A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

Nils Bech performing at the launch for PIN–UP 17 (Photo © Carly Gaebe/Steadfast Studio).

A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

Nils Bech performing at the launch for PIN–UP 17 (Photo © Carly Gaebe/Steadfast Studio).

A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

Nils Bech performing at the launch for PIN–UP 17 (Photo © Carly Gaebe/Steadfast Studio).

A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

PIN–UP 17 Launch at Swiss Institute (Photo © Walter Pearce).

A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

PIN–UP 17 Launch at Swiss Institute (Photo © Walter Pearce).

A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

Nils Bech performing at the launch for PIN–UP 17 (Photo © Carly Gaebe/Steadfast Studio).

A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

Guests at the launch for PIN–UP 17 at Swiss Institute (Photo © Carly Gaebe/Steadfast Studio).

A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

Guests at the launch for PIN–UP 17 at Swiss Institute (Photo © Carly Gaebe/Steadfast Studio).

A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

Guests at the launch for PIN–UP 17 at Swiss Institute (Photo © Carly Gaebe/Steadfast Studio).

A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

Guests at the launch for PIN–UP 17 at Swiss Institute (Photo © Carly Gaebe/Steadfast Studio).

A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

Guests at the launch for PIN–UP 17 at Swiss Institute (Photo © Carly Gaebe/Steadfast Studio).

A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

Guests at the launch for PIN–UP 17 at Swiss Institute (Photo © Carly Gaebe/Steadfast Studio).

A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

Guests at the launch for PIN–UP 17 at Swiss Institute (Photo © Carly Gaebe/Steadfast Studio).

A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

Guests at the launch for PIN–UP 17 at Swiss Institute (Photo © Carly Gaebe/Steadfast Studio).

A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

PIN–UP 17 Launch at Swiss Institute (Photo © Walter Pearce).

A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

Guests at the launch for PIN–UP 17 at Swiss Institute (Photo © Carly Gaebe/Steadfast Studio).

A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

Guests at the launch for PIN–UP 17 at Swiss Institute (Photo © Carly Gaebe/Steadfast Studio).

A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

PIN–UP 17 Launch at Swiss Institute (Photo © Walter Pearce).

A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

Guests at the launch for PIN–UP 17 at Swiss Institute (Photo © Carly Gaebe/Steadfast Studio).

A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

Guests at the launch for PIN–UP 17 at Swiss Institute (Photo © Carly Gaebe/Steadfast Studio).

A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

Guests at the launch for PIN–UP 17 at Swiss Institute (Photo © Carly Gaebe/Steadfast Studio).

A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

PIN–UP 17 Launch at Swiss Institute (Photo © Walter Pearce).

A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

Guests at the launch for PIN–UP 17 at Swiss Institute (Photo © Carly Gaebe/Steadfast Studio).

A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

Guests at the launch for PIN–UP 17 at Swiss Institute (Photo © Carly Gaebe/Steadfast Studio).

A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

PIN–UP 17 Launch at Swiss Institute (Photo © Walter Pearce).

A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

Guests at the launch for PIN–UP 17 at Swiss Institute (Photo © Carly Gaebe/Steadfast Studio).

A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

Guests at the launch for PIN–UP 17 at Swiss Institute (Photo © Carly Gaebe/Steadfast Studio).

A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

Guests at the launch for PIN–UP 17 at Swiss Institute (Photo © Carly Gaebe/Steadfast Studio).

A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

PIN–UP 17 After Party at Happy Ending (Photo © Walter Pearce).

A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

PIN–UP 17 After Party at Happy Ending (Photo © Walter Pearce).

A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

PIN–UP 17 After Party at Happy Ending (Photo © Walter Pearce).

A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

PIN–UP 17 After Party at Happy Ending (Photo © Walter Pearce).

A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

PIN–UP 17 After Party at Happy Ending (Photo © Walter Pearce).

A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

PIN–UP 17 After Party at Happy Ending (Photo © Walter Pearce).

A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

PIN–UP 17 After Party at Happy Ending (Photo © Walter Pearce).

A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

PIN–UP 17 After Party at Happy Ending (Photo © Walter Pearce).

A NIGHT OF NORWAY WITH NILS BECH AND BJARNE MELGAARD

The spirit of Norway was present at the Swiss Institute on Wednesday, November 19, 2014, as PIN–UP launched its 17th issue, against the backdrop of the Institute’s inaugural design series Fin de Siècle, curated by Greek-Norwegian architect Andreas Angelidakis. In keeping with the issue’s 40-page Norway Special photographed by Benjamin Alexander Huseby, revelers, including the Consul General of Norway Elin Bergithe Rognlie, were snacking on not-so-traditional Nordic fare (think crab mousse in eggshells and foie gras bonbons) and downing the hearty signature “Nils” cocktail, a potent juniper-infused combination of aquavit and scotch.

The highlight of the evening was a performance by singer Nils Bech, who was specially flown in from Oslo for the occasion to perform two songs from his new album, One Year. His a capella rendition of “I Punish You” left the audience literally speechless while the catchy tune “Shame” continued to run through many heads hours later. Adding a touch of subversion to Bech’s crooning was his outfit and matching life-size doll, borrowed from Norwegian artist and national icon Bjarne Melgaard’s upcoming fashion line, which is set to launch officially in early 2015.

The mood went from whimsical to delightfully whack as party-goers found their way to the recently relaunched Happy Ending nightclub for PIN–UP’s “SERENITY BASH” after-party, co-hosted by Nanu Al-Hamad, Michael Bullock, Simon Castets, De Se, Patrik Ervell, Lafawndah, Analisa Teachworth and of course, Nils Bech. With prosecco flowing, Melgaard made his second debut of the night, this time behind-the-decks deejaying alongside artist Marie Karlberg. The irreverent set, freely mashing the likes of Blondie, Diana Ross, and Gigi D’Agostino, both startled party-goers and had them cutting the rug well into the wee hours.

Black and white photography by Carly Gaebe/Steadfast Studio. Color photography by Walter Pearce.