Helgi Þorgils Friðjónsson (born March 7, 1953 in Búðardalur, Iceland) is an Icelandic artist. He grew up in Búðardalur and moved at the age of 15 to Reykjavík. He studied Fine Arts and Crafts from 1971 to 1976, after which he went to The Hague and studied at De Vrije Academie (1976–77) and then at the Jan van Eyck Academie in Maastricht. He returned to Iceland when his studies were finished in 1979.
In a monograph by Elena Pontiggia, the artist's work was described as "northern, polar fairytales, full of fish and walrus, crossed by ice sheets and clouds, where unexpected water springs appear and there is an uninterrupted limbo of angels and birds chirping."[1]
Helgi has worked with drawings, graphics, sculpture and text. In his initial paintings, done while he was a student in the Netherlands, he complied with all the rules that were followed at the time. They struck him as overcomplicated and he elected to simplify things. He began to "transfer the sketch onto canvas, i.e. to think directly in the painting."[3] He says he works images rapidly and that they are based on concepts connecting them to particular time periods.
Helgi was one of the painters involved at the beginning of the New Painting movement that was launched in Iceland in 1980. He first showed oil paintings in Gallery Leechers Street 7 in 1980, and then at the Nordic House in 1981. He also took part in large exhibitions like "New Painting" at The Living Art Museum and the "Gold Coast Spirit" exhibition held at the JL-House in 1983. The last two exhibitions garnered considerable publicity and shook up the Icelandic art community. It was at an exhibition at the Kjarvalsstaðir branch of the Reykjavík Art Museum in 1987 that Helgi first received widespread recognition for his work.
Helgi began to paint figurative characters, which have since characterized his painting, around 1987; this was seen in paintings in his Kjarvalsstaðir exhibition and others thereafter. The figures most characteristically depicted in his landscapes are centaurs and angels. Helgi extensively references legends and stories in ways that take on surreal undertones, but the work is never formally surrealistic. Gunnar B. Kvaran says in a book about Helgi published by the Reykjavík Art Museum in 1989 that the idea and the subject have always played an equally important role in the formal implementation of his inspirations.
Helgi says that he works with the solitary person in his paintings. This can, for example, be seen in the people and other figures who almost never touch, with eyes never meeting, so that the figures seem barely to know each other. He reinforces this theme by painting women as well as men naked and without appeal to sexuality. Solitude is absolute.
2005 Galerie der Stadt Salzburg im Mirabellgarten (with Eggert Petursson), Salzburg, Austria
2005 Tregablandin fegurd, Akureyri Art Museum, Akureyri, Iceland
2005 ASI Art Museum, Reykjavik
2005 Drawings, 101 Gallery, Reykjavik
2006 Galerie Leger, Malmö, Sweden
2006 Skard, Gallery Amina (with Einar Falur Ingolfsson), Reykjavik
2006 Viaggio in Islanda, Gallery Duet (with Salvo), Varese, Italy
2008 Gallery Turpentine, Reykjavik
The Corridor gallery
Friðjónsson opened a small exhibition space in 1980 that has since exhibited works of Icelandic and international artists.[5]
References
^Pontiggia, Elena (2003). Helgi Friðjónsson. Milan: Edizione Galleria Franco Toselli.
^A Brief Look Back: Icelandic Participation at the Venice Biennale 2012-03-28 at the Wayback Machine, LIST Icelandic Art News, 28 February 2007.
^Sigurðsson, Hannes; Gíslason, Ólafur; Hringsson, Þorri (1996). Helgi Þorgils Friðjónsson — Visual Congress VI. Reykjavík: Menningarmiðstöðin Gerðuberg.
^"Helgi Thorgils Fridjonsson". Kirkjulistahátíð í Hallgrímskirkju í Reykjavík. Hallgrimskirkja Friends of the Arts Society. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
^"gallery the corridor Reykjavík". Retrieved 28 December 2015.
Sources
Gunnar B. Kvaran. (1989). Helgi Þorgils Friðjónsson. Reykjavík: Listasafn Reykjavíkur, Kjarvalsstaðir.
Ólafur Kvaran. (1999). Helgi Þorgils Friðjónsson. Reykjavík: Listasafn Íslands.
