Kinakaal forlag

From 2004 to 2023, No. 223 has crafted a unique artistic world through his photographic vision. This 20th-anniversary photobook is more than a retrospective—it is an exploration of artistic freedom and the timeless vitality of youth. It invites readers to reflect on the past while embracing the enduring creative spirit that defines No. 223’s work.

The number “223” becomes a symbolic thread, subtly woven through the book’s structure. The 223 carefully curated images are divided into ten small booklets, each themed around key phrases and ideas, creating a reading rhythm that feels fresh and engaging. This approach avoids the traditional catalog-style presentation, empowering readers to interpret and reorganize the content in their own way.

Revisiting two decades of work has been an act of rediscovery for No. 223. He deliberately bypassed widely recognized pieces, focusing instead on previously unseen works. The photobook features a blend of new and old, iconic and obscure, showcasing the depth of his creativity while leaving room for interpretation. This process of selection is as much about the act of curation as it is about revealing the evolution of his artistic language.

No. 223’s photography is deeply rooted in capturing subtle, everyday emotions, yet it consistently transcends the mundane to evoke something extraordinary. His seemingly casual yet deliberate creative logic runs through both his images and the photobook’s structure. Though light and unassuming, the ten booklets bring a “poetry of order” to the reading experience. They invite readers to flip, dismantle, and reassemble—rediscovering the purity and vibrancy of youth in their own way.

This eternal youth forms the core of No. 223’s art and philosophy. In a constantly changing world, he remains steadfast in capturing life’s vivid moments, making photography the ideal medium to preserve freedom and vitality. His images defy the constraints of technological shifts and the relentless noise of modern life, offering viewers a breath of clarity and renewal amidst the chaos.

The book Bird of Paradise began with an encounter between artist Anne Tveit Knutsen and the late florist Rikhard Rune Juuhl (1952–2023), who had already fallen into the clutches of Parkinson’s disease and dementia. Drawing on the empathy and caregiving instinct from her previous work as a nurse, Anne developed her brief friendship with the gradually fading florist into a poignant project centred on the trinity of old age, floristry, and fine art.

The book gathers essays by well-established artists, philosophers, sociologists, and art historians, each exploring these themes from their own perspective and area of expertise. Designer Yilei Wang subtly embedded the connection between the three elements in the design details—such as the lenticular cover featuring negative images of withdrawing roots, and the page edges, which shift in colour from green to yellow.

As Anne asks in the introduction: What does it mean to flourish as a human being, even in the face of serious illness or disability?

This is a spin-off of Norwegian children’s book illustrator and writer Åshild Kanstad Johnsen’s Kubbe-verse. This time, Kubbe is going to guide children and adults alike on how to enjoy visiting an art museum.

Going to an art museum can be so much fun. But it can also feel a bit unsettling if it’s your first time—you're stepping into a world that’s quite different from your everyday life. You’ll encounter images, creatures, moods, and ideas that go far beyond what you might expect or imagine. Sounds a bit scary? This book will give you courage! It will prepare you both mentally and intellectually for the big adventure of visiting an art museum.

Follow Kubbe as a role model and learn the etiquette—or just how to be yourself—before, during, and after your visit. That way, you’ll build up knowledge, experience, and self-confidence through regular museum visits.

The book was originally created for Åshild’s exhibition at Taipei Fine Arts Museum. The Kinakaal edition gave it a completely new look and function. It's designed as a lanyard bag that young readers can carry with them while exploring the museum—perfect for storing tickets, leaflets, notes, and more.

Lens and Landscape is a pair of photo books that transcends geographical boundaries, uniting two photographers from opposite corners of the world who were unable to physically collaborate due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Curated by Northing and published by Kinakaal forlag, this publication is the result of an ambitious project that unfolded in unforeseen ways.

In 2019, Northing, a multicultural organization based in Bergen, initiated an ambitious project titled ‘Stage and Landscap'. The plan was to bring together the unique artistic perspectives of Norwegian photographer Tonje Bøe Birkeland and Chinese photographer Maleonn, hailing from Shanghai. Maleonn was renowned for his imaginative and theatrical photographs, carefully staged within the confines of his studio. His absurd visual narratives and psychedelic images usually feature others than himself - actors, models, or onlookers. In stark contrast, Tonje, an artist based in Bergen, used the natural world as her stage, embodying forgotten female explorers of the past and challenging the male-dominated historical narrative. Northing recognized the potential for a captivating collaboration, hoping it would ignite unforeseen creativity.

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing travel restrictions thwarted the artists' plans to physically meet and work together. However, undeterred by these obstacles, Northing created a virtual meeting point in the form of a book. L&L serves as a tangible manifestation of their creative encounter, with a conversation between the two artists alongside their most significant works.

The book's design, ingeniously materialized by Yilei and Pan Yanrong, is an artful expression in itself. Divided into two parts, each dedicated to one artist, the book is bound together by a bookcase. To fully understand the intention behind the book, readers are encouraged to lay the bookcase flat on a table and simultaneously open both parts of the book, as the page numbers flow seamlessly from one side to the other. With each spread consisting of four pages, the photographs by the two artists engage in a captivating visual dialogue guided by a discernible logic.

L& L transcends physical barriers, offering an intimate glimpse into the artistic minds of Tonje Bøe Birkeland and Maleonn. Through this innovative book, their unique perspectives and creative visions intertwine, proving that even in the face of adversity, art can forge connections that defy distance and bring people together.