By Sara Evans | Featured in the Fall 2014 Issue – Art Of The Times
Iceland is an extraordinary country. It is a land of rough mountains, sweeping glaciers, and erupting volcanoes. From October 10 through January 10, Scandinavia House in New York City hosts a visionary exhibition. Titled Iceland: Artists Respond to Place, this multimedia event celebrates a unique country.
The exhibition features 12 of Iceland’s leading contemporary artists. Their 22 works cover a broad range of mediums, including painting, photography, and video installations.
A Dynamic Landscape
Icelanders have a heightened awareness of their environment. Consequently, they view their country as a dynamic, living entity. With its intense contrasts, the austere landscape functions as both inspiration and material.
This exhibit explores the complex relationship between the artist and the geography. Like all the country’s inhabitants, these artists are attuned to perpetual environmental flux. They respond to shifting geologic plates and the alternating rhythms of light and dark.
Featured Artists
Curated by Pari Stave, this exhibition offers a composite impression of a country like no other. It features the work of renowned artists. Notably, the roster includes Olafur Eliasson, Egill Sæbjörnsson, and Katrín Sigurdardóttir.
Other featured talents include Birgir Andrésson, Rúrí, and Eggert Pétursson. Each artist responds to the unique qualities of their home in his or her own way.
Myth and Memory
Many of the works explore the intense contrasts of the land. However, they address more than just physical features. The Iceland: Artists Respond to Place exhibition also delves into history, memory, and myth.
With its fiery volcanoes and glacial ice caps, the beauty of Iceland offers itself up in these works. Ultimately, this is an exhibit that both intrigues and illuminates. It is an event not to be missed.
