“I’ve never seen figurative electricity”

“I’ve taken the liberty of making a non-figurative image of electricity, because I’ve never seen figurative electricity”. Ásmundur Sveinsson

Ásmundur Sveinsson (1893-1982) was a pioneer of Icelandic sculptural art. After classical art-academy training, he worked in conventional materials in the early decades of his career, but in the 1950s he moved away from the figurative approach that had characterised his art, to make increasing use of abstract imagery. His subjects became less tangible, as he addressed such concepts as life force and electricity. Unconventional materials became prominent in his art, often determining the outcome of the piece; and at the same time he adopted a freer approach to working directly with the material. Following these changes Ásmundur focussed increasingly on the internal and external space of his works, and how they activate the space that surrounds them. The work is not only the work itself, but the light that plays on it.

Experimentation in formal thinking is shared by all the artists represented in the exhibition – whether in three-dimensional sculpture as such, or abstract spatial works. Delicate compositions of visual ideas are brought together in a rhythmic pulse, uniting into a finely-focussed resonance that may be said to echo around the building.

Hrafnhildur Halldórsdóttir (b. 1973), Áslaug Í. K. Friðjónsdóttir (b. 1981) and Ingunn Fjóla Ingþórsdóttir (b. 1976) grapple with the surrounding space, while the works of Baldur Geir Bragason (b. 1976), Sólveig Einarsdóttir (b. 1975) and Þuríður Rós Sigurþórsdóttir (b. 1975) address sculpture as such, or the three-dimensional object. Found materials are generally the focus of works by Þór Sigurþórsson (b. 1977), Björk Viggósdóttir (b. 1982) and Ragnar Már Nikulásson (b. 1985). Garments, bits of technical equipment, and other tools and utensils transcend their everyday function to evoke, by the way they are presented, unexpected associations in the observer’s mind

The juxtaposition of works of Ásmundur Sveinsson with contemporary art highlights the experimentalism of two different eras.

Artists:

Áslaug Í. K. Friðjónsdóttir (born 1981)
Áslaug graduated with a BA degree from the Iceland Art Academy in 2006 and with a Masters degree from School of Visual Arts, New York in 2009.
Selected exhibitions: 2012, The Space of Painting, Akureyri Art Museum // 2011,  Festisvall 2, Artíma gallery, Reykjavik // 2009, A New Currency, 55 Delancey Street, New York // 2009,  Work Out, OTOM Gym, Brooklyn, NY // 2009, Exhaust Exhaus,  The Compound Warehouse, Philadelphia // 2009, Cardsharper, The Visual Arts Gallery, Chelsea, NYC // 2008, Sjónheyrn project,  Skaftfell Center for Art, Seyðisfjordur //  2006, group exhibition, Klink & Bank, Reykjavik // 2005, Break, Sigurjón Ólafsson Art Museum, Reykjavik.

Baldur Geir Bragason (born 1976)
Baldur graduated with a BA degree from the Iceland Art Academy in 2001 and with a Masters degree from the sculpture department at Kunsthochschule Berlin, Germany in 2008.
Selected exhibitions: 2013, solo exhibition, Kunstschlager gallery, Reykjavik // 2012, Pleasure and Functionality, LÁ Art Museum, Hveragerdi // 2011, Banners (solo exhibition), Gallery Sudsudvestur, Reykjanesbær // 2011, Perspectives, Reykjavik Art Museum, Reykjavik // 2011, Expanded painting, Prague biennale 4, Prague // // 2008, Superficiality (solo exhitition) kling og bang, Reykjavik // 2008, Noname, Gallery Ackerstrasse 18, Berlin // 2007, Torstrasse 111, Berlin // 2006, Karin Sander, Audiotour, Schirn Kunsthalle, Frankfurt.

