Exhibition Opening: No Man‘s Land – Where Beauty Alone Reigns? Saturday 2 June at 12h00 at Kjarvalsstaðir and at 15h00 at Hafnarhús

Works by more than thirty Icelandic artists are displayed on the exhibition No Man’s Land – Where Beauty Alone Reigns? which is Reykjavík Art Museum’s largest exhibition this year. This extensive exhibition will open at Kjarvalsstaðir on 2 June at 12h00 and later the same day at 15h00 in Hafnarhús, along with the opening ceremony of Reykjavík Arts Festival.

Writers Andri Snær Magnason and Elísabet Kristín Jökulsdóttir will open the exhibition. They both write interesting articles in the exhibition’s catalogue that display the exhibition’s challenges in different ways.

The title of the exhibition No Man’s Land – Where Beauty Alone Reigns? refers to the Icelandic highlands and the Icelanders’ ideas of remote wilderness unspoilt by man. People’s ideas of the highlands have changed and access has greatly improved but the idea of them being untouched – that they are devoid of people – is still being promoted. These and other notions about the Icelandic wilderness have been reflected by artists in their work and shaped the public attitude towards the highlands.

The exhibition’s historical part can be found at Kjarvalsstaðir, with photos and paintings of the highlands. Works by Ásgrímur Jónsson, Eiríkur Smith, Finnur Jónsson, Guðmundur Einarsson from Miðdalur, Guðrún Kristjánsdóttir, Jóhannes S. Kjarval, Jón Stefánsson, Júlíana Sveinsdóttir, Kristinn Pétursson, Kristín Jónsdóttir, Ragnheiður Jónsdóttir Ream, Stefán Jónsson Stórval, Sveinn Þórarinsson, Þorbjörg Höskuldsdóttir and Þórarinn B. Þorláksson.

Hafnarhús has works by nineteen contemporary artists who each deals with the wilderness in their own fashion: Anna Líndal, Einar Falur Ingólfsson, Einar Garibaldi Eiríksson, Georg Guðni Hauksson, Hallgerður Hallgrímsdóttir, Hekla Dögg Jónsdóttir, Húbert Nói Jóhannesson, Katrín Sigurðardóttir, Kristinn E. Hrafnsson, Ólafur Elíasson, Ósk Vilhjálmsdóttir, Pétur Thomsen, Ragna Róbertsdóttir, Rúrí, Sigurður Guðjónsson, Steinunn Gunnlaugsdóttir and Unnar Örn J. Auðarson.

The exhibition is curated by Reykjavík Art Museum’s curatorial team. As well as publishing a catalogue the museum offers an extensive programme along with the exhibition. Further information can be found on the museum´s webpage; www.artmuseum.is/events.

The exhibition is a part of Reykjavík Arts Festival and a part of a programme celebrating Iceland’s 100 years of sovereignty. The exhibition is supported by Pálmi Jónsson Nature Fund and the Museum Council of Iceland.