Reykjavík Grapevine - 24.06.2005, Qupperneq 36

36
Gullpensillinn
(The Gold Brush)
The main space of the gallery, with its high,
white walls and spacious windows, is an ideal
space for showing work. On the other hand, one
smaller room in the back should probably be
converted into a storage room: unused tracks for
lighting in the ceiling, as well as three air vents
in one wall distract from whatever piece is being
displayed in the small space. The space in the
basement, however, has no such distractions.
Currently showing is a group exhibition
of eleven artists called, “Gullpensillinn” (“The
Gold Brush”), an intriguing showing with mixed
results. Two unfortunate choices greet visitors
as they walk in: “Birthday Table,” a kitschy,
amateurish painting of Halloween candy by Þorri
Hringsson on one wall, and two washed-out,
roughly done paintings of shirts from the series
“Blonde Doctors,” by Birgir Snæbjörn on the
opposite wall. Some stronger pieces from the
main gallery space – and there are many in this
exhibition – would have been a wiser choice for a
first impression.
For example, Kristinn Gunnlaugsdóttir –
best known for religiously themed paintings such
as “The Virgin with Child,” which adorns the
church in Stykkishólmur – makes a successful
departure with “Landscape at Night,” two
powerful fantasy landscape pieces. Sigtryggur
Baldvinsson has two enormous abstract
watercolours, “Giardini Publichi nr 32 and 33,”
that employ an intricacy that draws observers
into the piece before they even realize it.
Sigurður Árni Sigurðsson’s piece – six molecular
forms in bright colours entitled “Situation” – is
playful and humorous.
The basement space, while not a part of
the exhibition, includes some stand-out works
such as “64°09’21”N 22°00’36”W 286° True
North,” a dark, haunting landscape by Húbert
Nói Jóhannesson and two untitled, remarkable
abstracts by Kristinn Már, whose use of texture
and Byzantine colour schemes are reminiscent of
Gustav Klimt.
The gallery has a separate room of such classic
Icelandic artists as Georg Guðni, Kristín
Jónsdóttir, and others, including a rare and
uncharacteristic pencil drawing by Icelandic
master Kjarval.
Gullpensillinn’s exhibition might lack
a single, unifying concept, but the overall
impression one gets is that this is a showing
worth repeated visits.
Turpentine Gallery, Ingólfsstræti 5, 101 Reykjavík
Open Tues.-Fri., 12:00-18:00, Sat., 11:00-16:00.
Sveinn will open the gallery for those who call ahead
outside of hours operation: tel: 690-0931.
www.turpentine.is Or email: sveinn@turpentine.is.
By Paul F Nikolov
Turpentine is a relatively new gallery,
opened just last February by carpenter
Sveinn Thorhallsson. “I’ve been
interested in art for 15 years,” he told
me,”and when I saw this house I jumped
for it.”