The Session
Amsterdam

"The Session manufactures theme-zines in the finest DIY spirit, serving serious readers through a distribution network consisting of dealers. (...) The Session will favourize, focus and execute. It will continue to be committed and maintain a strong balance sheet with an anarchistic yet anal leadership."

The Session – an independent publication collective consisting of eight artists and designers based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands – has been making thematic, interdisciplinary fanzines since September 2007. The Session does not work with a standard form or a recurrent theme. Per session, one of the group members determines the subject and is responsible for editing, design and production, as well as invitation of external participants.

The Session are: Monica Tormell, Tomas Adolfs, Staffan Björk, Tarja Szaraniec, Matthias Kreutzer, Kalle Mattsson, Orpheu de Jong and Jens Schildt.

Next Session will be about something else!


Contact: theamsterdamsession@gmail.com

#16 The Alphabet Session

Format: Offset printed publication, edition of 500 copies
Concept & design: Jens Schildt
Release: Galleri Verket, Stockholm, Sweden – 17 April 2015

The Alphabet Session includes a three-dimensional alphabet (A–Z) created by 26 artists from various disciplines. Each participant was asked to make a three-dimensional interpretation of a letter from the latin alphabet.

With contributions by:

Bastion - Brita Lindvall & Alexandra Falagara in cooperation with Minda Jalling, Peter Andersson, Tarja Szaraniec, Dear Reader, Fanny Stenberg, Barbara Hennequin, Jens Schildt, Matthias Kreutzer, Ninna Berger, Mark Isitt, Eva Wilsson, Thomas Adolphus, Eriksen / Brown, Emelie Östergren, Monica Tormell, Albin Karlssson, Orpheu de Jong, Louise Kelpe, Kalle Mattsson, Gustaf Kjellin, Anna Platt, Karl Grandin, Simon Aunund, Amanda Ejnar, Staffan Björk, Aron Kullander-Ostling.

#15 The Title Session

Format: Offset printed newspaper, edition of 500 copies
Concept & design: Matthias Kreutzer
Release: Goethe Institut, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – 21 February 2014

Each participant was asked to come up with a (book) title. The titles were collected in a publication which only consists of covers.

With contributions by:

Jens Schildt, Marijn van Kreij, Will Holder, Irene de Craen, Arnon Grunberg, Caspar Stalenhoef, Mikey Casalaina, Delphine Bedel, Kalle Mattsson, Antonis Pittas, Anna-Maria Ytterbom, Leif Holmstrand, Charlott Markus, Monika Rinck, Max Grau, Tomas Adolfs, Matthias Kreutzer, Monica Tormell, Miek Zwamborn, Jean-Baptiste Maitre, Seamus Cater, Tarja Szaraniec, Scott Joseph, Chris Evans, Marc van der Holst, Staffan Björk, Uta Eisenreich, Nienke Vijlbrief.

Performances during the release at Goethe Institut:

Uta Eisenreich, Seamus Cater, Miek Zwamborn, Scott Joseph, Spilt Milk, Orpheu The Wizard, DJ Toner Loc.

#14 The Aggression Session

Format: A1 poster, edition of 500 copies
Concept & design: Kalle Mattsson
Release: Depot BG, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – 25 February 2012

"...Anything aggression related goes, as usual. The Smiths, placemats, bad grammar or Tea might offer good starting points."

With contributions by:

Monica Tormell, Tomas Adolfs, Staffan Björk, Tarja Szaraniec, Kalle Mattsson, Orpheu de Jong, Jens Schildt, Matthias Kreutzer, Boris de Vries, Marcel de Vries.

Performance during the release at Depot BG:

"Destruction of electrical organ (organ, stones, tools, blunt items)" – performed by The Session.

#13 The Elementary Session

Format: Workshops and exhibition
Concept & curating: Tarja Szaraniec
Session and exhibition: Marres, Maastricht, The Netherlands – 3 July to 12 August 2011

The Elementary Session was part of the exhibition 'A Common Dialect' in Marres, Maastricht. All participants were asked to share their personal archives. All personal archives were brought together as a collective archive. The collective archive functioned as a toolbox for a two week workshop at Marres. From July the 3rd, the first part of The Elementary Session, the so called 'Collective Collection' was made visible. Deriving from the 'Collective Collection' The Elementary Session was created.

