Ósk Vilhjálmsdóttir occupies a special place in the Icelandic art world. Locating her art subjectively within the public space, she has addressed issues involving the artist’s political function and art’s power to influence the global situation faced by both artists and viewers over the past decade.
Ósk puts visual art in unexpected contexts, seeking for art a new – often delocalized – forum, thus joining the ranks of artists who have worked to expand the concept of art. In a nutshell, her art is grounded in participation and dialogue referring to questions of politics and ethics. An activist herself, her stance toward art and societal issues is a critical one. The nature of her subject matter is thus always societal, her work addressing nature conservation, the economic collapse, immigration and the new Icelandic identity. In her effort to engage the viewer, Ósk frequently poses questions. She encourages the viewer to participate, for her work rests on the fundamental idea that art is sparked through the situation, collaboration and togetherness of individuals.
Osk works in different media. Depending on idea and subject, her works find their channel. Often in the form of a video or video sculpture. Also paintings, photographs, performances, books, texts, film. Osk is interested in society and many of her works boundaries, visible and invisible. The tension between inside-outside, private-public, human-nature, child-adult
Æsa Sigurjónsdóttir
EDUCATION
MA, HdK Berlin, prof. Valie Export, 1994
Berlin University of the Arts, 1988-1994
Iceland School of Arts and Crafts, 1984-1986
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2024 SINDRABÆR, Gamlabúð, Höfn
2024 BERLIN, Túndran og tifið á Sléttu, Raufarhöfn
2022 MILK, Mjólkárvirkjun, Arnarfjord
2020 ELDVÖRP, Reykjanesbær Art Museum
2020 KIND / LANDVIST, Stóri-Klofi, Landsveit
2019 GENIUS LOCI, Breiðholts pool
2019 KAR, Volcano Museum & Swimming Pool, Stykkishólmur
2019 KIND, Aurodhan Art Gallery, Pondicherry, India
2019 KUMBH MELA, Aurodhan Art Gallery, Pondicherry, India
2018 ART ÄKÄSLOMPOLO, Lapland
2018 COVERING THE DISTANCE, Reykjavík Art Museum
2017 SAGAS ON THIN ICE, Miami, USA
2016 BY WATER, Ekenäs / Helsinki
2015 SAGA, Listasafn Íslands / Kunsthalle Recklinghausen / Art Museum Tallin
2014 STREAM, Gallery GRO, Jakobstad, Finland
2014 FESTIVAL OF FUTURE NOWS, Neue Nationalgalerie, Berlin
2014 SKYGGNI, SKILTI Gallery, Reykjavík
2013 MÝRARGULL, Norræna Húsið, Reykjavík
2012 SYNTAGMA, Art Museum of Akureyri
2012 NÚNINGUR / FRICTION, ASÍ Art Museum
2011 TIGERBUTTER, Reykjavík Art Museum
2010 SPOR, ASÍ Art Museum
2010 NORDISK KONSTTRIENNAL, Eskilstuna konstmuseum, Sweden
2009 BROWN, IN DEEP WATER, Hafnarborg
2008 BYE BYE ICELAND, Akureyri Art Museum
2006 EUROPEAN IDENTITY – DOUPTS OR HOPE, Kaliningrad
2006 RETHINKING NORDIC COLONIALISM, Living Art Museum
2005 SCHEISSLAND, ISLANDBILDER, Cologne
2005 SETTLEMENT, National Gallery of Iceland
2005 WOHNGLUCK / TRAUMHAUSMUSTER, Kunstfrühling Bremen
2005 SPEAKERS CORNER, Slunkaríki Ísafjörður
2005 DANCE, Reykjavik Project Space
2005 POSITIVE GROWTH – NEGATIVE GROWTH, ASÍ Art Museum
2004 POLIS, GALERIE SZTUKI WSPÓLCZESNEJ, Wroclaw, PL
2004 SETTLEMENT, BERLIN NORTH, Hambuger Bahnhof, Berlin
2004 ETHICS OF ECOLOGY, Frombork, PL
2003 IN AND OUT OF THE WINDOW, ASÍ Art Museum
2003 SOMETHING ELSE, Gallery Hlemmur
2002 SETTLEMENT, CAMP, Höfn Hornafjördur
2002 HYPERCRAZE, Living Art Museum
2002 SETTLEMENT, Slunkaríki, Ísafjordur
2000 SCENÉANCE, Galleri Leena Kuumola, Helsinki
2000 DIA / SLIDE / TRANSPARENCY, Kunstamt Kreuzberg, NGBK, Berlin
2000 NORDEN, Kunsthalle Wien
2000 THE SEVEN VIRTUES, Þingvellir
1997 SCENÉANCE, Gallery I8
1996 GOLDRAUSH VII, Martin Gropiusbau, Berlin
OTHER
Guest artist, Circolo Scandinavo, Rome, 2020 & 2021
Guest artist, Skaftfell, Seyðisfjörður, 2020
Guest artist, HIAP (Helsinki International Artist Program), 2016/2017
Guest artist, Skaftfell, Seyðisfjörður, 2015
Guest artist, Cité International des Arts, Paris 2015
Guest artist, Dalsåsen, Norway, 2006
Guest artist in Sveaborg, Finland, 1999
2020, 2018, 2015, 2013, 2011, 2008, 2005, 2004, 2000, 1997: artists’ salaries (3 – 24 months)
– Project grants from the Visual Arts Fund
2012: Prize money and recognition from the Guðmundur S. Kristinsdóttir Art Fund
1999: Grant from the City of Reykjavík
1995 Prize from the Svavar Guðnason Art Fund – Ásta Eiríksdóttir
1995 “Goldrausch” – a project for women artists in Berlin
1994-1996: Scholarship of the Academy of Fine Arts in Berlin (NaFÖG)
Part-time teacher at LHÍ, Reykjavík Academy of Fine Arts, UdK in Berlin, Nordiska Konstskolan in Kokkola in Finland, LungA School in Seyðisfjörður
Living Art Museum, board member, chairman 2000-2002