Reykjavík Grapevine - 16.06.2017, Page 47

An Unconventional
Life
A Birgir Andrésson profile in the making
Words: Johanna Eriksson Photos: Stills from the film
‘Blindrahundur’
Birgir Andrésson documentary
Premieres this fall
Some might know him as the art
scene’s exponent for the relation-
ship between language and per-
ception; others as the great influ-
encer and portrayer of Icelandic
culture and national identity. For
the director and screenwriter
Kristján Loðmfjörð, a meeting
with the renowned Icelandic art-
ist Birgir Andrésson would turn
out to be a starting point for the
making of ‘Blindrahundur’ (“See-
ing-Eye Dog”), a documentary that
discusses Birgir’s life and how his
marginalised upbringing with
blind parents has permeated his
artistic and authentic output.
When Kristján was studying
art in The Netherlands back in
2003, his teacher offered him an
alternative to submitting a writ-
ten assignment: to
create a movie. So,
when he returned
home to Iceland for
Christmas break,
he had his friends
introduce him to
Birgir. After spend-
ing three days along-
side the artist in his
studio, Kristján cre-
ated a twenty-min-
ute video interview.
Though not featured
in ‘Blindrahundur’,
the interview aroused an interest
in Kristján, not only about Birgir’s
work, but about the character be-
hind the art as well.
“Birgir was very well-received,
he had a huge group of friends, you
know,” Kristján explains. “But he
also had this very raw side of his
character. He was working with
this Icelandic heritage and this old
concept of Iceland, but he was also
a country man himself. He was
very genuine, and I think that’s why
people liked him so much, as well
as for his straightforwardness.”
Stories, art, visual
language
And that’s what we get to witness
in this documentary, on which
Kristján started work after Birgir’s
death in 2007. We meet individu-
als who played a role in Birgir’s
life one way or another, and see
the artist through their eyes. It
was not only the fact that Birgir
grew up with blind parents, but
the whole life in that community
that fascinated Kristján. The vi-
sual language of ‘Blindrahundur’
was very important to get right:
it’s the main connection between
the stories and Birgir’s work. “It
was quite challenging, and impor-
tant, to keep the balance between
not imitating Birgir’s work but at
the same time not making his art
into something completely differ-
ent,” Kristján states.
The aesthetics of the documen-
tary are a bit like how Kristján de-
scribes Birgir’s character: raw,and
genuine. One gets a feeling for ru-
ral Iceland in former times, and
it feels quite distant from the co-
lourful, tourist-friendly pictures
we’re fed by today’s media. It also
puts things into perspective—
Birgir’s atypical approach to life
leaves you with some interesting
food for thought.
Asked about the most impor-
tant thing he learned through this
process, Kristján reflects for a sec-
ond. “I think I never
will do a documen-
tary about an artist
again, and I don’t
mean that in a nega-
tive way, but it was
very difficult. But it
was also very pleas-
ant, Birgir was kind
of present the whole
time and it was con-
stantly a dialogue
whether I could do
this or that. It’s very
different from mak-
ing a documentary that’s free-
based and that you can direct com-
pletely.”
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Museums
ÁRBÆR OPEN AIR MUSEM
Daily guided tours
Tours are from 13:00 to 14:00
through its open air exhibits.
• On permanent view
THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ICELAND
'The Making of A Nation'
This exhibition is intended to pro-
vide insight into the history of the
Icelandic nation from Settlement to
the present day.
• On permanent view
REYKJAVÍK CITY MUSEUM
‘Settlement Sagas: Accounts from
Manuscripts’
This exhibition has rarely seen
manuscripts that tell the history of
the settlement of Reykjavík.
• On permanent view
REYKJAVÍK MARITIME MUSEUM
'The Coast Guard Vessel Óðinn'
This vessel sailed through all three
Cod Wars and has also served as a
rescue ship to more than 200 ships.
• On permanent view
'From Poverty to Abundance'
Photos documenting Icelandic
fishermen at the turn of the 20th
century.
• On permanent view
'The History of Sailing'
Iceland’s maritime history that
showcases the growth of the Reyk-
javík Harbour.
• On permanent view
'Seawomen'
The fishing women of Iceland, past
and present.
• On permanent view
VOLCANO HOUSE
The exhibition gives a brief overview
of Iceland’s magnificent nature.
• On permanent view
THE ICELANDIC PHALLOLOGICAL
MUSEUM
Permanent Exhibition
More than 215 penises and penile
parts belonging to land and sea
mammals of Iceland.
• On permanent view
Film
This month's special screenings at Bíó Paradís. For the complete schedule,
visit www.bioparadis.is.
Currently Screening
• Premier: Sing Street
June 16th, 18:00
• Clueless: Party Screening!
June 16th, 20:00
• Peter Pan: National Theatre Live
June 17 & 18 at 20:00
• The Addams Family
June 23rd at 20:00
• Gremlins: Late Night Screening!
June 23th at 22:00
• Regularly Screening:
Knight of Cups, Hidden Figures,
Everybody Wants Some, Of Horses
And Men, Sigur rós Heima, Paterson,
Heartstone, Genius, Jar City, Lion,
Embrace Of The Serpent, Rams
Events
Clueless
“The aesthet-
ics are like
how Kristján
describes
Birgir’s
character—
raw, and
genuine.”
FILM
MORE INFORMATION, OTHER TOURS & BOOKINGS AT:
WWW.STERNATRAVEL.COM OR VISIT OUR SALES DESK AT
HARPA CONCERT HALL DOWNTOWN REYKJAVÍK
GOLDEN CIRCLE &
THE SECRET LAGOON
A perfect combo of sightseeing
& relaxation in a natural lagoon!
Starting time 10:30
Free pick-up from 10:00
Duration 8 - 8,5 hours
PRICE: 12.900 ISK
BOOK
ONLINE &
GET
STERNATR
AVEL .COM
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