Reykjavík Grapevine - 28.05.2004, Síða 15

15the reykjavík grapevineGRAPEVINE IN YOUR POCKET
PASSIONATE ABOUT INTIMACY
Don´t be misled by the picture used in the Reykjavik Festival´s guide, nor
the title ´Confidential’, which is used to introduce Magnús Sigurðarson and
Ragnars Kjartansson´s exhibition at the Listasafn.
Magnús and Ragnar devised the show almost two years ago as a result of
their conversations, which went beyond traditional male bonding and yet,
stopped short of a sexual relationship. They thought about the nature of male
friendship and decided that the purest and most clearly defined example, was
the conversations held by the two common thieves nailed to the crosses either
side of Jesus on Golgatha.
The show is in two rooms. The first features a number large black and white
images of the two artists naked in poses culled stright from Renaissance im-
ages of the Pieta, the bathing of Christs´ wounds as he´s been cut down from
the cross. This is traditionally an example of male/female tenderness, but is
here performed by two men. The photographer Kristján Sigurðsson needs
special mention, they are fine images. Under each picture a song, written
and performed by Ragnar is played - it is a soft, haunting melody played in a
loop.
The second room features an hour long reel of the two artists, this time in
loinclothes, strapped to crosses. A third pair of feet dangle unambiguously
between them. Here they discuss their family, their friends, their fears and
their worries, seemingly unaware of the discomfort they must undoubtedly be
experiencing.
Somewhere between Mel Gibson´s Passion of the Christ and Monty
Python´s Life of Brian, but making a point advanced by neither, this exhibi-
tion draws on traditional subject matter and gives it a new and intriguing
slant.
Photo by Goddur