![](https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/EKELY_001_Photo-by-David-Stjernholm_2021-08-09-114753_agkd_2023-06-22-083609_absr.jpg?w=2560&h=1572&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1687422969&s=1b126d0517a0cbd9ca7c65cc89928442 2560w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/EKELY_001_Photo-by-David-Stjernholm_2021-08-09-114753_agkd_2023-06-22-083609_absr.jpg?w=2048&h=1258&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1687422969&s=865436320d6fd4d49ca9196cf893d2aa 2048w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/EKELY_001_Photo-by-David-Stjernholm_2021-08-09-114753_agkd_2023-06-22-083609_absr.jpg?w=1920&h=1179&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1687422969&s=8557aaf2209e963a112dc635730b715c 1920w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/EKELY_001_Photo-by-David-Stjernholm_2021-08-09-114753_agkd_2023-06-22-083609_absr.jpg?w=1536&h=943&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1687422969&s=80489d55c9e8947832b76cdc248eea64 1536w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/EKELY_001_Photo-by-David-Stjernholm_2021-08-09-114753_agkd_2023-06-22-083609_absr.jpg?w=1280&h=786&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1687422969&s=a51beab4b60ba642a12c1f0ccf79d00b 1280w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/EKELY_001_Photo-by-David-Stjernholm_2021-08-09-114753_agkd_2023-06-22-083609_absr.jpg?w=1024&h=629&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1687422969&s=192fa1f1eab436a1e767d743a5ae9aed 1024w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/EKELY_001_Photo-by-David-Stjernholm_2021-08-09-114753_agkd_2023-06-22-083609_absr.jpg?w=768&h=471&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1687422969&s=eb64b41df014341478afbcc2fe244d9f 768w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/EKELY_001_Photo-by-David-Stjernholm_2021-08-09-114753_agkd_2023-06-22-083609_absr.jpg?w=512&h=314&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1687422969&s=71ef62bd5e3310610c503e2db771ab81 512w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/EKELY_001_Photo-by-David-Stjernholm_2021-08-09-114753_agkd_2023-06-22-083609_absr.jpg?w=256&h=157&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1687422969&s=a722530a84ce8e3ce54cec0b6667f9b6 256w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/EKELY_001_Photo-by-David-Stjernholm_2021-08-09-114753_agkd_2023-06-22-083609_absr.jpg?w=128&h=78&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1687422969&s=5e192a2f5efcb814e5b81f3a0b99e2d4 128w)
View of the EKELY storefront
Photo by David Stjernholm
What made you first want to start publishing books?
EKELY shows 4-6 exhibitions a year with different artists. Art cannot always stand alone, it may need an explanation and a sense of perspective.
Sometimes this explanation becomes more and more developed and eventually turns into a book. We have created a range of books in the past in collaboration with artists, authors and designers.
How important are ideas of collecting to the publishing industry?
A book is a collection: it has been created by one or more people that together have selected, organised and presented a collection of materials in a format that we call a book.
Each book becomes part of a larger collection and offers guidance to the reader in the form of written experiences.
![](https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/cover_sexshop_front_Tal_R-copy.jpg?w=1920&h=2274&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688218949&s=cd79f19993bc1d1421ca56e1974acb7e 1920w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/cover_sexshop_front_Tal_R-copy.jpg?w=1536&h=1819&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688218949&s=2c9cd8931a535b7533f8499e8ac42db1 1536w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/cover_sexshop_front_Tal_R-copy.jpg?w=1280&h=1516&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688218949&s=b0467ff3fee431cd5a414a7806e99bfd 1280w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/cover_sexshop_front_Tal_R-copy.jpg?w=1024&h=1213&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688218949&s=de9b305f5aa872972051820489560e75 1024w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/cover_sexshop_front_Tal_R-copy.jpg?w=768&h=909&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688218949&s=385bff4c86bb30749bb8cdbd8de36f75 768w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/cover_sexshop_front_Tal_R-copy.jpg?w=512&h=606&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688218949&s=d332a011432c5607b4f509db5ffd9ed8 512w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/cover_sexshop_front_Tal_R-copy.jpg?w=256&h=303&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688218949&s=dc7bb1075922aca58a85690977d90f35 256w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/cover_sexshop_front_Tal_R-copy.jpg?w=128&h=151&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688218949&s=da59647e56aa5b7975f65ac234bb312c 128w)
Tal R, Sexshops, 2018. Published by Forlaget Bjerggaard
Courtesy of the artist, Forlaget Bjerggaard and EKELY
Are all books art objects? When does book making become an art form?
On a philosophical level all books are art objects: they are refined and produced as a result of a creative process. Some books become art objects because they are rare and are part of a significant history.
Some books are created in a limited edition with some specific purpose, and thus also becomes an art object in this manner.
Do you think that books belong in museums? If so why, if not why not?
Any museum shop will have a wide range of books available, they are inseparable from the museum, and play a communicative role in the museum's praxis.
![](https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/NU_PK_Close-up_omslag-copy.jpg?w=1536&h=2045&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688220090&s=ed8eb78db9c477944415588b6835727d 1536w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/NU_PK_Close-up_omslag-copy.jpg?w=1280&h=1704&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688220090&s=6686c3863b7c68b94308860917c45d6c 1280w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/NU_PK_Close-up_omslag-copy.jpg?w=1024&h=1363&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688220090&s=0b2b8494995df76f0c56cf9f78861942 1024w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/NU_PK_Close-up_omslag-copy.jpg?w=768&h=1022&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688220090&s=0827338c0420df16fd045c970fe0d1bb 768w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/NU_PK_Close-up_omslag-copy.jpg?w=512&h=681&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688220090&s=613afcc276451d15841853b337485684 512w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/NU_PK_Close-up_omslag-copy.jpg?w=256&h=340&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688220090&s=4e50f3632f1341492e526fc6b2f42b2d 256w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/NU_PK_Close-up_omslag-copy.jpg?w=128&h=170&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1688220090&s=9394b11acdfb04dff74a9034bc72f604 128w)
Per Kirkeby, Close-up, 2017. Published by Forlaget Bjerggaard
Courtesy of the artist, Forlaget Bjerggaard and EKELY
Have there been particular books that had a big impact on you in terms of the way you approach book-making/publishing?
We have been involved with the making of Per Kirkeby's 'Feltbøger' ('Field books') - a series of illustrated books from Kirkeby's visits to fields. These had a particular impact.
Do you collect books? What sort of books interest you most?
Yes, I collect different books primarily around art and design. The book that interest me most are books that showcase an artist's works.
"On a philosophical level all books are art objects: they are refined and produced as a result of a creative process."
EKELY