Natasha Dahnberg, Sweden

From the series Encyclopedia of Lost Libraries

Three works in the exhibition are part of the project Encyclopedia of Lost Libraries, in which Natasha Dahnberg examines libraries that have been deliberately destroyed during wars and political conflicts. 

Each work represents a city that has lost a part of its cultural heritage. The drawn clouds of smoke function as a symbol of the dual nature of loss — at once frightening and beautiful.

The works are created using silverpoint, one of the oldest techniques in the history of drawing, with roots in the Renaissance. Using a silver stylus, the artist draws onto a prepared wooden surface. The lines cannot be erased; instead, they slowly oxidize and darken over time. The transformation of the image cannot be fully controlled — just as clouds follow their own patterns, oxidation obeys its own laws and escapes the artist’s control.

Vadstena, 2026, silver needle on wooden panel

Moskva 2026, silver needle on wooden panel

Oslo, 2026, silver needle on wooden panel