Iceland has produced many talented photographers who have captured various subjects, such as people, landscapes, cityscapes, events and even old objects. In recent years, many photographers have established themselves as visual artists. However, distinguishing between a picture or a piece of art and whether the photographer is an artist or just a photographer is often tricky.
The Gerðarsafn Museum in Kópavogur is currently hosting an exhibition called “Ordinary Places,” which features the photography of Ívar Brynjólfsson alongside works by Emma Heiðarsdóttir, Haraldur Jónsson, Joe Keys, and Tine Bek. These artists pay close attention to the everyday and twist its reality, often pointing out its beauty. The works are a testament to everyday life, with the artists presenting their treasures to us. The exhibition is curated by Brynja Sveinsdóttir og Hallgerður Hallgrímsdóttir.
Another exciting exhibition is currently on display at the Reykjavík Museum of Photography, featuring the Finnish photographer Anni Kinnunen. Kinnunen uses the camera as a recording device to take selfies, but it is the artist who creates the photographs, not the camera. This same principle applies to the exhibition at Gerðarsafn Museum in Kópavogur. The exciting thing about photography is that there is no right or wrong, only different perspectives.
Photographs & text: Páll Stefánsson
