Handling Session: Ethiopian Manuscripts
Workshop with Guttormsgårds arkiv and Nitja
“A book in a bag, hanging from a shoulder strap, on the move, always close at hand, swaddled like an infant, the personal book.” Guttorm Guttormsgaard
Where
Atelier Felix
About the event
The Guttormsgaard Archive holds two Ethiopian parchment books, both handwritten in the ancient Semitic language Geʽez. One has a cover shaped like a bag, while the other has pages mended with needle and thread and includes remarkable illustrations. But what are these books doing in the archive? What do they smell like? Who has handled them before? And how can we read them today?
In this informal handling session, everyone is invited to take part in a shared exploration of the two books, led by artist Robel Temesgen. The conversation will primarily be in English.
The event is a collaboration between Nitja senter for samtidskunst and Guttormsgaards arkiv, with support from Arts Council Norway and Akershus fylkeskommune.
Oslo Art Weekend is Norway's largest festival for contemporary art, taking place 28–31 May. 50 art institutions in Oslo come together for a program of exhibitions, performances, film screenings, guided tours and more. Take the opportunity to discover Oslo's contemporary art scene and the city's many art venues, including a variety of artist-run exhibition spaces, galleries, art institutions and museums.
See the full program: https://osloartweekend.no/en/program
