photo by Cato Lein
Ekaterina Sisfontes
Stockholm, Sweden
artist/designer
“I would like to express my deepest gratitude for everything BKN has come to mean to me as an artist. My first contact with you was two years ago, when a close friend of mine, Marina Pugina, attended a residency. Inspired by her experience, I applied myself, and I was incredibly fortunate to be granted a residency period with you in June–July 2023.
During my stay, I worked intensively on my piece UnBedded, created for the exhibition Konst i ån – Norrtälje, curated by Anna Viola Hallberg. The work reflects on global unrest and the war in Ukraine. The month on Björkö not only transformed my relationship to my work, but also fundamentally shifted my understanding of the creative process.
As an artist living in the big city of Stockholm, the stillness and calm that Björkö offered were invaluable. It brought me closer to my inner self and gave me a level of focus that allowed me, in addition to my main project, to create two more artworks. It is an experience I will always carry with me.
I have also had the privilege of visiting the residency several times since, and each time I have met wonderful international artists who have strengthened my belief in the universal language of art.
As a member of the Stockholm-based artist-run collective Studio44, I have been selected to curate the international project DOM. The project brings artists together to create a joint exhibition following a residency period. DOM has already gained significant recognition across Europe and will be presented in Milan next year. We have already begun planning for 2026, when we hope to realize the project in Stockholm. Our vision is to use BKN as the residency site, making it a central and well‑visited hub throughout the project.
I am incredibly grateful that BKN exists and for the work you do to support artists and projects of this nature. Thank you for your support and inspiration — you make a meaningful difference in the art world.”
Ekaterina Sisfontes