With contributions by:

Tomas Adolfs, Staffan Björk, Orpheu de Jong, Matthias Kreutzer, Kalle Mattsson, Jens Schildt, Tarja Szaraniec, Monica Tormell, Paulien Barbas, Marjolein Houbaer, Robin Vanbesien, Paul Gangloff, Abe Rechterschot.

#12 The Sun Session

Format: Website – www.thesunsession.nl (This was a Flash website, no longer technically supported)
Concept & design: Staffan Björk
Session: De Mirandabad, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – 30 January 2011
Release: Red Light Radio, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – 24 April 2011

An interplanetary web exhibition revolving around the Sun. Each satellite on the website refer to the worshipping, the celebration, the scientific discoveries and the human need of the Sun – but at the same time hints each contributors interpretation of the theme. Like astronomers continuous search for new matter, the viewer of The Sun Session explore art through an artificial universe, periodically disrupted by a 'solar eclipse'.

With contributions by:

Tomas Adolfs, Staffan Björk,Orpheu de Jong Matthias Kreutzer, Kalle Mattsson, Jens Schildt, Tarja Szaraniec, Monica Tormell, Ninna Berger, Jessica Breitholtz Björk, Mats Björk, Constant Dullaart, Johannes Heldén, Regina Kelaita, Yvonne Lacet, Erica van Loon, Malin Persson, Ragnar Persson, Rafaël Rozendaal, Hamid Sallalli, Skeppet.

#11 The Sample Session

Format: 10" vinyl record, edition of 500 copies
Concept & design: Matthias Kreutzer
Release: Kulter, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – 11 September 2010

The Sample Session is a collection of sound works (a sound library if you want) that is brought together on a 10 inch vinyl record. Each participant was asked to contribute with a sound work of max 10 seconds on the subject "sample" which, as Wikipedia says, "refers to [...] a point in time and/or space".

With contributions by:

Nicolai Adolfs, Tomas Adolfs, Elinor Archer with Alexandra Ross Mackenzie and Philosaur, Andre Avelas, Mats Björk, Staffan Björk, Ian Brown, Gerbrand Burger, Colophon/Mobile Carrion, Cotopaxi, Attila Csihar/Void Ov Voices, Rickard Daun, Sam de Groot, Orpheu de Jong, Lars Ekman, Elfenbeinturm, Emmusica, Erratic Boulder, Fyoelk, Willum Geerts, Sæmundur Thor Helgason, Will Holder, Yutaka Hoshino, Henrik Kihlberg, Klaus, Jesse Koolhaas, Matthias Kreutzer, Cindy Lee, Luva, Maia Lyon-Daw, Simon J Mason, Kalle Mattsson, Moemlien, Finn Öhlund, Stephen O’Malley, Leo Park, Taatske Pieterson, Lisa Premke, PTTRNS, Jonathan Sachse Mikkelsen, Alban Schelbert, Jens Schildt, Floris Schönfeld, Strange Boutique, Stuff Linear, Clas Svahn/UFO-Sweden with a little help from his sons, Niklas and Markus, Tarja Szaraniec, TAPE THAT/Christophe Meierhans & Koen Nutters, Monica Tormell, Tarvo Varres, Joris Verdoodt, Simon Wald-Lasowski, Henrik Wallin, Eli Walter, Jules van Hal & Amber van den Eeden, Hollie Witchey & John Blackford.

Sound performance during the release at Kulter:

Luva (SE), Cotopaxi (D), Mobile Carrion (NZ), Yellow Socks (DK), Nutters/Avelas (NL/P)

#10 The Sweded Session

Format: Cinema, films on DVD, publication with scripts, edition of 500 copies
Concept: Monica Tormell
Publication design: Jens Schildt and Monica Tormell
Session and exhibition: KRETS, Malmö, Sweden – 9 January to 7 February 2010

For this edition The Session were working around the theme ‘Sweded’, referring to the Gondry movie ‘Be Kind Rewind’, in which the main characters start recreating films using themselves as actors and cheap special effects, calling it ‘a sweded film’.

The Sweded Session can be an imitation, a copy, a paraphrase, a re-make, a new-make, a re-enactment of something (anything) already existing. It can also deal with the direct association with Sweden since the Session is leaving Amsterdam for Malmö for a week; any direct involvement/interpretation of Sweden itself would consequently become something ‘sweded’. The Sweded Session will be executed during the week at KRETS in Malmo and The Session will invite local artists to participate and contribute with works, resulting in a publication and an exhibition.

