Reykjavík Grapevine - 05.07.2019, Síða 36

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Dungeons,
Dragons And
English Magic
The wild world of William Morris
Words: Berglind Jóna Hlynsdóttir
Photo: Berglind Jóna Hlynsdóttir & William Morris Gallery
Exhibition
‘Let Beauty Rule’ was made in
collaboration with the William
Morris Gallery, London, and
Millesgården, Stockholm. See it at
Kjarvalsstaðir until Oct. 6th. More
info: artmuseum.is
The Kjarvalsstaðir Art Muse-
um is currently festooned with
eye-pleasing patterns, hand
painted originals, woven fabrics,
printed plates, books, furniture,
stained glass and tiles by legend-
ary British artist, activist, poet
and craftsman William Morris
(1834-1896) and his collaborators,
friends and family.
  The most celebrated artist of
the Arts and Crafts Movement,
Morris was a socialist and activ-
ist who founded the predecessor
of the Labour Party in Britain. He
also founded  Morris, Marshall,
Faulkner & Co. with his friends—
later known as 'The Firm'—pro-
ducing  handcrafted household
décor. They worked in resistance
to the industrial revolution by
preser v ing traditional tech-
niques, and giving recognition to
everyone involved in the creation
of each piece.
Sustainability
and ethics
Museum director Ólöf Kristín Sig-
urðardóttir explains the aim of
the exhibition is to bring to light
not only the beautiful patterns
that Moris is best known for, but
also his political activism, his
connections to Iceland, and the
artists and collaborators who sur-
rounded him.
  “One thing that characterised
him as a thinker
and initiator is that
he knew craft,” says
Ölof. “He could do
e v e r y t h i n g ; h e
knew how to make
stained glass win-
d o w s , h e k n e w
the processes for
making tiles, how
to weave and em-
broider. He would
acquaint himself
with the processes
from beginning to
end. Sustainability
in design is perhaps
what that makes him interesting
in our time. It’s exactly where we
are today.”
Dungeons and Dragons
 While the works are often craft-
based, Ólöf says the body of work
has an emotional appeal. “These
works are emotionally charged,
and the craftsmanship is excel-
lent,” she says. “They’re not ma-
jestic, and they don’t discuss great
events, but they deal with great
emotions, even though the works
look back to medieval times.”
  Morris built his Southeast
London home, Red House, to em-
body his ideas. Every part was
handcrafted, from the walls to
the tables, with many medieval
references. He often entertained
friends, and it’s well-known that
he and his circle owned armour.
“Its evident that these guys were
deep into Dungeons and Drag-
ons,” Ólöf laughs.
Travel diaries and
Middle Earth
‘Let Beauty Rule’ also displays
items Morris bought in Iceland
during his travels in 1871 and
1873, and sagas he translated
from Icelandic with Cambridge
scholar Erík Magnússon. Mor-
ris’s writing and translations in-
spired many fiction and fantasy
writers like C.S. Lewis and J.R.R.
Tolkien, some of whose Middle
Earth languages are believed to
have been inspired by Morris’s
Icelandic-sounding
English. Morris also
wrote extensive dia-
ries about his time in
Iceland addressed to
his friend Georgiana
Burne-Jones, which
were poetically re-
interpreted and re-
published in Lavinia
Green law ’s ‘Ques-
tions of Travel.’
  Morris’s work, pol-
itics and complicated
love life have capti-
vated people’s imag-
inations throughout
the years. Ólöf references Jeremy
Deller’s work ‘English Magic,’
which shows Morris as a giant
throwing Roman Abramovich’s
yacht into the ocean. “When we
think about this work we see how
close to the British spirit Morris
is when he is chosen to represent
what Deller calls ‘English Magic,’”
finishes Ólöf. “At Kjarvalsstaðir
there are, shown in tandem, col-
laborative works by Morris’s wife,
Jane, and paintings of her by her
lover Dante Gabriel Rossetti. The
exquisite works of Morris, his
daughter, wife and friends will
interest anyone keen on beauty,
handcraft, textile, literature or
politics.”
Art
“Sustainabil-
ity in design is
perhaps what
that makes
William Morris
interesting in
our time. It’s
exactly where
we are today.”
The Arts And Crafts movements comes to Kjarvalsstaðir
i8 Gallery
Tryggvagata 16
101 Reykjavík
info@i8.is
t: +354 551 3666
www.i8.is
6 June - 12 August 2019
B.INGRID OLSON
Fingered Eyed
VISIT KÓPAVOGUR
CULTURE HOUSES
AND EXPERIENCE

OUTLINE
06.04.–08.09.19
&
MENNINGARHUSIN.
K O P A V O G U R . I S
Hamraborg 4–6 Kópavogur Bus 1, 2, 4, 28, 35 & 36
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MANY FACES
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Salurinn Concert Hall
Bókasafn Kópavogs Kópavogur Public Library