Out There with Egill Sæbjörnsson

This is the first episode of the year and Becky & Tinna think about a few exhibitions as they look back on 2023. Like most years, the art scene and exhibition-making circuit have been productive in various ways and shapes. Acknowledging all of the action and activity that took place last year and rather than attempt to talk about everything, they share a few selected notes on three exhibitions. Alongside talking with Egill, these include Hildur Hákonardóttir: Red Thread which opened early 2023 at the Reykjavik Art Museum - Kjarvalsstaðir and Nermine El Ansari’s Er ekki lengur | No Longer | لَمْ تَعُدْ installation that opened late last year at Skaftfell Art Center.

Red Thread was a diverse and extensive exhibition on the works of artist Hildur Hákonardóttir. During her long career, she has addressed contemporary issues and gender politics, using varied media but mostly weaving. The exhibition contains many of Hildur’s best-known works, which have become important landmarks in Icelandic cultural history and influenced societal changes. There are also installations, photographs, videos and computerised drawings from a career that spans over 50 years. Curator is Sigrún Inga Hrólfsdóttir, but the exhibition is the result of her research into Hildur’s career. In 2021, Reykjavík Art Museum was awarded the Museum Fund’s Excellence Grant to examine women’s part in Icelandic art.

This episode concludes with focus in the Exhibition of the Month segment on Nermine El Ansari’s solo exhibit at Skaftfell Art Center titled "Er ekki lengur | No Longer | لَمْ تَعُدْ ". An installation that was conceived in response to the events of October 7 – the Hamas attack on Israel marking the resurgence of a long-lasting conflict and the subsequent retaliation by the Israeli military on Gaza that has resulted in massive losses: death, destruction, and displacement – poignantly evoking the unfolding tragedy.