No Man‘s Land – Where Beauty Alone Reigns?

To Icelanders, land has traditionally meant anything from a subjective symbol to the means to material gains. The artwork on show reflect these different ideas as interpreted by different artists at different times.

The exhibition is a part of Reykjavík Art Festival 2018. 

The pieces are by Icelandic artists from various periods, from the original Icelandic painters, when the country and its wilderness were symbols of freedom and independence; to the works of contemporary artists, with references to global discussions on the value of the unspoilt land and the utilisation of resources.

They reflect various ideas of the artists and simultaneously the trends of their period, although the artists’ guiding light remains artistic vision and personal interpretation.

This extensive exhibition contains work by artists who have been influential in Icelandic art history from the beginning of the 20th century to the present time.

Some of the work is brand new, created especially for this exhibition.

It is two-fold; the historic part is in Kjarvalsstaðir but the 21st century artists will be shown in Hafnarhús.

Important questions about the core of the exhibition will also be raised and speculated on in an extensive catalogue and a program running alongside the exhibition.