Your Compound View - Selection from the collection from 1970-2010

Hafnarhús

Parts of the exhibition will be closed from the 25th of August until the 7th of September, due to new exhibitions being installed.

The summer exhibition at Hafnarhús presents a selection of contemporary art from the collections of the Reykjavík Art Museum. A selection of works from 1970-2010 by 50 artists will be in the exhibition. Many of Iceland‘s best-known artists working today are featured in the show, including e.g. Ólafur Elíasson, Ragnar Kjartansson, The Icelandic Love Corporation, Gabríela Friðriksdóttir and Hreinn Friðfinnsson.

The origins of Icelandic contemporary art can be traced back to the rebellion of the “SÚM generation” (SÚM – Association of Young Artists) against the dominant position of abstract painters in Icelandic art in the early 1960s.

That generation introduced innovative ideas into art training and established new connections abroad. That meant that the following generations of artists looked farther afield; and the fifty artists whose work is shown here have pursued postgraduate art studies in no fewer than ten different countries in Europe and North America. Those diverse influences are reflected in the great variety of the exhibition. Many different media are employed, and subjects are highly diverse. The show includes, for instance, site-specific installations, minimalist sculptures, concept art in a range of media, performance-related video art, and works based on research.

Subjects run the gamut from internal meditation on the nature of art to social critique and the deconstruction of received ideas about “the North” and Iceland’s cultural heritage. While Icelandic artists have brought many ideas back with them after their studies abroad, their ideas and approaches have continued to evolve in a new environment on their return to Iceland. The ferment that has taken place, and the discourse which has emerged over the past half-century, have made their mark on Icelandic art – but the diversity is a fact, which this exhibition seeks to bring out.

The Reykjavík Art Museum is Iceland’s largest art collection, comprising about 17,000 works, including a general collection of works by numerous Icelandic and foreign artists, in addition to collections of the works of three leading Icelandic artists: Erró (1932– ), Jóhannes Sveinsson Kjarval (1885–1972) and Ásmundur Sveinsson (1893–1982).

The collections have been acquired thanks to generous gifts from artists and individuals, as well as by purchase of works of art. Curator: Hafþór Yngvason.

Artists:
Anna Líndal (1957-), Ásmundur Ásmundsson (1971-), Birgir Andrésson (1955-2007), Birgir Snæbjörn Birgisson (1966-), Bryndís Snæbjörnsdóttir / Mark Wilson (1955- / 1954-), Daníel Magnússon (1958-), Egill Sæbjörnsson (1973-), Einar Garibaldi Eiríksson (1964-), Erling T.V. Klingenberg (1970-), Gabríela Friðriksdóttir (1971-), Georg Guðni (1961-2011), Gjörningaklúbburinn / The Icelandic Love Corporartion (1996-), Guðný Rósa Ingimarsdóttir (1969-), Guðrún Hrönn Ragnarsdóttir (1956-), Guðrún Vera Hjartardóttir (1966-), Haraldur Jónsson (1961-), Harpa Árnadóttir (1965-), Helgi Þórsson (1975-), Hildur Bjarnadóttir (1969-), Hildur Hákonardóttir (1938-), Hrafnhildur Arnardóttir (1969-), Hreinn Friðfinnsson (1943-), Hulda Hákon (1956-), Hulda Stefánsdóttir (1972-), Inga Svala Þórsdóttir (1966-), Ingibjörg Jónsdóttir (1959-), Ingólfur Arnarsson (1956-), Ívar Valgarðsson (1954-), Jón Gunnar Árnason (1931-1989), Katrín Sigurðardóttir (1967-), Kristján Guðmundsson (1941-), Magnús Pálsson (1929-), Margrét H. Blöndal (1970-), Níels Hafstein (1947-), Olga Bergmann (1967-), Ólafur Elíasson (1967-), Ólafur Lárusson (1954-), Ólafur Ólafsson & Libia Castro (1973- / 1969-), Ólöf Nordal (1961-), Ragna Róbertsdóttir (1945-), Ragnar Kjartansson (1976-), Ráðhildur Ingadóttir (1959-), Sigurður Guðjónsson (1975-), Sigurður Guðmundsson (1942-), Sólveig Aðalsteinsdóttir (1955-), Steingrímur Eyfjörð Kristmundsson (1954-), Tumi Magnússon (1958-), Þorvaldur Þorsteinsson (1960-2013).

Programme:
June-August
Guided tours in English every Thursday at 6 p.m. Saturday 14 June 3 p.m.
Curator‘s talk. Saturday 23 August. Reykjavík Culture Night 2014
Diverse programme in connection with the exhibition..