Sirra Sigrun Sigurdardottir (1977)
Laugavegur 132
105 Reykjavik
mobile +354 697 33 73
sirra@this.is
BIO
Sirra Sigrun Sigurdardottir (b. 1977) graduated from the Iceland Academy of the Arts in 2001 and continued her studies in Art Theory at the University of Iceland from 2003 to 2004. She is one of the founders of Kling & Bang gallery and KlinK and BanK in Reykjavikand has in that capacity organized a number of exhibitions and projects, including Jason Rhoades’ and Paul McCarthy’s Sheep Plug (2004), John Bock’s film Skipholt (2005) and Kling & Bang’s Sirkusfor Frieze projects(2008). Sirra Sigrun Sigurdardottir has exhibited extensively in Iceland and internationally.
Sirra’s work often seems to find its footing on a thin line between art and entertainment, catching the viewer’s attention without revealing careful artistic investigations into the color spectrum and principles of movement and space. Certain personal symbols bear reference to art history, the status of the artist, statistical information, scientific theories and topographical contexts. Her work constantly evokes a response similar to a child’s sense of captivation by a magician’s illusions.
Statement
My work as an artist constitutes both working on my own individual art and in groups/collectives that involves creating collaborative works of art as well as curating and facilitating production with other artist of their work. For me this way of practice is a great way to take my artistic vision and channel it into a complete and consistent artistic approach. It is a way of life, I want everything I do in this context to be an impulse to act like an artist.
In this artistic vision I do not have a singular aim and interest, it is constructed and rebuild as I go along in the process. As a result my work is a response, research and composition of each given place and time the work is created in.
For some time now the focus of my individual practice has been on the illusion of permanence, the development of ideologies and transgression of knowledge. Evolution in systems of understanding as well as the processes of decline in these systems. My observation and research into these topics merges in the working process with other subjects of interest. The constant point of reference is the lexicon of art history and the mechanics of the art world.
Education:
2011–(2013) Art Practice, School of Visual Arts, New York, USA
2003–2004 University of Iceland, Department of Philosophy, Art Theory. Reykjavik, Iceland.
1997–2001 Art Academy of Iceland, BA degree, Mixed Media dep.Reykjavik, Iceland.
1996–1997 Icelandic College of Art & Craft Reykjavik, Iceland.
Selected solo exhibitions:
2008
Uncertainty principle, Kling & Bang gallery, Reykjavik Art Festival. Reykjavik, Iceland
Basement, Torstasse 111, Berlin, Germany
2007
Fata Morgana, The Living Art Museum, Reykjavik, Iceland
2005
Movements, Kling & Bang gallery, Reykjavik, Iceland
2003
Installation Really /Alvoru, Art festival of Arborg., Selfoss, Iceland.
Mokuleki, collaboration with Erling T.V. Klingenberg, Skaftfell, Cultural Centre. Seydisfjordur, Iceland.
2002
Senses of Balance, Kompan. Akureyri, Iceland.
Selected group exhibitions:
2012
(Two man show) Dorothea Schlueter gallery, Hamborg, Germany. (October)
(Two man show) 68 Square Metres Art Space, Copenhagen, Denmark. (October)
Ehibiting and curating an exhibition in School of Visual Art's Gallery, New York, US. (July)
[I]ndependent People, Reykjavík Art Festival, The Reykjavík Art Museum, Reykjavik Iceland. (May)
2011
The Space Between Now and Then, Galería OMR, Mexico City, Mexico
Trolley presents TJ Boulting presenting Kling & Bang presenting The Confected Video Archive, TJ Boulting, London, UK
The Big Picture, Nuna-Now Art festival, Ace Art, Winnipeg, Canada. (+ residency)
Perspectives - On the Borders of Art and Philosophy, Reykjavik Art Museum, Reykjavik, Iceland
2010
Tower of Now, No Soul For Sale, Festival of Independents, Tate Modern, Turbine hall, London, UK
Time, Dionysia international residency, Gallery Dynjandi Bildudal,Iceland
Acknowledging knowledge, LA Museum, Hveragerdi, Iceland
2009
Iceland meets Berlin, Emerson gallery, Berlin, Germany
Rainbow, Skaftfell Book Store, Seydisfjordur, Iceland
One month residency in Upernavik north west Greenland
2008
Sundogs, Truck Gallery, Calgary, Canada. (+ residency)
Sirkus, Frieze Projects - Frieze Art Fair, Regents Park, London, UK
2007
Islandia, Skolska 28 gallery, Prague, Czech Republic (+ residency)
Kling & Bang VS Torstrasse 111, Torstrasse 111, Berlin, Germany
2006
The Apostles’ Clubhouse, Reykjavik Art Museum, Reykjavik, Iceland
Glocal, Ground One, Festival Expo, Quartair Contemporary Art initiatives, Hague, Netherlands
6th Annual Conference of the Dieter Roth Academy, Gulangyu Institute, Xiamen, China.
