Hrafn­kell Sigurðs­son: X

Each artist is chosen for their unique contribution and specialization in terms of media, methods, and subject matter. This positioning is reflected in the presentation of key works from different periods in the West Gallery, accompanied by a catalogue that places the artist’s career in the context of art history and the present day.

Hrafnkell’s works often highlight contrasts – between order and chaos, culture and nature. He draws attention to how human systems confront natural decay, revealing beauty in what is often overlooked: rubbish, worn surfaces, and the transience of everyday life. Though his works frequently emerge from inorganic environments, he manages to evoke a deep connection to the human body. His art is at once poetic and conceptual, yet also charged with a mysterious and almost magical energy.

The exhibition presents an overview of more than three decades of the artist’s practice, while also featuring new and previously unseen works.

Born in Reykjavík in 1963, Hrafnkell Sigurðsson studied at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts before continuing at the Jan van Eyck Academie in Maastricht. In 2002 he received an MFA from Goldsmiths, University of London. Photography has been his primary medium since 1990, although his practice also encompasses video, sculpture, and installation. As a young artist, he was a member of the multidisciplinary art collective Oxsmá, known for its performances and short films.