Reykjavík Grapevine - 20.04.2018, Blaðsíða 34

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Transcending Time
And Space
A one-time exhibition on Klappastígur 12 is set to
challenge the ideas of public and private reality
on multiple dimensions.
Words: Alice Demurtas Photo: Timothée Lambrecq
Exhibition
Klapparstígur 12, April 20th, at17.00
At the top floor of an unassuming
building in downtown Reykjavík,
five young women are discussing
the faltering equilibrium between
t i m e a n d
space in this
technology-
d e p e n d e n t
era. But these
are no nou-
veau Bohemians. Instead, they’re
part of a group of students who saw
the subject of their new exhibition
expand into just such unexpected
debates.
The public & the private
As they began organising an exhi-
bition for a curating course at the
Iceland Academy of The Arts, they
started to plan a round up of the
work and performances of seven
professional and amateur artists.
The show would take place as a live
performance on April 20th, held
only once, for only three hours. The
idea was to return the curatorial
process to everyday reality by stag-
ing the exhibition in an apartment,
to engage with the idea of public and
private space in a fresh way.
“We feel like a lot of contempo-
rary art spaces deal with perfor-
mances in a very academic way,
stressing about what they’re saying
and the historical context and so
forth,” says Þórhildur Tinna Sig-
urðardóttir. “So
we just wanted
to loosen it up
and do some-
thing sincere.
We didn’t want
the performance to be static.”
Challenging tradition
In this environment shaped by col-
lective ideas, the exhibition took on
a life of its own. The collection of
temporary, real-time works chal-
lenges the traditional exhibition
format, in terms of both presen-
tation and documentation. In an
environment that combines physi-
cal presence with technological ab-
stractions, the viewer is surrounded
by a set of contrasting realities that
all exist at once.
“All these works inspire curiosity
and excitement towards alterna-
tive dimensions of time and space
because they transcend these con-
cepts,” Tinna explains. “We wanted
the performances to be tactile, and
for the audience to engage with
them. So the artists deal with ques-
tions about sexuality, gender, inti-
macy, openness; accidental glimps-
es into something very public, and
also the more mundane elements of
daily life.”
On a whole new level
The project presented significant
logistical and organisational chal-
lenges. Some of the artists, in fact,
are not based in Iceland—Sion
Prior lives in Australia, while
Sigrún Gyða Sveinsdóttir will be
Skyping in from Berlin. “We had to
find different ways to approach the
work of artists who aren’t present,
while still making them part of the
shared space,” Sarah Maria Yasdani
explains.
Working with scents and tastes
was one way to weave a sensory con-
nection between audience and art-
ist. “While on Skype, for example,
Sigrún will be eating oranges and
engaging in conversation, while the
viewer also eats oranges and can
interact with her at the same time,”
Sunna Ástþórsdóttir adds.
Lithuanian performer Monika
Kipurtye will be bringing elements
of the theatre into a living space,
while Icelandic artist Drengurinn
Fengurinn will explore the concepts
of intimacy and masculinity in the
privacy of a bedroom. “This could be
a series,” says Tinna. “This time it’s
at Klapparstígur 12, but next time
it could be another address!” The
ladies laugh at the idea, but there’s
an assertiveness in their carefree
attitude. We’ll definitely be seeing
more of them in the future.
Suðurgata 41
101 Reykjavík
www.thjodminjasafn.is
tel +354 530 22 00
Hverfisgata 15
101 Reykjavík
www.safnahusid.is
tel +354 530 22 10
National Museum of Iceland
The country’s largest
museum of cultural
history from settlement
to present day.
The Culture House
Manuscripts, fine art, natural
specimens, curiosities and
archeaological findings form
the exhibition Points of View.
National
Museum of
Iceland
The
Culture
House
The exhibitions, shops and cafés are open daily 10 - 17 Closed on Mondays 16/9 – 30/4
“We wanted to loosen
it up and do some-
thing sincere.”
This troupe of live artists are taking over Klapparstígur 12
i8 Gallery
Tryggvagata 16
101 Reykjavík
info@i8.is
t: +354 551 3666
www.i8.is
Stúdíó Ólafur Elíasson
open Tuesday to Sunday 12 - 6pm
and until 9 pm on Thursdays
Marshallhúsið | Grandagarður 20