The artist-run exhibition space Open has taken over the Nordic House with the exhibition OPEN HOUSE, which is part of the Greek-Icelandic cultural festival HEAD2HEAD.
When Open was kindly invited to participate in HEAD2HEAD with access to the Nordic House, an idea came to life that had been on Open’s agenda before it lost its space. The project is the second part of the exhibition series Saga Íslands (The Story of Iceland), and this time we are showcasing works by Eiríkur Páll Sveinsson, an ear, nose, and throat doctor. This concept was central when selecting artists for collaboration on the exhibition OPEN HOUSE, as well as the interest in what happens when an artist-run space in a Greek-Icelandic cultural collaboration gains access to an entire institution like the Nordic House. In the exhibition, Greek and Icelandic artists showcase their work together. The participating artists are:
Chrysanthi Koumianaki
Fanis Kafantaris
Hlökk Þrastardóttir
Helgi Valdimarsson
Eiríkur Páll Sveinsson
Outside the house, Helgi Valdimarsson has placed his white concrete sculptures. Helgi began working with sculptures 14 years ago. He creates his works freehand using an iron frame and concrete, building them up with trowels and brushes, then painting them white. Helgi lives in Garður, Suðurnesjabær, where many of his statues are prominently displayed. He has loaned six of his works to Open, which now stand in the beautiful grounds of the Nordic House.
For this exhibition, Chrysanthi Koumianaki has worked closely with the Nordic House staff’s shift schedule. She has created jewelry for the staff, which they take with them when they leave work. It’s possible to see whether everyone has arrived to work by taking the elevator to the upper floor, where the staff jewelry has been displayed along a long corridor.
Hlökk Þrastardóttir created the piece What we talk about when we talk about what we are talking about specifically for the basement exhibition space. In the Nordic House’s lecture hall on the upper floor, she has also installed the screen saver What we talk about when we talk about what we are talking about, which will adorn the hall when it’s not in use.
Saga Íslands Part 2 – Eiríkur Páll Sveinsson is Open’s Trojan horse in this exhibition. The project was created in collaboration with designer Eva Árnadóttir, Eiríkur’s granddaughter. Further information about Eiríkur and his works can be found in the exhibition hall.
Fanis Kafantaris’ work can be found in the meeting room of the Nordic House, where fallen, inedible citrus fruits from the city of Athens stand watch over the house’s meetings.
The works are on display when no meetings are taking
place in the room.
Special thanks to HEAD2HEAD, the Nordic House, Merking, Eiríkur’s family for their collaboration, and to the Icelandic Art Fund for their support.
Open is both a studio and an artist-run exhibition space managed by Arnar Ásgeirsson, Hildigunnur Birgisdóttir, Una Margrét Árnadóttir and Örn Alexander Ámundasson. We have five solo exhibitions and about five events a year. The Open artists give their time and work for free and all grants we receive are used in full for exhibitions and events that take place at Open. The Open program is varied and is free and open to everyone.
Accessibility: Hvelfing exhibition space has good access via the elevator in the Atrium. Accessible restrooms are on the main floor (Atrium) and all restrooms are gender neutral.
