Mynd:: Georg Óskar. I forced my drowsy eyes open to find myself on the back of a massive dragon, 2022. Courtesy of the artist.
MENS ET MANUS: GEORG ÓSKAR, HULDA VILHJÁLMSDÓTTIR, KRISTÍN MORTHENS & STEINGRÍMUR GAUTI INGÓLFSSON
The exhibition Mens et Manus displays work by the Icelandic artists Georg Óskar, Hulda Vilhjálmsdóttir, Kristín Morthens and Steingrímur Gauti Ingólfsson. The artists share a similar approach in their creative process, where feelings, experiences and the environment is part of the journey, coincidences and ideas leading towards the final result in an abstract and figurative outcome, here in the form of a painting. The exhibition was first shown at the Embassy of Iceland in Copenhagen in 2022.
Georg Óskar (b.1985) graduated with a Diploma in Fine Arts from Akureyri School of visual arts in 2009 and subsequently obtained his MFA from the Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design in Bergen Norway, in 2016. Fundamentally, his practice is regarded as a visual diary of his personal observations of the mundane, specifically in nature and people. His works are composed in a unique manner to allow multiple entry points for viewers, prompting them to reflect on the complexities of contemporary life. Oskar has exhibited internationally in various countries, including Spain, Germany, China, Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland, to name a few. Georg Óskar currently works and lives in Oslo, Norway.
Hulda Vilhjálmsdóttir (b. 1971) graduated from the Fine Arts department of the Iceland Academy of the Arts in 2000 and has since then kept painting as her artistic medium. Her works are ex-pressive, visceral, and honest, imbued by her memory, feelings, and keen sensitivity to the here and now. Hulda uses different methods of painting and also writes and does performances. In 2007 Hulda was nominated for the Carnegie ART award and in 2018 for the Icelandic Visual Arts Award for the solo exhibition Valbrá in Kling & Bang. In 2019, Hulda received the Art Award Tilberann. Hulda has held numerous solo and group exhibitions in Iceland and abroad. Hulda lives and works in Reykjavík.
Kristín Morthens (b. 1992) graduated with a BFA in painting from OCAD University, Toronto, Canada, in 2018, where she received an honorary award for outstanding achievement in paint-ing. Inspired by the world around her, Kristín’s atmospheric paintings tell a story of mystery and intrigue. Ethereal elements such as organic forms, air, and light are signature marks of her paintings where narratives of intimacy, separation, and boundaries are interpreted in physical forms within unexplained spaces that do not seem to belong to this world. Kristín’s works have been shown in exhibitions in museums and galleries in Iceland, Europe, the United States, and Canada. Kristín lives and works in Reykjavík.
Steingrímur Gauti Ingólfsson (b. 1986) graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Iceland University of Arts in 2015. Working primarily in acrylic combined with mixed media, Steingrímur Gauti has developed a singular language, mastering abstraction as a pure expression of emotions and intuitions. For him, the most important aspect of his work is his daily practice of it. The act of painting is a way of thinking and meditating with the focus on simplicity and lightness. The physical touches and brushes in these paintings evoke a feeling of water flowing across canvases as if seeing time passing through then disappearing into the works. His works are currently featured in collections found in Iceland, Europe, The US, and Asia. Steingrímur Gauti lives and works in Reykjavík.
ABOUT LISTVAL
Listval is an art gallery and consultancy focused on highlighting the best of contemporary art in Iceland from both emerging and established artists. Established in 2019, Listval’s aim is to make it easier for people to invest in and access art in Iceland and abroad. Listval’s exhibition space is located in Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre in the heart of Reykjavík city.
Listval is run by Elísabet Alma Svendsen and Helga Björg Kjerúlf. They have both worked across the field of art and design on various projects, bringing their wealth of experience, insight, and connections with the art scene to Listval. They have been involved in several projects related to art, including gallery operations, publishing, the Venice Biennale, and the promotion of Icelandic art internationally.
