Laksevåg and various libraries in Bergen. Laksevåg lost his district library in 2004, and since then has been struggling to regain this branch. A new library was approved in Laksevåg in May of 2018.

What inspired you?

I am inspired by storytelling and how it can help the minds of children to blossom. They enter into a world of imagination and wonder. I have chosen children as my target group because they still have an unimpeded enthusiasm and way of moving. They crawl underneath, over and in between.

What has this resulted in?

Shape :My concept is a flexible and playful piece of furniture for the library room. The shape can be used as a seat, but can also be used as a scenographic element during stroytelling. When flipped over on its side, the piece of furniture becomes a low wall that encompasses the situation or that can be used actively during storytelling. The shapes are open and can turn into anything when using your imagination. They can be organized to create large or small spaces between themselves. Together, the shapes create a visual landscape that children will want to be part of.

Textiles: I have taken photos and documented the industrial site at Laksevåg, and the various district libraries. Signs or traces that time has passed are often beautiful and visual, patterns showing materials that react with each other and with the weather, nature and the surrounding elements. By using such photos as a point of departure to develop textiles, my project becomes a new layer that can give the user or audience the opportunity to read more into the object.

Specifically, who will benefit from your project? 

I think that both children and narrators at the library can enjoy and benefit from this furniture. Bård Bjørknes is a director and works with communication at Deichman Torshov in Oslo. He believes that using scenographic elements during storytelling makes it more attractive and exciting.

“Scenography and objects can help create a holistic storytelling session. Based on my own experience, I would say that such aids make it easier to lead the target audience into the world of fiction. Creating a physical space using simple measures such as scenography, lighting and sound, gives a signal to the target group that we are entering a new “world” i.e. the fictional.” 

- Bård Bjørknes

Gallery