Time In Common
A collaboration between Signe Cygan and Hikari Nishida.
When we first met in an online workshop, the only thing we shared and had in common was time and the wish to collaborate artistically. Since we live in different places – Signe in Aarhus, Denmark; Hikari in Helsinki, Finland – and are not able to travel abroad, we started thinking about new ways of working together. ‘Time in Common’ is an ongoing collaboration that is built upon a contract formulated together.
We proposed a set of exercises designed to help us begin the collaboration; get to know each other step-by-step; and find a rhythm in our exchange. The exercises take inspiration from Situationist practices, Mail Art and correspondence works in art and literature. In the process, we are also investigating our own surroundings and at the same time trying to empathise with the other’s environment. It is about discovering commons that could eventually drive us to collaborate on another project.
In between a formal agreement and a caring, playful score, the contract focuses on what we can give to each other instead of what we can gain individually.
You will find a copy of the contract template on the BUM Editions website (www.bumeditions.com/time-in-common) – free to use yourself and to share. The contract is not only meant for artistic collaborations but could be used in any situation where people want to get to know each other.
We thank Laura Cemin for her help on this project.
From: Signe Cygan Barslund
Date: 5 June 2020 14:05 GMT +02:00
To: Hikari NISHIDA
Subject: Jen Bervin
Dear Hikari
I hope you’re doing well! I want to share with you a link to Jen Bervins website: http://jenbervin.com/. Maybe you already know her work, otherwise I hope I’ll enjoy it. I only heard of her some months ago so I haven’t studied her works in depth, but I really like what I have read and seen so far! She makes some very beautiful books and is interested in weaving, textile and poetic writing among other things. All the best and have a good weekend, Signe
From: Signe Cygan Barslund
Date: 5 June 2020 14:25 GMT +02:00
To: Hikari NISHIDA
Subject: Jen Bervin
Should have been: I hope you’ll enjoy it 🙂
From: Hikari NISHIDA
Date: 10 June 2020 21:25 GMT +03:00
To: Signe Cygan Barslund
Subject: Re: Jen Bervin
Dear Signe,
Thank you for your email! It’s very nice to receive a message from you, even though it was expected! I suddenly feel the same vibes as the very rich and full of energy week we spent ! I didn’t know about Jen Bervin. I love her work “Draft Notation”. I was interested in typing with my computer keypad and make drawings out of that, so the idea was quite close to hers. It is very nice to see she talks about Anni Albers! And the paper makes me want to touch it. I wanted to share with you my favourite book of Remy Charlip called “It looks like snow” http://www.philnel.com/2011/03/09/charlip/. Have a sunny week! Hikari
From: Signe Cygan Barslund
Date: 21 June 2020 14:39 GMT +02:00
To: Hikari Nishida
Subject: Re: Jen Bervin
Hi Hikari
Thank you so much for the recommendation of Remy Charlip’s book. I think it is very beautiful, light and elegant in it’s simpleness while at the same time it invites for reflection and contemplation. I really like this close interplay between words and “image”/page. I also checked out some of his other books and will definety have a closer look at his things again soon. I want to share with you Nine Nameless Mountains – a book by Maanantai Collective – a Helsinki based group actually. https://cargocollective.com/maanantaicollective, https://vimeo.com/79028135. I love their playfull way of exploring a place – the Lofoten Islands. I think the book they made really transmit a sense of curiousity, amusement and openess. I don’t know if they still work as a collective but I keep hoping that they will present some new work at some point. Wish you a lovely Sunday, Signe
From: Hikari NISHIDA
Date: 28 June 2020 21:48 GMT +03:00
To: Signe Cygan Barslund
Subject: Re: Jen Bervin
Dear Signe,
Thank you for your last email! It’s quite funny, a friend of mine just sent me a work about clouds on a mountain, and it was quite close visually to Maanantai Collective work! Do you know about Richard Mc Guire’s book, “Here”? https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/18/books/review/richard-mcguires-here.html. Through the pages, there are illustrations of a place during various times. For example, from 1000 years BC to now; [sic] […]
Hikari Nishida & Signe Cygan
