Reykjavík Grapevine - 22.03.2019, Blaðsíða 39

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Entering
Another Space
Artist Of The Year Eygló Harðardóttir
reflects on the life of an artist
Words: Aliya Uteuova Photo: Art Bicnick
Art Award
See more of Eygló’s work at
www.eyglohardardottir.net
Eygló Harðardóttir’s art is dif-
ficult to classify in one word. A
mixed media visual artist, she
has worked with wood, glass,
and more; explored the features
of masks; and made sculptures
for bar guests to play with while
drinking.
Her latest exhibition, ‘Another
Space,’ which ran at the Living
Art Museum last fall, won her Ice-
land’s Artist Of The Year award,
the jury of which included Margrét
Kristín Sigurðardóttir, the Chair-
man of the Icelandic Visual Arts
Council, and other prominent art
experts.
Finding the spark
When Eygló got the offer to dis-
play at the Living Art Museum,
she was silkscreening her art book
‘Another Space.’ “I used the book
as a spark,” she says. The art book
has no beginning or end and can
be rearranged to be viewed right
side up or upside down. Eygló’s
exhibition was similar, allowing
the view to rearrange the pieces
presented according to their own
impressions.
And so, the primary material
for ‘Another Space’ was paper. The
work explores the idea of paral-
lel consciousness, reflecting on
various questions of space, both
psychological and physical. Each
image was inspired by different
parts of the body—neck, heart,
stomach, and so on—which were
then transformed into layered
prints. Through that, she created
a thread journeying into another
space, hence the title.
“Paper is lightweight, easy to
handle, but not easy to buy here in
Iceland,” says Eygló. Because she
prefers to touch the material and
choose from samples, she some-
times brings paper from abroad,
the latest coming from New York.
“I should think about Finland too,”
she jokes.
Into the unknown
The job of an artist can be just as
unglamourous. There are many
unknowns, such as when the
work will be done, or what will the
yearly salary will be. Behind the
scenes, artists write proposals,
apply for grants,
and take photos of
their work. “It’s a
non-stop process,”
Eygló shares. “But
you need to have
courage to enter
the unknown.”
And enter the unknown she
did—Eygló created some pieces
under a state of hypnosis. This
enhanced focus and concentra-
tion helped her experience another
space as closely as she could.
Creating in darkness
Eygló tends to create in the sum-
mertime. “There’s so much light
and energy,” she says. “It can be
challenging to be an artist in Ice-
land in winter. But when there's
an exhibition, you do whatever you
need to do. You don't let the dark-
ness take over.”
At her openings, Eygló often
feels like an alien. “I cannot think
about myself as the artist who
made this,” she explains. While
seeing her art on display might
feel strange for her, exploring
other people’s art is her favourite
pastime. “That's how I relax from
making art—by enjoying art,” Ey-
gló says.
It’s no joke
Eygló’s career spans over two
decades, but she only began to re-
ceive positive recognition over the
last three years. “It's a surprise,
but it's often like that,” she says.
In fact, when she found out
that she was nominated for the
award, she momentarily thought
it might be a joke. “I didn’t know
if it was real or not,” Eygló shares.
“But then I just took it as it is, set
it aside, and continued my work.”
And so she did. In 2019, Eygló is
preparing for two exhibitions and
participating in a special project
with eight visual artists, filmmak-
ers and writers.
“This award didn’t
t urn me upside
d o w n , b u t I ’m
grateful for it,” Ey-
gló says. She appre-
ciates all the nomi-
nees, and wouldn’t
have minded if one of them re-
ceived it. “This is for the art,” she
finishes, “and not for me.”
Art
“You need to
have courage
to enter the
unknown.”
Eylgó's work has been recognised after two decades
i8 Gallery
Tryggvagata 16
101 Reykjavík
info@i8.is
t: +354 551 3666
www.i8.is
JANICE KERBEL
28 March - 25 May 2019
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