Una Björg Magnúsdóttir is set to open her final exhibition, “Lost Manuals” on the 11th of April 2024 in Berlin, during her closing month at Künstlerhaus Bethanienand residency, which the artist commenced in the spring of 2023. Una´s multidisciplinary practice consists of work constructed by sculpture and installation. Una´s multidisciplinary practice consists of work constructed by sculpture and installation. Una´s work exists between the second and third dimension, where the art participates in preconceived ideas of the viewer, often creating visually perceived illusion. Her work raises questions about hyper-familiarity and the out of place, exploring the fine line between what is real and what is imagined or imitated. Her upcoming exhibition will explore how replicas mirror the original, while simultaneously questioning the purpose of replicas or copies. This can refer to chameleons, empathy or even doppelgängers.
In 2018, Una Björg completed her MA in Visual Arts from ÉCAL, obtaining a BFA in Fine Arts from the Icelandic Academy of the Arts in 2014. While living in Switzerland she received a grant from the Walter and Eve Kent Foundation for exceptional ability in the field of painting and sculpture. Una Björg was awarded the Icelandic Art Prize Motivational Award in 2021. In addition to her studio-based work, Una Björg is engaged in Reykjavik´s artist run scene, both as a member of artist run gallery Kling & Bang and various other initiatives.
Since last spring, Una Björg Magnúsdóttir has been working hard at Künstlerhaus Bethanienand getting inspired in Berlin for her one year residency there. During her stay Una has had access to a powerful, international contact network; curators, museum staff, journalists and others who work in the field. Una prepared for her solo exhibition in Iceland entitled "Treacherous Silver Sheen" for the ASÍ Art Museum. Una has been working on Lost Manuals for the past months. She says that the exhibition will explore how replicas mirror the originals and question the purpose of replicas or copies. This can refer to a chameleons, empathy or even doppelgängers. Una Björg works mainly with sculpture. The hyper-familiar often appears in her work, with sculptural stage designs that narrate scenes that feel oddly familiar yet out of place. By imitating reality with obvious artificiality, Una renders common scenes with unsuspected objects, sounds and fragrances.
Una Björg Magnúsdóttir, Treacherous Silver Sheen, 2023.
Una Björg Magnúsdóttir installing Treacherous Silver Sheen, 2023.
Still from an interview with Una Björg. Produced by Künstlerhaus Bethanien.
Previous Icelandic Art Center residents at Künstlerhaus Bethanien are Anna Júlía Firðbjörnsdóttir, Styrmir Örn Guðmundsson 2020-21 and current resident Elín Hansdóttir. Steinunn Anna Mörtudóttir is set to start her residency this year.
