Kim Jakobsen To
(He/him)
Address: Grenseveien 9E, 0571 Oslo
Floor: 3
Room number: Ringeklokke 302
The studio is open Saturday 26 April from 12-17
Kim Jakobsen To is a Norwegian photographer based in London since 2005. His work is mainly revolving around group identity and subculture. Interested in the performance of the self, he is looking at communities such as cosplayers, historical re-enactors and spiritual groups where the notion of identity is split between everyday utilitarian lives and utopian dreams. Recently he has also been exploring his relationship to his father, and his Chinese-Vietnamese heritage. Themes revolving around refugees, spirituality and migration is also touched upon in these works. In addition to photography Jakobsen To is also increasingly working with sculpture and performance.
Photography, sculpture, video, performance
“Sacrifice of the one-legged”, Kim Jakobsen Tô, sculpture, 19x10x10 cm, 2024, Billedkunstnere i Oslo, photo by Jonas Carlsen
“Closing Performance from Passport Tô Heaven”, Kim Jakobsen Tô, performance, 2024, Sorgenfri, detail shot.
“Installation shot from Passport Tô Heaven”, Kim Jakobsen Tô, photography and clay & incense sculpture , 2024, Sorgenfri
“Kleanse II”, Branches, sage, underwear from Kristian Jänkale, Thomas De Kluyver, Valentin Senac, Hamish Wirgman, Alejandro Villa Duran & the artist, wool yarn, leather, shoelaces, archival photograph 70x100 cm. “Kim Jakobsen Tô, 2024, Billedkunstnerne i Oslo, photo by Jonas Carlsen
In my studio
I am currently working on an installation for a group show, using textiles, leather, photography and video to make several pieces. The studio will have work in progress as well as research, which is a big part of my process. There will also be mock ups and test prints for an upcoming book project shot in Mexico City, maybe even a performance. Tea and snacks will be served.
Planned projects and exhibitions
Blaker Kunstskanse, cuarated by Bjørn Hatterud, June 2025.
“Cedar Dreams”, monograph published by Queer Street Press, 2025.
CV
Education
BA Photography, University for the Creative Arts, Farnham, UK. 2005-2008
Head of course Anna Fox. Other teachers and visiting lecturers include: Jason Evans, Martin Parr, Adam Broomberg & Oliver Chanarin, Sunil Gupta, Karen Knorr, Kathy Kubicki, Emmanuelle Wackerle, Richard Billingham, Sarah Pickering.
Short Courses:
“Publish Your Photography Book”: Mary Virginia Swanson & Darius D. Himes, La Luz Workshops, online, 2023
“Painting with Oil”: Jerónimo Rüedi, Ana Segovia & Allan Villavicencio, their studio, Mexico City, Mexico, 2022
“Voice as Practice”: Meredith Monk & Eileen Fisher, Garrison Institute, New York, US, 2017
Exhibited
Solo shows
“Passport Tô Heaven”, Sorgenfri, Oslo, 2024
“La Balada de Berlin”, Berlin 7, Mexico City, Mexico, 2023
Group shows
“Truth & Chaos, Judith Bernstein”, The Vitrine curated by Queer Street Press,, Emalin, London, UK, 2024
“Oslo City 24”, BO, Oslo, Norway, 2024
“Time Will Tell, She Already Does”, Hordaland Kunstsenter, Bergen, Norway 2023 (collaboration with Siv Støldal)
“Contemporary British Photography”, Rosphoto, St. Petersburg, Russia, 2022 (opened pre-war)
“Queer Direct”, The Shop at Sadie Coles, London, UK, 2022 (Under collective “Declined & Deceased”)
“Eternad Pubertad”, Paos, Guadalajara, Mexico, 2021
“Sarah Statons’ Supastore”, South London Gallery, London, UK, 2021 (Under collective “Declined & Deceased”)
“Superpositions”, Staffordshire Street Studios Gallery, London UK, 2021
“Declined & Deceased”, St Matthew’s Church Gardens, London UK, 2020 (Under collective “Declined & Deceased”)
“Without You My Life Would Be Boring”, Staffordshire Street Studios Gallery, London UK, 2020
“Komono Signature”, Cityworkers, Antwerpen, Belgium, 2018
“Field/s One”, Sluice HQ, London, UK, 2018
“Uncontaminated”, Oslo, Norway, 2016
“Goddag Mann!, the collection of Geir Haraldseth”, Rogaland Kunstsenter, Stavanger, Norway, 2015
“Norwegian Fashion Photography Now”, DOGA, Oslo, Norway, 2014
“Komakino”, Candy, Tokyo, Japan, 2009
“210x297”, Canon sponsored city-wide exhibition, Hong Kong, 2008
“Miscellaneous 35”, The Truman Brewery, London, UK, 2008
“Cream Of The Crop”, Galley One, Surrey, UK, 2008
“Act Art 5”, London, UK, 2008
Grants, Awards, Residencies & misc.