Idea of North, Saint Mary’s University Art Gallery, Halifax, Canada
2005
Patricide and Witchtime, The Nordic House, Reykjavik, Iceland.
BerlInvasion - Berliner Liste, Klink and Bank Invasion, Old Vitra-Design Museum, Berlin,
5th Annual Conference of the Dieter Roth Academy, Reykjavik Art Festival, Reykjavik Art Museum
2004
Dreams of Dystopia KlinK and BanK, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Winter Mass, The Nordic House, Reykjavik, Iceland.
In between – among others, the Cube gallery, Iceland Academy of the Arts,
4th Annual Conference of the Dieter Roth Academy, Lubeck, Germany
Summerdays, LA museum, Hveragerdi, Iceland
The Garden, Klink & BanK, Reykjavik Iceland,
Vision & Sound, KlinK og BanK, Reykjavik, Iceland
I kolli minum geymi eg gullid, KlinK and BanK, Reykjavik, Iceland
In-novation, Ice-tech, Reykjavik, Iceland
(for cv further back please contact me)
Other art related projects & positions:
2003 - Kling & Bang gallery: Founder / owner
2004 - 2005 KlinK & BanK artists’ base: Founder
2002 – 2004 Board member of The Living Art Museum
2006 – 2009 Board member of Sequences Real Time Art Festival
2001 – 2009 Museum guide and educator at Reykjavik Art Museum.
2009 – 2011 Public program manager, Reykjavik Art Museum.
2002 Dieter Roth estate, archives
2004 -2005 Sheep Plug, Jason Rhoades and Paul McCarthy, production and performance for the group exhibition Dionysiac, Centre Pompidou, Paris, France
2005 Production of and performance in John Bock ‘s film Skipholt
2007 Installation of Steingrimur Eyfjord’s The Golden Plover Has Arrived, for the Icelandic Pavilion at the 52nd Venice Biennale
2008 Sirkus, Frieze Projects - Frieze Art Fair, Regents Park, London, UK
Stipends and awards:
2006 Visual Artists’ stipend of Iceland’s Ministry of Culture: 6 months
2007-2009 Visual Artists’ stipend of Iceland’s Ministry of Culture: 24 months
2008 The Dungal Art Fund - Award
2011 Visual Artists’ stipend of Iceland’s Ministry of Culture: 6 months
2012 The Svavar Gudnason - Award
Membership:
Member of The Living Art Museum
Member of The Reykjavik Association of Sculptors
Member of The Dieter Roth Academy
Publications:
Perspectives - On the Borders of Art and Philosophy, Reykjavik Art Museum, Reykjavik, Iceland,
A survey of younger international contemporary artists, author Francesca Gavin, Laurence King, London, 2011.Acknowledging knowledge, LA Museum, Hveragerdi, Iceland, 2010.
Icelandic Art Today, Hatje Cantz, Ostfildern, Germany, 2009The Apostles’ Clubhouse, Reykjavik Art Museum, Reykjavik, Iceland, 2006P.s Postilla - A parallel study on Apostels, Reykjavik Art Museum, Iceland, 2008Tivoli, LA Museum, Hveragerdi, Iceland, 2005All to the boats, Skaftfell and The Living Art Museum, Reykjavik, Iceland, 2002Uncertainty principle, Kling & Bang gallery, Reykjavik, Iceland, 2008.
Skaftfell a faeri, Roth-Verlag, Mosfellsbae, Iceland, 2002