Iceland review - 2016, Page 10

8 ICELAND REVIEW
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For seven years, Ragnhildur Ágústsdóttir has been fasci-
nated with Hortus Conclusus—medieval paintings depict-
ing the Virgin Mary in idealized walled gardens, symbolically
representing her womb and a barrier to all evil. Ragnhildur
has updated the concept and applied it to modern life: “I
started to look at our homes and the flowers we plant in the
garden, and the weeds we have no control over,” she explains.
BRANCHING OUT
“I was painting trees and plants a lot, and birds started com-
ing in, and I realized I didn’t know much about birds. So I
started making work sketches of birds just for me,” she says
when asked about her recent branch-out from oil paintings
of gardens to drawings of birds. “At around that time I got
offered a show and all I really had was the birds, so I showed
the birds and that’s how I started. The oil paintings take a
long time, but the birds only maybe a couple of months.”
Ragnhildur spends up to an impressive two years on each
of her paintings. The sheer quality of the work ensures that
demand far outstrips supply. Would she consider working
A R T
IMAGINATION TAKES FLIGHT
Artist Ragnhildur Ágústsdóttir interprets the natural world
in intricate detail and with spectacular results.
BY ALËX ELLIOTT. PHOTOS BY PÁLL STEFÁNSSON.
faster just to cash in? “I guess I could choose another tech-
nique, but I wouldn’t be staying true to myself. It’s just my
method and when you see the end result you can tell it took
a long time and a lot of effort.”
PURSUING A PASSION
Ragnhildur has drawn and painted since childhood, but says
she saw herself working in an office while growing up: “I
didn’t know any artists and didn’t know you could even do
it as a profession!” This all changed in her teens and she
was accepted to study at Roger Williams University in the
United States; an experience she treasures for the skilled
teachers and the doors it opened, but not necessarily for
creating her career: “It wasn’t until I’d done it on my own
for a few years that I realized that that’s actually the best
school of all.”
Following her exhibition this autumn at the respected
Gallerí Grótta in Seltjarnarnes, Ragnhildur’s top priority
now is simply to finish a painting she’s been lovingly bring-
ing to life since 2014. u