Oslo City summer residency, Podium Gallery, Oslo, Norway 2024
Visiting Lecturer in BA Photography, University for the Creative Arts, Farnham Campus, UK, 2023
Residency at LevyVilla, Sayula, Mexico, 2022
Speaker at ‘Photography & Style’ workshop with Cumbira LBGT Centre, Carlisle, UK, 2018 (British Arts Council funded)
Speaker at ‘Photography & Mask Making’ workshop with Hayton Castle Fields, Cumbira, UK, 2018 (British Arts Council funded)
Portrait of Britain Award, British Journal of Photography, UK, 2018
”F/Fields”, Artquest Peer Group, The Photographers Gallery, London, UK, 2017-18
Speaker at “Canon Summer Camp”, Oslo, Norway, 2015
Residency at National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, India, 2008
Prime Ministers Initiative Award 2 (PMI2), British Art Council, UK, 2008
SpareBank 1 Student Grant Award, SpareBank 1, Norway, 2008
Speaker at “Portray Me”, symposium with Anna Fox, at Roffey Park, UK. 2008
Speaker at “Everyday Drama", symposium with Susan Lipper, Ewan Spencer & Anna Fox at The Maltings, UK, 2008
Press:
Photoworks, British Journal of Photography, Its Nice That, Tableau, D2, VG, BLIKK, Wonderland, Revista Metal, A New Type of Imprint.
Publications:
“The Candy Book of Transversal Creativity”, by Luis Venegas, published by Rizzoli, 2020
“Portrait of Britain”, published by Hoxton Mini Press, 2018
“Grafill 25 år”, published by Grafill, 2016
“PUDDER”, published by Pudder Agency, 2014
“Art & Fashion; Between Skin and Dress”, published by Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg, 2011
“Post-Porn Politics: Queer Feminist Perspective on the Politics of Porn Performance and Sex-Work as Culture Production” by Tim Stuttgen, Published by Bbooks Verlag, 2009
Performances
Gallery Gayah, Oslo, Norway 2024
“Kin Symposium”, London, UK, 2019 (performing for and with Alejandro Villa Duran)
“MUNCH/Trollkrem”, Pride parade fleet, Norway 2018 (with Tor Erik Bøe, Goro Tronsmo)
‘Theo Adams Company’ , Brit Awards, Hammersmith Apollo, London, UK, 2007 (performing with Theo Adams & Gwendoline Christie)
“Art of Living: Hells Angels MC 10 years in Oslo”, Nasjonalmuseet, Tullinløkka, Oslo, Norway 2006
“Mr. EuroTrash Norway”, Hotel Bristol, Oslo Norway, 2005 (performance for Baron Von Bulldog, featured on EuroTrash season 16)
“Performance Vulgeriis”, Kraftwerk, Oslo, Norway, 2004 (as Performance Vulgeriis)
‘Club Lestat’, Vaskeriet, Kristiansand, Norway, several shows from 2002-2004 (as Performance Vulgeriis)
“Fluid”, ‘Club Detox’, Sørlandets Kunstmuseum, Kristiansand, Norway, 2004 (performer in Shu Lea Cheang’s “Fluid”)
Press and Publications for performance and events:
NRK, VG, Dagbladet, Fædrelandsvennen, Vårt Land, Østlandsposten, Ballade, Eurotrash, RadiOrakel, Attitude, BLIKK, D2, TimeOut, Vogue, Dazed & Confused, Showstudio,