Art from Iceland, Luhring Augustine, NY until 8th Aug

Exhibition Description:

This group exhibition involves the work of nine Icelandic artists who share an ambivalent relationship to interpretations of their historical and geographic cultural identities. At the same time as questioning their roots, they embrace the national tradition of storytelling and staging.

Central to the exhibition is a project by the late artist, Birgir Andrésson (1955-2007). His research technique involved studying old printed matter, fishing for stories and images of "Different People", and vagrants of all descriptions. Andrésson's sense of purpose was "an artist's humble attempt merely to shed vague light on the colorful soil and unique environment from which 'Icelandic culture' has sprouted forth."

Intrinsic to Andrésson's research was storytelling and play, the interactive relationship of an artist and his audience, and a fascinating counterbalance of sincerity and irony.

The artists in this exhibition, set the stage for a polyphony of stories, playing with the tropes of remoteness, gloom and distance often related to the island in the North, while considering the immediate proximity of their work to the viewer.

Description:

Ásdís Sif Gunnarsdottir
Crown without Fear, 2008
Mixed media
Dimensions variable
Courtesy of the artist and Luhring Augustine, New York.

Ásdís Sif Gunnarsdóttir (b. 1976) provides the title of the exhibition in a performance whereby she participates in an open mic comedy night and offers the consolation: "It's not your fault!" to an anonymous member of the audience. Together with a documentation of the performance, Gunnarsdóttir presents a new video installation where she sets forth to represent performance as an abstract visual poetry.

Full Contact Details:

It's Not Your Fault
Art from Iceland
June 28 - August 8, 2008

Luhring Augustine
531 West 24th Street
New York, NY 10011
Tel: 1-212-206-9100
Fax: 1-212-206-9055
Email: info .at. luhringaugustine.com

Gallery Hours
Tuesday - Saturday, 10am - 6pm
July/August summer hours:
Monday - Friday, 10am - 5:30pm