Rúrí Sigríðardóttir Kommata, one of the organizers of Head2Head, is herself of Greek and Icelandic descent. While living in Athens, she reflected on the connections between her two homelands.

“Both countries emerged poorly from the financial crisis of 2008, leading to an exciting DIY (do-it-yourself) mentality among their artists. Today, this ethos shapes the art scenes in both nations, resulting in numerous artist-run spaces and a strong sense of community among artists,” Rúrí explains.

This realization sparked Rúrí's vision for an artistic Greek-Icelandic initiative. She sensed, and still feels, a magnetic force between the two countries—an inexplicable connection that unites them. The festival thus serves as an investment in the bridge between them, as a means to meet in the middle.

In 2017, the idea evolved further between Rúrí and others while they were working for Kling and Bang. They decided to pursue the concept and create a cultural project connecting the two nations. As interest among Icelanders in Greece grew, more organizers joined the effort, ultimately bringing the project to fruition. It can also be mentioned that one of the organizers, Eva Ísleifs, was living in Athens at the time while working as an artist. There, she gained firsthand experience of the Greek art scene.

“Visits to Greece from members of Kling and Bang, including Erling Klingenberg and Sirra Sigrún Sigurðardóttir, were becoming more frequent. At the same time, the scene in Reykjavík was undergoing significant changes, with more artist-run initiatives being established. This phenomenon has gained some recognition in Iceland and in Greece, though not everywhere,” Rúrí notes.

Thus, multiple and diverse reasons converged to create a cultural connection between the countries. The seed of the idea was sown in fertile creative soil, and efforts began to nurture its growth.

Reykjavík and Athens, despite their differences, are curiously complementary. The artist-run scenes in both capitals operate outside traditional institutions and capitalist frameworks, creating spaces ripe for exploration and innovation.

The countries themselves are inherently different and the same goes for the behavior of their inhabitants. Therefore, it’s intriguing to see what happens in the space in the middle where they meet. While Icelandic artists are often characterized by a sense of anarchism—acting independently and without command, Greek artists embody a spirit of continual evolution and do not strictly follow predetermined rules. 

I asked several Icelanders who have spent time in Athens what they see as commonalities between the two nations. They stated that the Greeks share the well-known mentality of “This will work out,” but their version is “We’ll figure this out.” “This will work out” is a phrase and mindset that most Icelanders recognize, having become a sort of national pride. The fact that another nation south of the Mediterranean shares this trait invites further exploration and identification.

The festival puts emphasis on the artist-run spaces that host the exhibitions, as well as the artists themselves. It aims to operate outside institutional confines and is not about selling or capital.

As an artist-run initiative, Kling and Bang aimed to collaborate with other similar spaces and other individuals who share a similar artistic vision. The festival is meant to engage directly and for and with people, not institutions. When actions are taken independently of institutions, exciting phenomena arise. Artist-run spaces provide room for experimentation and offer open-mindedness for raw ideas and creativity. The existence of art is not about selling; it transcends commercial exchange, and initiatives like the Head2Head festival highlight that. The festival creates avenues for people who share the same mindset to be joined in collaboration and creation.

The original organizing team include Rúrí, Erling, Sirra, Eva Ísleifs, Elísabet Brynhildardóttir and Selma Hreggviðsdóttir. Sólbjört Vera and Katerina Spathi have since joined the team. They felt it was important to create a festival in which the artists themselves are a direct influence, both in curation and organization, reflecting the DIY mindset that defines both artistic communities.

“Four years prior to the first Head2Head festival, another significant event was held in Greece—the international and acclaimed art festival Documenta. Many locals felt that it was merely characterized by foreigners coming to Greece, only to throw parties with little regard for them. We wanted to steer clear from that with Head2Head. Therefore, the spaces showcasing Icelandic artists were given considerable freedom to make their own decisions regarding curation and artist selection. They were able to do things their own way, which has always been an essential aspect of the festival and what it stands for. Kling and Bang served as a mediator in that process,” Rúrí explains.

Exploring the artistic landscapes of Iceland and Greece reveals a rich tapestry of influence and inspiration. Icelandic creativity, often defined by its innovative spirit, complements Greece’s deep historical roots. With their rich heritage, the Greeks often look back to Ancient Greece, its philosophy and the ideas that originated there. Countries with such a profound and renowned history often need partners to help bring them into the contemporary context—other countries that can introduce the new. The dynamic between Iceland and Greece reflects this in some ways. Icelandic artists excel in crafting professional nonsense that pairs well with Greece’s classical legacy. The Greeks bring an inherent Mediterranean warmth that brightens the darkness slowly encroaching upon us here in the Northern Hemisphere.

The festival represents the first cultural connection between Iceland and Greece. The main link between the nations thus far has been through companies that fish and sell seafood, as both countries have rich fishing traditions and are surrounded by sea. Another commonality is tourism, a vital resource for both nations.

As mentioned earlier, both countries emerged poorly from the financial crisis, and artists from both nations learned to work with and around being “poor.” From adversity arose this defining mindset. However, Iceland is a more expensive and wealthier country, making it difficult for all Greek artists who participated in the last festival to come to Reykjavík due to costs. Conversely, there wasn’t a single Icelandic artist who turned down the opportunity to go to Athens and exhibit there during the last festival. This highlights a common and unfortunate problem for Reykjavík as an international art city: Many artists will never have the opportunity to come to the country due to its economic climate and its tendency towards inflation. I believe this to be a significant loss for our country. We need to draw ourselves out into the world, especially since we are isolated on a small island in the middle of the Atlantic. Here, one might say that little more is offered than the Iceland Academy of the Arts, because of the country's small art scene there is only one art academy available.

Cultural events like Head2Head are vital, reminding us that despite apparent differences, deeper connections unite us. By fostering collaboration and understanding, the festival paves the way for a richer, more interconnected artistic landscape that celebrates both the unique and the shared.

Festival Program

Friday 11th of October

︎5PM 

Associate Gallery

︎Köllunarklettsvegur 4, Reykjavík

Yorgos Yatromanolakis

Brák Jónsdóttir

︎7PM 

Open at the Nordic House 

︎Sæmundargata 11, Reykjavík

Chrysanthi Koumianaki

Fanis Kafantaris

Helgi Valdimarsson listamaður frá Garði

Eiríkur Páll Sveinsson

Hlökk Þrastardóttir

Saturday 12th of October

4PM

︎Bókumbók

︎Hólmaslóð 6 - 101 Reykjavík

Katerina Botsari

Yiannis Skaltsas

Kostis Velonis

Amanda Riffo

︎7PM

The Living Art Museum 

︎Marshallhouse - Grandagarður 20 , 101 Reykjavík

Joanna Pawłowska in collaboration ásamt Sasa Lubinska

Kosmas Nikolaou

Despina Charitonidi performance 

Zoe Hatziyannaki

co-curated with Eleni Tsopotou / Stoa42

︎7PM

︎Kling&Bang

︎Marshallhouse - Grandagarður 20 , Reykjavík

Konstantinos Lianos

VASKOS (Vassilis Noulas & Kostas Tzimoulis) performance co-curated with Christina Petkopoulou

Ívar Ölmu

Sunday 13th of  October

2PM

︎Phenomenon 

︎Ægisgata 7, 101 RVK, Reykjavík

Katrín Inga Jónsdóttir Hjördísardóttir

Sofia Kouloukouri performance

Theo Prodromidis

︎4PM

Kannski Gallery