Reykjavík Grapevine - 13.07.2018, Síða 42

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The
Transformative
Quality of Paper
The latest Harbinger Exhibition sheds light
on the constant transformation of matter
Words: Christine Engel Snitkjær Photo: Art Bicnick
Exhibition
‘Lignin’ is showing until July 22nd in
the Harbinger gallery at Freyjugata 1
Have you ever wondered about the
process that a sheet of paper goes
through before it becomes the sleek
piece of A4 we all know so well?
Have you considered the A4 sheet
to be a tree, its original form?
The independent Harbinger art
gallery currently hosts an instal-
lation by the Irish artist Adam
Fearon that addresses these ques-
tions, and more. The exhibition
consists of sculpture, prints, and
reliefs, all focussing on the nature
of the page, paper, and the image.
On transformation
John Holten and Gúðrún Benónýs-
dóttir curated the exhibit together.
Guðrún says “The ground idea is...
not to define anything. Rather,
it’s this idea of transforming your
thoughts into matter.
It’s about transforma-
tion.”
Guðrún explains
how the act of defining
an object limits that
object. By labelling an
object, we ignore its
ever-changing nature,
and how the trans-
formation of matter
is constantly taking
place around us.
Take, for instance, a piece of pa-
per. We define it as a piece of pa-
per, even though it was originally
part of a tree. By labelling the pa-
per “paper,” we infuse it with new
life, and its function takes on a new
meaning. It no longer functions as
a tree, but as a surface for writing,
drawing, painting, printing, etc.
We often forget how objects change
functions and transform through-
out their life-spans.
Disturbing the surface
The exhibition, entitled ‘Lignin,’
attempts to shed light on this con-
trast between defining matter in
a single form, and understanding
how matter continually changes,
even in subtle ways. Starting with a
raw piece of papier-mâché, Fearon
marks and manipulates the surface
in an unplanned way, according
to his own intuitive process. “It’s
about the little choices we make
out of instinct,” Guðrún remarks.
“He is playing with his
ideas. He ‘disturbs’ the
surface, in a way.”
Fearon uses his
hands to make the raw
material of papier-mâ-
ché something differ-
ent—or more—than
it was before. His vis-
ible interactions with
material take centre-
stage; his choices be-
coming visible traces
of an action that transforms the
medium, giving it a new life, just
like a tree takes on a new function
when it becomes paper.
Gerðarsafn Kópavogur Art Museum
Hamraborg 4 200 Kópavogur www.gerdarsafn.is
Gerður:
Retrospective
31.05.–
7.10.2018
“The ground
idea is... not
to define any-
thing. Rather,
it’s this idea of
transforming
your thoughts
into matter.”
Guðrún Benónýsdóttir
i8 Gallery
Tryggvagata 16
101 Reykjavík
info@i8.is
t: +354 551 3666
www.i8.is
IGNACIO URIARTE
Divisions and Reflections, i8 Gallery, Reykjavík
31 May - 4 August 2018
RAGNA RÓBERTSDÓTTIR
ÓLAFUR ELÍASSON
No Man‘s Land – Where Beauty Alone Reigns?
Reykjavík Art Museum
2 June - 30 September, 2018
ÞÓR VIGFÚSSON
Rolling Snowball XI, Djúpivogur
14 July - 17 August, 2018
RONI HORN
BIRGIR ANDRÉSSON
SIGURÐUR GUÐMUNDSSON
Other Hats - Icelandic Printmaking
National Gallery of Iceland, Reykjavik
11 May - 23 September, 2018
RAGNAR KJARTANSSON
BIRGIR ANDRÉSSON
ÓLAFUR ELÍASSON
Blossoming, National Gallery of Iceland, Reykjavik
17 July - 16 December, 2018
HILDIGUNNUR BIRGISDÓTTIR
Places, A Biannual Show in the Westfjords of Iceland
7 July - 1 September, 2018
ÓLAFUR ELÍASSON
Stúdíó Ólafur Elíasson, Marshall House, Reykjavík
ongoing exhibition
RONI HORN
Library of Water, Stykkishólmur
permanent installation