With contributions by:

Tomas Adolfs, Staffan Björk, Nadine Byrne, Richard Daun, Orpheu de Jong, Aron Fleming Falk, Jens Henricson, Rebecca Larsson, Lina Linde, Kalle Mattsson, Lisa Nyberg, Our Polite Society, Tarja Szaraniec, Monica Tormell, Amber Van den Eeden.

Performance during the release at KRETS:

Moon & Sun

#9 The Last Session

Format: Exhibition & publication, cinema, radio station, lectures, performances, bands and DJs. Publication edition of 1000 copies.
Concept and curating: Jan van Woensel in collaboration with The Session
Publication design: Jens Schildt and Matthias Kreutzer
Exhibition: De Brakke Grond, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – 18 September to 10 October 2009
Radio: www.thelastsessionradio.com (No longer online)

The Last Session – special edition around the theme Endism – is not only a publication, but also takes the form of an exhibition and a release party with cinema, bands and performances among other events.

With contributions by:

Tomas Adolfs, Stephan Balleux, Paulien Barbas, Delphine Bedel, Staffan Björk, YOUNG-HAE CHANG HEAVY INDUSTRIES, Fia Cielen, Christine Clinckx, Martha Colburn, Orpheu de Jong, Hadassah Emmerich, Andrea Galvani, Tony Garifalakis, Joris Ghekiere, ioulex, Experimental Jetset, Gert Jan Kocken, Matthias Kreutzer, Alexandra Leykauf, Jen Liu, Liesbeth Marit, Kalle Mattsson, Oskar Nilsson, Nick Oberthaler, Dear Reader, Rafael Roozendaal, Kalle Runeson, Etta Säfve, Steve Schepens, Jens Schildt, Seher Shah, Helmut Stallaert, Tarja Szaraniec, Monica Tormell, Dennis Tyfus, Philippe Vandenberg, Filip Vervaet, Chad VanGaalen, Anne Wenzel, Fabio Wuytack.

Performances during the opening:

Moon & Sun (NL/SE)(release of 'Apocalypso' 7" vinyl record), Adolf Butler (NL), Ignatz (BE), The 1982 (BE), Jeniferever (SE). DJ-sets by Experimental Jetset (NL) and FNNNN (NL).

Performances during the finnisage:

King Kong Kobra (NL/SE)(release of self titled vinyl LP), Marco & Orpheo (NL), My Little Soundsystem (NL), David Gilmour Girls (NL), Black Meteoric Star (US).

#8 The Amsterdam Session

Format: Offset printed publication, edition of 500 copies
Concept and design: Jens Schildt
Session: ? – 25 April 2009
Release: ?

The alternative guide for our beloved city Amsterdam.

With contributions by:

Monica Tormell, Tomas Adolfs, Staffan Björk, Tarja Szaraniec, Matthias Kreutzer, Kalle Mattsson, Orpheu de Jong, Jacqueline Schoemaker, Karl Nawrot, Bart de Baets, Elise van Iterson.

#7 The Obsession Session

Format: Offset printed publication, edition of 500 copies
Concept & design: Tarja Szaraniec
Session: European Zen Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – 18 January 2009
Release: A4, Amsterdam, The Netherlands - 27 March 2009

"The obsession we know you cant resist, and you dont need to – there's tics that make your legs move, sounds that make your mouth foam, and release!"

With contributions by:

Monica Tormell, Tomas Adolfs, Staffan Björk, Tarja Szaraniec, Matthias Kreutzer, Kalle Mattsson and Orpheu de Jong, Noa Giniger, Johann Kauth, Carl Johan Högberg, Femke Dekker & Nicole Martens.

#6 The Psychedelic Session

Format: Stencil printed publication, edition of 500 copies
Concept & design: Orpheu de Jong
Session: Out there – 24 August 2008
Release: Plan B project space, Amsterdam, The Netherlands - 22 November 2008

"The rainbow has a beard but the picture has a mustache!"

With contributions by:

Monica Tormell, Tomas Adolfs, Staffan Björk, Tarja Szaraniec, Matthias Kreutzer, Kalle Mattsson, Orpheu de Jong, Experimental Jetset, Kalle Runeson, Piet Parra.