Björk Viggósdóttir (born 1982)
Björk graduated with a BA degree from the Iceland Art Academy in 2006 and has since participated in various art events within the visual arts, theater, music and dance.
Selected exhibitions: 2013, Gravity (solo exhibition), Hafnarborg – Center of Culture and Fine Art, Hafnarfjordur // 2012, Party, Yunnan Contemporary, Kunming, China // 2012, Zinkovy International Arts Festival, Zinkovy, Czeck Republic // 2012,  Soundscape (circadian), MMX- Berlin Gallery Week, Berlin // 2011, Kites (solo exhibition), Reykjavik Art Museum, Reykjavik // 2010, Fresh Meat, in collaboration with choreographers Sigríður Soffía Níelsdóttir and Snædís Ingadóttir, Rose Theater, London and Leikhúsbatteríð, Reykjavík // 2006, Bakkynjur, National Theater, Reykjavik.

Hrafnhildur Halldórsdóttir (born 1973)
Hrafnhildur graduated with a BA degree from the frá Glasgow School of Art in 2001 and  MFA degree from the same school in 2007. Priorly she studied art and photography in Denmark (1997-1998, Fine Art Photography, K.U.B.A., Copenhagen and 1996, Fine Art, Kunsthøjskolen, Holbæk, Denmark). She lives and works in Glasgow, Scotland.
Selected exhibitions: 2013, Riff (part of Ten Days of Summer) Queens Park Railway Club // 2012, I put a spell on you (solo exhibition), Infernoesque project space, Berlin // 2010, Fever (solo exhibition), Glasgow Project Room, Glasgow // 2008 , ‘cos I love and I live primitive’ (solo exhibition), Galleri Box, Gothenburg // 2008, A. Vermin at The State Bar, Glasgow International, Glasgow // 2006, Zig-Zag Wanderer (solo exhibition), Overgaden Institute for Contemporary Art, Copenhagen // 2004, Look out for my Love, it’s in your neighbourhood, Intermedia Gallery, Glasgow and Gallerí Hlemmur, Reykjavik // 2002, No, it’s not a case of being lonely we have here, I’ve been working on this palmtree for eighty-seven years, NIFCA project space, Suomenlinna, Helsinki.

Ingunn Fjóla Ingþórsdóttir (born 1976)
Ingunn graduated with a BA degree from the Iceland Art Academy in 2007. Priorly she studied painting at the Icelandic Art School (1998-1999) and a BA degree in Art History from the Aarhus University in 2002. She is a part of the artist duo Hugsteypa with Þórdís Jóhannesdóttir.
Selected exhibitions: 2013, Songs of Art, Reykjanes Art Museum, Keflavik // 2012, Pleasure and Functionality, LÁ Art Museum, Hveragerdi // 2011, Four Rooms, Centre for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle, Poland // 2011, Painting Overall, Prague Biennale, Czech Republic // 2010, Prisms (solo exhibition), Hafnarborg – Center of Culture and Fine Art, Hafnarfjordur // 2009, ARTVILNIUS´09, Contemporary International Art Fair, Vilnius, Litháen (Hugsteypan) // 2009, MINJAR, Natural History Museum of Kópavogur (Hugsteypan) // 2008, Painting Site (solo exhibition), Cuxhavener Kunstverein, Cuxhaven, Germany // 2008, Aurora Borealis, Magnetism and Light, Spedition, Bremen, Germany// 2006, Hotspo(r)t,  Kunstverein Springhornhof, Neuenkirchen, Germany.

Ragnar Már Nikulásson (born 1985)
Ragnar Már is currently working towards a Masters degree in Fine Art from the Iceland Art Academy. Previously he graduated from the department of graphic design in 2010, from same school.
Selected exhibitions: TROPOP 3.0,  Artíma gallery, Reykjavik // 2013, PASTÍS 11/11, National Art Gallery Listasafn Íslands // 2013, Intertwined, Einar Jónsson Art Museum, Reykjavik // 2012, and unrestrained lust (solo exhibition), Kling og bang, Reykjavik // 2012, FESTISVALL 3.5, Artíma gallery, Reykjavík // 2012, Hidden (solo exhibition), Kling og bang, Reykjavík // 2011, School of Senses, Kling og bang, Reykjavik // 2011, Tropikal Optikal, Lunga festival, Seyðisfjordur // 2011, Trolley presents TJ Boulting presenting Kling & Bang, TJ Boulting, London.