Hannes Sigurðsson, Ólafur Gíslason, Þorri Hringsson. (1996). Helgi Þorgils Friðjónsson - Sjónþing VI. Reykjavík: Menningarmiðstöðin Gerðuberg. (Visual Congress 6, Gerðuberg Cultural Centre)
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This is an Icelandic name The last name is patronymic not a family name this person is referred to by the given name Helgi Helgi THorgils Fridjonsson born March 7 1953 in Budardalur Iceland is an Icelandic artist He grew up in Budardalur and moved at the age of 15 to Reykjavik He studied Fine Arts and Crafts from 1971 to 1976 after which he went to The Hague and studied at De Vrije Academie 1976 77 and then at the Jan van Eyck Academie in Maastricht He returned to Iceland when his studies were finished in 1979 In a monograph by Elena Pontiggia the artist s work was described as northern polar fairytales full of fish and walrus crossed by ice sheets and clouds where unexpected water springs appear and there is an uninterrupted limbo of angels and birds chirping 1 Helgi represented Iceland at the Venice Biennale in 1990 2 Untitled watercolour 2014 by artist Helgi Fridjonsson Contents 1 Painting 2 Exhibitions 3 The Corridor gallery 4 References 5 Sources 6 External linksPainting EditHelgi has worked with drawings graphics sculpture and text In his initial paintings done while he was a student in the Netherlands he complied with all the rules that were followed at the time They struck him as overcomplicated and he elected to simplify things He began to transfer the sketch onto canvas i e to think directly in the painting 3 He says he works images rapidly and that they are based on concepts connecting them to particular time periods Helgi was one of the painters involved at the beginning of the New Painting movement that was launched in Iceland in 1980 He first showed oil paintings in Gallery Leechers Street 7 in 1980 and then at the Nordic House in 1981 He also took part in large exhibitions like New Painting at The Living Art Museum and the Gold Coast Spirit exhibition held at the JL House in 1983 The last two exhibitions garnered considerable publicity and shook up the Icelandic art community It was at an exhibition at the Kjarvalsstadir branch of the Reykjavik Art Museum in 1987 that Helgi first received widespread recognition for his work Helgi began to paint figurative characters which have since characterized his painting around 1987 this was seen in paintings in his Kjarvalsstadir exhibition and others thereafter The figures most characteristically depicted in his landscapes are centaurs and angels Helgi extensively references legends and stories in ways that take on surreal undertones but the work is never formally surrealistic Gunnar B Kvaran says in a book about Helgi published by the Reykjavik Art Museum in 1989 that the idea and the subject have always played an equally important role in the formal implementation of his inspirations Helgi says that he works with the solitary person in his paintings This can for example be seen in the people and other figures who almost never touch with eyes never meeting so that the figures seem barely to know each other He reinforces this theme by painting women as well as men naked and without appeal to sexuality Solitude is absolute Exhibitions EditList of major exhibits 4 1980 Biennale de Paris France 1983 Thick Air Fodor Museum Amsterdam 1990 Venice Biennale Venice Italy 1993 Prospect 93 Frankfurt Germany 2002 Confronting Nature the Corcoran Gallery of Art Washington D C Solo exhibitions 2005 Galerie der Stadt Salzburg im Mirabellgarten with Eggert Petursson Salzburg Austria 2005 Tregablandin fegurd Akureyri Art Museum Akureyri Iceland 2005 ASI Art Museum Reykjavik 2005 Drawings 101 Gallery Reykjavik 2006 Galerie Leger Malmo Sweden 2006 Skard Gallery Amina with Einar Falur Ingolfsson Reykjavik 2006 Viaggio in Islanda Gallery Duet with Salvo Varese Italy 2008 Gallery Turpentine ReykjavikThe Corridor gallery EditFridjonsson opened a small exhibition space in 1980 that has since exhibited works of Icelandic and international artists 5 References Edit Pontiggia Elena 2003 Helgi Fridjonsson Milan Edizione Galleria Franco Toselli A Brief Look Back Icelandic Participation at the Venice Biennale Archived 2012 03 28 at the Wayback Machine LIST Icelandic Art News 28 February 2007 Sigurdsson Hannes Gislason olafur Hringsson THorri 1996 Helgi THorgils Fridjonsson Visual Congress VI Reykjavik Menningarmidstodin Gerduberg Helgi Thorgils Fridjonsson Kirkjulistahatid i Hallgrimskirkju i Reykjavik Hallgrimskirkja Friends of the Arts Society Retrieved 28 December 2015 gallery the corridor Reykjavik Retrieved 28 December 2015 Sources EditGunnar B Kvaran 1989 Helgi THorgils Fridjonsson Reykjavik Listasafn Reykjavikur Kjarvalsstadir olafur Kvaran 1999 Helgi THorgils Fridjonsson Reykjavik Listasafn Islands olafur Kvaran fyrirlestur a http www ugla hi is i November 2008 Hannes Sigurdsson olafur Gislason THorri Hringsson 1996 Helgi THorgils Fridjonsson Sjonthing VI Reykjavik Menningarmidstodin Gerduberg Visual Congress 6 Gerduberg Cultural Centre Helgi THorgils Fridjonsson 2007 The corridor Sott 17 November 2008 at http www helgi fridjonsson com Archived 2009 03 09 at the Wayback Machine Galerie Schulze Author 1991 Maximalists Helgi Thorgils Fridjonsson Marcello Jori Milan Kunc Daryush Shokof Wainer Vaccari Bess Cutler Gallery External links EditArtist s web site http helgif is Opening of an exhibition in ASI art museum https www youtube com watch v gm ZnHIlpVU Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Helgi Fridjonsson amp oldid 1160016385, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
