Jenny Nordberg

Tricks From Nowhere

I was labeled as a tricky player early on and have been regarded as tricky throughout my whole career. It was said that I was able to pull out tricks from nowhere.

Judith Polgár

Tricks From Nowhere is a large scale chess game developed specifically for Sergels Torg in Stockholm by Jenny Nordberg in 2024. The chess consists of 32 individual sculptures all resembling the classic chess piece set up. The playing style and manner of chess master Judtih Polgár have been the starting point for both the design and production of the pieces. Polgár is known for her tactical and aggressive style of play, where she likes to set things up for the opponent by acting as unexpectedly as possible. She is a calculating player who allows a planned strategy to be accompanied by disruptions of the moment. Judith Polgár is skeptical about the use of computers in chess because they can’t be manipulated psychologically. Therefore, as much as possible of the manufacturing of the chess was made in an analog way and without the involvement of digital technologies. The production has also been influenced by Polgár’s aggressive and fast approach. Wood has been split with an ax, clay has been thrown and shaped, fire has been used as a finish and brutality has been the in the center of the aesthetics. However, some elements have been bought ready-made so that the production does not fully take place as expected. The various manufacturing processes have been planned in advance, but expressions and results have been shaped in the moment.

The chessboard occupies an area of five by five meters. All 32 chess pieces are unique and composed of different elements of oak, pine and clay. The squares in the playing field itself are made of recycled rubber.