STARA - 14.11.2015, Side 56

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In 1994 a large exhibition was
held at Kjarvalsstaðir under the
title Sculpture/Sculpture/Sculp-
ture. It showcased works by
30 young artists, with the aim
being to examine the strength
of sculpture in Icelandic con-
temporary art. The preceding
decade had seen an upheaval in
painting and concept art, while
contemporary art had finally
been accepted by museums
and the public alike. Young
artists probably found it old-
fashioned to define their work
as sculpture, but the exhibition
proved that many of them were
working on pieces that thrived
extremely well in this context.
Their works were powerful and
original, and elicited the feeling
that the exhibition marked a
new beginning.
Now, a new exhibition series
has been launched at Gerðar-
safn, called Sculpture/Sculpture
which, like the plan at Kjarvals-
staðir 20 years earlier, is meant
to “examine the status of sculp-
ture as a medium in Icelandic
contemporary art”. Instead of
one large collaborative exhi-
bition, many smaller private
exhibitions will be held which
will allow the artists to work
on a smaller scale, presenting
more cohesive works. First up
are Habby Osk and Baldur Geir
Bragason, who both focus on
sculpture and have received at-
tention in the last year for their
original approaches.
Habby Osk creates works which
transform time, and by at-
tending the exhibition repeat-
edly the guests can witness this
transformation. Long planks
of wood are raised against a
wall, not directly but resting
on clear, blown up plastic bal-
loons. The air leaks slowly out
of the balloons, making the
planks shift in position. Before
the exhibition is over, there is
every chance all the planks will
have fallen. This large installa-
tion takes up most of the hall
but smaller works highlight the
versatility of Habby Osk’s art.
She has also worked with wax
and done performance art. In
this exhibition there is also a
video art work, where a clear
plastic balloon comes into play
thereby connecting the sculp-
ture installation to the artist’s
performance art. As a result
it becomes a type of sculpture
performance art.
The emphasis in these pieces
is first and foremost on the
process and the transformation,
although they embody a certain
formalistic quality. The planks
against the wall are painted ac-
Sculpture/Sculpture:
Habby Osk and
Baldur Geir Bragason
Jón Proppé