Rúna Thorkelsdóttir
18 Feb - 21 Mar 2012
RÚNA THORKELSSDÓTTIR
Changing Still Lives
18 February - 21 March, 2012
Rúna Thorkelssdóttir (Reykjavik, 1954) works already for decennia with materials found in nature or with ingredients strongly related to these. Iceland knows a long tradition of landscape painters and among them Johannes Sveinsson Kjarval is the most outstanding one. In combination with the dominant presence of nature in this country, Kjarval's work influences younger generations of artists who take frequently nature as a theme. Due to her companionship of many years standing with artist's bookshop Boekie Woekie in Amsterdam Runa Thorkelssdóttir knows many works of Fluxus artists from very close by. She also manages to connect seriousness and humour with her work. In her installation in Galerie van Gelder art and life are closely connected to each other in a generous and relaxed way.
In 'Changing Still Lives' a table is set with cleaning cloths from the studio of Runa Thorkelssdóttir. Among plates with paint, painted fruit, a single plant the visitor awaits drinking glasses, bottles of wine, water, nuts and fresh fruit. High above the table hang pieces of cloth with prints of flowers, which in 2009 were produced in a limited edition by Comme des Garçons for robes, skirts and shirts. On the floor repaired vases are placed, of which the broken parts in different colours create a happy mosaic effect. Paintings with traditional flowers-in-vase are composed with painted slices of lemon and are just like the ceramic plates with paint in a self-evident way placed on the floor. It is remarkable that the combined objects on and around the central placed table evoke first of all the atmosphere of a living room. With this the installation backs out of the code of a regular exhibition.
Changing Still Lives
18 February - 21 March, 2012
Rúna Thorkelssdóttir (Reykjavik, 1954) works already for decennia with materials found in nature or with ingredients strongly related to these. Iceland knows a long tradition of landscape painters and among them Johannes Sveinsson Kjarval is the most outstanding one. In combination with the dominant presence of nature in this country, Kjarval's work influences younger generations of artists who take frequently nature as a theme. Due to her companionship of many years standing with artist's bookshop Boekie Woekie in Amsterdam Runa Thorkelssdóttir knows many works of Fluxus artists from very close by. She also manages to connect seriousness and humour with her work. In her installation in Galerie van Gelder art and life are closely connected to each other in a generous and relaxed way.
In 'Changing Still Lives' a table is set with cleaning cloths from the studio of Runa Thorkelssdóttir. Among plates with paint, painted fruit, a single plant the visitor awaits drinking glasses, bottles of wine, water, nuts and fresh fruit. High above the table hang pieces of cloth with prints of flowers, which in 2009 were produced in a limited edition by Comme des Garçons for robes, skirts and shirts. On the floor repaired vases are placed, of which the broken parts in different colours create a happy mosaic effect. Paintings with traditional flowers-in-vase are composed with painted slices of lemon and are just like the ceramic plates with paint in a self-evident way placed on the floor. It is remarkable that the combined objects on and around the central placed table evoke first of all the atmosphere of a living room. With this the installation backs out of the code of a regular exhibition.