Mentor: Ásmundur Sveinsson and Carl Milles

Milles was among Sweden’s most prominent sculptors in the 20th century and was Ásmundur’s main teacher during his six years of study in Stockholm. Milles created with fantastic and sophisticated technique and shared the extensive knowledge he had of different trends and styles, ancient art and of art from various nations with his students. He encouraged his students to keep motivated by continually learning and intellectual curiosity. Milles greatly influenced Ásmundur, who claimed that Milles had guided him into art’s world of form.

The works by Ásmundur that have been selected for this exhibition bear a relation to Milles’ works. The effect that the mentor had on his student is evident, but moreover, it is clear how Ásmundur absorbed this knowledge and developed in his own way. This exhibition is in collaboration with Millesgården in Stockholm, who lent the works of Carl Milles that are exhibited here.

Ásmundur Sveinsson was born at Kolsstaðir in Dalasýsla in 1893, a true country boy for the first part of his life. He lived there with his parents and siblings until he was 22 years old, and in those days, the district was remote and had limited access to art and images. Long days were spent tending to animals, haymaking, harvesting and on other daily farmwork. However, something within Ásmundur made him interested in arts. Although the countryside lacked artworks, he grew up with handcrafts and beautiful things as his father was a good carpenter and his mother known for her weaving. This undoubtedly influenced the young Ásmundur’s interest in crafts and carving in particular. He was not cut out to be a farmer, and was well aware of that, his heart lay in creating, carving and forming.

In 1915, Ásmundur moved to Reykjavík to study woodcarving with Ríkarður Jónsson for the next four years. Following his journeyman’s examination, he wanted to study more and develop free art creation and plastic arts. After a short stay in Copenhagen in autumn 1919, he moved to Stockholm. In autumn 1920, he passed the entrance examination for the Royal Art Academy (Kungliga konsthögskolan) and started formal art education under the guidance of Carl Milles who had recently been appointed to the academy.

Carl Milles’ legacy is enormous, he created numerous large works in public spaces that can be seen all over Sweden. Milles was an ambitious artist who was inspired by Greek and Roman mythology and Swedish literary heritage. He created huge sculptures from granite or bronze that are located in fountains, on tall pillars or plinths where they tower magnificently into the sky. A common subject of his was the interaction of mythical creatures and animals such as dolphins or horses, and motion was a constant motif. Milles was educated in Paris, with the important French sculptor Auguste Rodin, and before that he had studied wood carving, like Ásmundur. Milles was a productive teacher, first at the Royal Art Academy in Stockholm 1920-31 and later at the Cranbrook Institute in USA 1931-45, where he lived from 1929. Works from his later years are preserved there.

Both Ásmundarsafn and Millesgården reflect the artists’ view that art belongs with the people and should not be restricted to a few to enjoy. They sought to install their works in public spaces and opened their hearts, their art and their life’s toil up to their fellow people in the two countries. The largest part of the outdoor artworks in Reykjavík are created by Ásmundur Sveinsson; sculptures in open areas and bas-reliefs on buildings, and his work can also be seen around the country.