#5 The Holiday Session

Format: Photographic slides + audio recordings on CD-r, edition of 200 copies
Concept & design: Tomas Adolfs
Session: Ijmuiden – June 2008
Release: Plan B project space, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – 4 July 2008

"If the keys are missin' – we've gone fishin'..."

With contributions by:

Jens Schildt, Staffan Björk, Monica Tormell, Tomas Adolfs, Tarja Szaraniec, Matthias Kreutzer, Kalle Mattsson, Orpheu De Jong, Magali Reus, Els Moors, Dan Park.

#4 The Secret Session

Format: Document folder that contains paper sheets and photographic images, edition of 200 copies
Concept & design: Kalle Mattsson
Session: Secret location – April 2008
Release: Kunstvlaai, Westerpark, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – 10 May 2008

Innehållet är hemligstämplat!

With contributions by:

Monica Tormell, Tomas Adolfs, Staffan Björk, Tarja Szaraniec, Matthis Kreutzer, Kalle Mattsson, Orpheu de Jong, Jens Schildt, Marco Sterk, Karin Wolters, Geert-Jan Davelaar.

#3 The Weapons & Armour Session

Format: Stencil printed publication, edition of 150 copies
Concept & design: Staffan Björk
Session: André Volten Huis, Amsterdam Noord, The Netherlands – 9 February 2008
Release: De Nieuwe Anita's Molotov Cocktailbar, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – 15 March 2008

A full spectrum presentation of strategies and recipes on weapons and armours.

With contributions by:

Monica Tormell, Tomas Adolfs, Staffan Björk, Tarja Szaraniec, Matthias Kreutzer, Kalle Mattsson, Orpheu De Jong, Jens Schildt, Alexis Holmqvist, Steinunn Marta Jonsdottir, Jonas Ohlsson, Barbara Amalie Skovmand Thomsen.

Performances during the release at DNA:

Minx Pilot & T. Hideous, My Little Soundsystem, Dj Lonely.

#2 The Colour Session

Format: Stencil printed publication, edition of 100 copies
Concept & design: Matthias Kreutzer
Session: Meneer de Wit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – 2 December 2007
Release: Plan B project space, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – 26 January 2008

Seeing red!

With contributions by:

Monica Tormell, Tomas Adolfs, Staffan Björk, Tarja Szaraniec, Matthias Kreutzer, Kalle Mattsson, Orpheu De Jong, Jens Schildt, Katja Mater, Simon Wald-Lasowski, Janneke Raaphorst.

Events during the release at Plan B:

Sound performance by Fyoelk (D), work by Katja Mater.

#1 The Banana Session

Format: Copy shop printed publication, edition of 100 copies
Concept & design: Monica Tormell
Session: André Volten Huis, Amsterdam Noord, The Netherlands – 16 September 2007
Release: Plan B project space, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – 2 November 2007

"Every second month a group of people come together for a session. During this session, that takes a day, they work around a specific theme, using different methods and media, from drawing to research to song writing. There are as few rules as possible in order to keep things open and uncomplicated. Setting borders creates a frame, The Session chooses to remain frame-less and as diverse as the group it consists of.The members of the group are taking turns in choosing the theme to work on, members can invite other people to join a session. The person that picks the theme is also the publisher of the issue and responsible for editing, design and (re-)production. This means that every issue will look different, that every issue will be compiled with a different approach and produced in a different way, testing out formats and techniques. The Session is a flexible container for any kind of content, trusting in the spontaneous quality of its Sunday-afternoon outburst. The Session works proto-democratic which means that who comes late still gets a coffee. The Session is nervous because it just quit smoking."

With contributions by:

Monica Tormell, Tomas Adolfs, Staffan Björk, Tarja Szaraniec, Matthias Kreutzer, Kalle Mattsson, Orpheu de Jong.

Presentations and representation

Art Rotterdam 2015, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Art Brussels 2015, Brussels, Belgium
Offprint 2012, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Kunstvlaai 2008, Westergasfabriek, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Printroom, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Silverman Gallery, Los Angeles, USA
KRETS, Malmö, Sweden
FOAM, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Marres Bookstore, Maastricht, The Netherlands
W139, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Printed Matter, New York, USA
Random Walk, Kyoto, Japan

P.S. You can never leave The Session...