Sigurður Guðmundsson on ARS LONGA, SÚM & More

In this episode Becky and Tinna speak with Sigurður Guðmundsson, artist and co-founder of the international contemporary art museum ARS LONGA, initiated with Þór Vigfússon and Ineke Guðmundsson in 2021 and based in Djúpivogur. They talk about the upcoming summer exhibition that opens at Ars Longa on the 8th of July. We listen, as Sigurður tells stories spanning his artistic career, recalls personal anecdotes, plays symphonies that resonate with different periods in his life, including the initiative and atmosphere of the legendary SÚM group in the 70s, and unpacks some of his unique conceptual ideology on museums, in life and making art.

ARS LONGA strives to be a leading venue for international contemporary art in Iceland with progressive exhibitions and seeks to strengthen connections and collaboration with artists and professionals through dynamic activities. ARS LONGA’s mission is to collect artworks by Icelandic and international artists, but Sigurður Guðmundsson’s art donation of twenty-seven works is the basis for the collection.

In the mid sixties, a group of young artists founded the SÚM group which broke with tradition and introduced a new approach to the Icelandic art world. Back then, the newly founded group of artists had varied and different practices in art, however, were unified in the making of public art and interventions. Sigurður Guðmundsson is one of the founding members of SÚM.

Created and produced by the Icelandic Art Center, Out There brings co-hosts Becky Forsythe and Þórhildur Tinna Sigurðardóttir in conversation with artists, curators and art professionals.​​​​​​​​

Listen to the full podcast on Spotify or find it here on our website.

Below you’ll find a photo of Sigurður and Ineke, his partner, at the debut of the public work in Djúpivogur Eggin í Gleðivík in 2009 as well as some photos from the ARS LONGA opening in 2022. Sculpture is by Yan Jian (2018) which was on display in the exhibition.