Talk

MFA Fine Arts presents Katrin Inga Jónsdóttir Hjördísardóttir (MFA 2014 Fine Arts) and Egill Sæbjörnsson, who will both give performative lectures based on themes in their own works. Jónsdóttir Hjördísardóttir will talk about "Power in Courage, Sincerity and Self Love" and Sæbjörnsson will talk about "The Force or The Great Being Behind All Artworks." Their talk will unite in their shared view on art being one of few spaces in modern culture, giving hope through it's deep acceptance for the vast nature of human life. 

Katrín Inga Jónsdóttir Hjördísardóttir (b. 1982) is an Icelandic artist living and working in Reykjavik, Berlin and Athens. Her subjects often include the social- and political-scape with focus on the art world phenomenon, which she funnels into her practice in unusual and personal ways. Through various methods and mediums, including writing, performance, drawing and sculpture, she addresses, challenges and becomes the subject of her artwork. Jónsdóttir Hjördísardóttir has built up a remarkable resume of exhibitions and performance projects, working in several countries. While often focusing on women and gender issues, she presents a wider critical discussion that involves art history and theory. Her exhibitions and performances are at once serious and wryly humorous. Jónsdóttir Hjördísardóttir has presented solo projects and performances, most notably at Living Art Museum, Reykjavik (2013) and her work and performances have been presented in group exhibitions at platforms including High Line Art, New York, USA (2017); Kunstmuseum Licthenstein, Vadaus, Licthenstein, (2015); and XVII Biennial of Young Artists, MEDITERRANEA17, Milan, Italy (2015). She is the recipient of awards including a Fulbright Scholarship (2012); the Dungal Art Fund award (2012); the Gudmunda Andresdottir Scholarship (2013); the Icelandic Art Salary from the government of Iceland, Iceland (2015/2017); and the Svavar Guðnasson & Ástu Eirkiskdóttir foundation art price for the promotion of young Icelandic artists (2017). Jónsdóttir Hjördísardóttir graduated with a MFA from the School of Visual Arts, New York (2014); a BA degree in Art History and Art Theory from the University of Iceland (2012); and a BA in Fine Art from the Iceland Academy of the Arts (2008). 

Egill Sæbjörnsson's art can be described as "paintings that are alive," like some sort of augmented reality paintings without using AR glasses. Studying art in the 90’s in Iceland and Paris, Sæbjörnsson became interested in the means of technology, virtual reality and the Internet as a reflection of the real world. Using video projection onto objects placed by a wall, or using other computer programs for creating self-generative projections or by integrating arduinos he has searched for a technological continuation of painting. Practicing Tibetian meditation methods from the age of 16 inspired his view on art. Using video projections onto every day objects Sæbjörnsson reveals the relationship between the physical world and our thoughts or our emotional and mental reality and how the two intermingle. The artworks are usually quite accessible on purpose by mixing in humour and many layers, making them witty, ingenious and deep. His integration of music has had an important role for his performances and installations. He is possibly best known for his imaginary friends, Ugh and Boogar – 36 metre, coffee loving, human eating trolls, who gained notoriety at the Venice Biennale in the summer of 2017. Sæbjörnsson is nominated for prestigious Ars Fennica Price 2019.