Sólveig Einarsdóttir (born 1975)
Sólveig graduated with a BA degree from the Iceland Art Academy in 2003 and later with a MFA degree from Glasgow School of Art, 2010. She lives and works in Glasgow, Scotland.
Selected exhibitions: 2012, White Light, Arch 24, Glasgow // 2012, Sum of substance, Jotta at AAF, London // 2010, Be the Hammer or the Anvil, Generator Projects, Dundee // 2010, Definate Article, Artnews Projects c/o Bethanien, Berlin // 2009, Interim exhibition, Mackintosh Gallery, Glasgow // 2007, Sfumatura Palindrome, A. Vermin, Glasgow // 2007, And the He Likes the Me, Transmission gallery, Glasgow // 2006, Project Patterson, Gallery Suðsuðvestur // 2006, Likimain, Jetty Barracks Gallery, Helsinki // 2005, Berliner Liste, Berlin.

Þór Sigurþórsson (born 1977)
Þór graduated with a BA degree from the Iceland Art Academy in 2002 as well as studying at  auk BA in Academy Der Bildenden Kunste, Vienna. In 2008 he graduated with an MFA degree from School of Visual Arts, New York.
Selected exhibitions: 2013, Skjáblinda (solo exhibition), Gallery Þoka, Reykjavík // 2013, Parlor Show, Smiðjuvegur 10, Reykjavik // 2013, Calculated Sustainability Without Decisions, Grandagardur, Reykjavík // 2012-2013, Johnny´s #1-2, Johnny´s Project (with Darri Lorenzen and Örn Helgason), Reykjavík // 2010, Material Reciprocity, Possible Projects, New York // 2010, A Minus Suitcase, Jack the Pelican, New York // 2009, Material Reciprocity, Possible Projects, New York // Vector: Issue 2, Max Protecht Gallery, New York // 2008, Missing Dumby Project, 12th Annual DUMBO, Art Under the Bridge Festival, Brooklyn, NY // 2008, C´mon Shake It!- AH AH Check It! OOH OOH, Massimo Audiello-New York // 2008, Left and Leaving, Visual Arts Gallery, New York // 2006, Pow Wow, Gallery Banananas, Reykjavik // 2005, Grassroad, Living Art Museum, Reykjavik // 2005, Krútt, Living Art Museum, Reykjavik.

Þuríður Rós Sigurþórsdóttir (born 1975)
Þuríður graduated with an MFA degree from School of Visual Arts, New York in 2008. Previously she studied fashion design at Central St. Martins College of Art and Design, London where she graduated in 2000. She lives and works in New York and is a member in the design collective Vík Prjónsdóttir.
Selected exhibitions: 2013, Vík Prónsdóttir & Eley Kishimoto, DesignMarch, Reykjavik // 2012, The Other Side (solo exhibition), Hafnarborg – Center of Culture and Fine Art, Hafnarfjordur // 2011, Nordic Fashion Biennale, Nordic Heritage Museum, Seattle // 2011, Chinese take Out, Art In General, New York // 2010, Hidden World, Spark Design Space, Reykjavik // 2010, Possible Press Project, New York // 2009, Ripped From Something Bigger, Skaftfell Art Center, Seyðisfjordur // 2009, No Soul For Sale, X-Initiative, New York // 2009, Work Out, Otom, Brooklyn, New York // 2008, C’mon shake it! Ah ah check it! Ooh ooh!, Massimo Audiello Gallery, New York // 2008, 100% Design, Tokyo, Japan // 2007, Scandinavian Grace, New York // 2007, Magma/Kvika, Reykjavik Art Museum - Kjarvalsstaðir, Reykjavík // 2003, Circuit, Museum of Contemporary Art, Barcelona.