Should we be content with coping? We probably shouldn't. Finding strategies to change ourselves, our habits and lifestyles as a solution to overwhelming problems and structures may not be enough, and definitely often feels way too demanding. Yet finding oneself sobbing in front of the self-help shelf, trying to find answers of what to do can often feel strangely comforting. Any piece of advice, good or bad, can easily be absorbed by a person in need of help. You might genuinely be comforted by things you otherwise reject as nonsense. But you're also very likely to feel confused, sad or angry when you find that you probably need to change yourself to deal with whatever it is that is troubling you and that there simply isn’t enough room in society to just be weak.
Självhjälpsbiblioteket doesn’t claim to know if you should go home and lie in your bed and give in to doubt, help yourself by dealing with your problems head-on or if you should take to the streets and join a revolution. It aims to at least give you some comfort in the doubts and difficulties shared with others and to allow you to be vulnerable for a moment.
Självhjälpsbiblioteket opens for the first time at Joy Forum but is thought to become a growing collection that will be available at different locations at different times. The collection consists of contributions made by artists, poets and designers. The invited artists got full freedom to create contributions with self-help literature as the starting point and with a premise to work in the projects library structure.
Come and hopefully find some comfort and company.
Comfort food will be served.
Artists:
Linnea Jardemark, Franciska Gottlieb, Gunhild Sannes, Ida Vildheart Bergman, Ina Marie Winther Åshaug, Maria Vallevik Borg, Pernille Elida, Runa Amanda Halleraker, Siri Unger, Maria Sannes, Stella Palm, Vilde Jensen, Matias Grøttum, Sonja Zornat, Tanja Silvestrini, Lisa Him-Jensen, Ella Honeyman-Novotny, Dorte Gottlieb, Sigrid Stokker, Jennifer Caneva
Since you asked
Since You Asked is a literary questionnaire, where artists and poets working in Sweden are given free rein to answer your questions. Your question can be about anything and you can be anonymous. The answers given are interpretations and vary in shape and length.
The people who answer your questions right now and the creators of the fanzine you'll find at Självhjälpsbiblioteket is:
Linnéa Enström, Julia Granberg, Saana Kotila, Agnes Olsson and Ida Zidore.
Youll find them here: https://www.sinceyouasked.se/omprojektet/
Marie Vallestad - Comfort Food
Comfort Food is the gift we give ourselves.
Comfort Food is a distraction.
Comfort Food is something you deserve.
Comfort Food provides you with care.
Comfort Food does not make demands.
Please help yourself to a comforting culinary experience in between the books of Självhjälpsbiblioteket. Comfort Food is here for you.
OPENING NIGHT: Dec 6, 18.00-20.00
The exhibition is accessible during faculty opening hours (10-15) Monday through Friday, Dec 6 - Dec 12.
Project initiated by Susanna Antonsson, the installation made by Marie Vallestad and Susanna Antonsson