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Publications by Blankt Papir Press
Courtesy of Blankt Papir Press
What made you first want to start publishing books?
In Japan, I first learned about artist books and the process of hand-making books. I found that a handmade book, where you could decide every little detail yourself, a book that would never be a “perfect” specimen, always laced with tiny mistakes, spoke to me more than any other photo book I had ever held.
It was an art object in it’s own right and I loved that it was unique, even if it was part of an edition. This made me want to pursue publishing handmade books. They are expensive to buy and expensive to make, but they are made with passion and worth more to me than 500 manufactured ones.
![](https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CHART_TheYear_oct18_08.jpg?w=1920&h=1281&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688474034&s=0c74fa3f04a4afa1a15a406ac08f06b3 1920w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CHART_TheYear_oct18_08.jpg?w=1536&h=1024&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688474034&s=cf1b48f2cf5aae16768e86a9cf0ca8a5 1536w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CHART_TheYear_oct18_08.jpg?w=1280&h=853&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688474034&s=078530c42b48df8882ef2dc05d15e35e 1280w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CHART_TheYear_oct18_08.jpg?w=1024&h=683&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688474034&s=fcfa37447a695b0dca0f51a75f965757 1024w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CHART_TheYear_oct18_08.jpg?w=768&h=512&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688474034&s=31f2bd34977d9017526e20d04739dc30 768w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CHART_TheYear_oct18_08.jpg?w=512&h=341&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688474034&s=d97ba83b758716afd0592a8382e7943d 512w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CHART_TheYear_oct18_08.jpg?w=256&h=170&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688474034&s=c162b2d3cd98e9be540a6aaca7edb225 256w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CHART_TheYear_oct18_08.jpg?w=128&h=85&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688474034&s=ccb44b7d311454945b1ac73406bc65e8 128w)
Ida Arentoft & Inuuteq Storch, The Year - Copenhagen, October 2018, 2018
Courtesy of Ida Arentoft, Inuuteq Storch and Blankt Papir Press
How important are ideas of collecting to the publishing industry?
I like that books are democratic and for everybody, but I also appreciate the artistry of special editions. For us at Blankt Papir Press, we only do “special editions”, so they are sold to collectors yes, but also to people, who fall in love with the projects, the objects, and need to save up a little to get them.
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Various Artists, The Year - Copenhagen, April 2018, 2018
Courtesy of the artists and Blankt Papir Press
Are all books art objects? When does book making become an art form?
YES. But I like them more, when they’ve been through the hands of people. I prefer a book you can see has been enjoyed and handled. I love a paper back that’s bent out of shape from usage. I’d love to put a book like that on a pedestal.
We often include his note when writing about our books: “Wear and tear is just as beautiful on a book as it is in life. However, please bear in mind that our books are handmade and delicate, and just like the human soul, please handle with care.”
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The Year, Copenhagen 2018, presented at Copenhagen Photo Festival 2019
Courtesy of the artists and Blankt Papir Press
Do you think that books belong in museums? If so why, if not why not?
I had a long answer for this question, but the more I thought about it the more complicated it got. It’s not a black and white answer – I want people to be inspired by books, and sometimes displaying them in a museum setting in a glass display can achieve this. BUT in general, I believe being able to page through a book yourself is very important.
Preferably everybody should be able to access them. I do prefer books to be in the libraries, and I love libraries that buy artists' books, or collectors who store their collections in libraries with public access – here the books are taken care of and stored and viewed under the right conditions. That to me is better than having them in a museum.
![](https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CHART-hero_MM_JM_09.jpg?w=2048&h=1151&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688474497&s=aaf0b847e6c23375f4fc13736a950315 2048w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CHART-hero_MM_JM_09.jpg?w=1920&h=1079&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688474497&s=d4c37aab89eac2902c453b41a69639ca 1920w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CHART-hero_MM_JM_09.jpg?w=1536&h=863&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688474497&s=d4e40f8cc4b1293e49d17b7d53d59408 1536w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CHART-hero_MM_JM_09.jpg?w=1280&h=719&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688474497&s=fc5de961b49acd607bcf2610c06cdbaa 1280w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CHART-hero_MM_JM_09.jpg?w=1024&h=575&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688474497&s=da810dd68bfd6f3b162cb8f9a864f4f7 1024w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CHART-hero_MM_JM_09.jpg?w=768&h=431&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688474497&s=31cb5f0edab6f22db43546ad37115141 768w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CHART-hero_MM_JM_09.jpg?w=512&h=287&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688474497&s=b7f4460bcecc9fc5de6ef9aaaceb7c65 512w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CHART-hero_MM_JM_09.jpg?w=256&h=143&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688474497&s=62b85604a5b956e8bfa8659791f303ec 256w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CHART-hero_MM_JM_09.jpg?w=128&h=71&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688474497&s=096f65ca18e42ce1de1f4d653cbbdc7f 128w)
Julia Mejnertsen, M.M., 2019
Courtesy of Julia Mejnertsen and Blankt Papir Press
Have there been particular books that had a big impact on you in terms of the way you approach book-making/publishing?
Maybe not a particular book, but in Tokyo I learned to hand make books at Reminders Photography Stronghold – this was life changing for me and the handmade photobooks that come out of there are always exceptional. This is where my inspiration to start Blankt Papir Press came from.
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Janemaria Mekoline Pedersen, Dysfertil, 2020
Courtesy of Janemaria Mekoline Pedersen and Blankt Papir Press
Do you collect books? What sort of books interest you most?
I do – I collect handmade photo-books. They are true treasures of storytelling, passion and skill.
![](https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CHART_26.01.18_LBS_01.jpg?w=1920&h=1386&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688474891&s=3acbb35ff297475a173137055d939adb 1920w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CHART_26.01.18_LBS_01.jpg?w=1536&h=1108&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688474891&s=410ad3b01d5ff940f673f70eab093348 1536w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CHART_26.01.18_LBS_01.jpg?w=1280&h=924&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688474891&s=7e47759ac9d791c1cf384803881627f8 1280w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CHART_26.01.18_LBS_01.jpg?w=1024&h=739&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688474891&s=40c5760b698ab2a956babe3deb663ab6 1024w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CHART_26.01.18_LBS_01.jpg?w=768&h=554&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688474891&s=cb61937842822efbe29d7a033e641a00 768w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CHART_26.01.18_LBS_01.jpg?w=512&h=369&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688474891&s=7f10c2071f9ba33748271ed8a988e6db 512w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CHART_26.01.18_LBS_01.jpg?w=256&h=184&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688474891&s=d2936477af8f84e3abdabd3a711650fb 256w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CHART_26.01.18_LBS_01.jpg?w=128&h=92&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688474891&s=9b81be0c2d15d0fbdd9323ac06eb0ec0 128w)
Louise Bøgelund Saugmann, 26.01.18, 2022
Courtesy of Louise Bøgelund Saugmann and Blankt Papir Press