Contemporary painting from Iceland is the subject of the new exhibition “Hérna” in Hangar-7 in Salzburg, Austria. In questionnaires each participating artist gave background information on their paintings – also Helgi Thorgils Fridjónsson, who offers projection areas with fantastical creatures from myths and legends for individual interpretations.

What is it that makes Icelandic art typical and distinctive?

I went to the Chinese Exhibition in the Museum der Moderne Salzburg today. What does it mean to be Chinese? Obviously something; it’s different though. It seems to be international and something different. Maybe it’s very straight forward and sure of itself and at the same time poetic and difficult to get a hold on. Also influenced by nature.

What role does your country play, its history and its aura, in your own works?

It plays a big part. I am an Icelander; everybody notices the colours and the nature (physical and lyrical).

Beyond this, what are the topics and feelings that you process in your art?

Existential meaning of man, nature and culture.

Is there something like an instruction manual for your pictures – an ideal way of getting closer to the secret and intention behind the picture?

There could be. (There are). But no way is correct, the tracks are in the viewers’ minds.

Please disclose to us how one of the works displayed in the exhibition was created ...

All of them are realized very slowly from different elements collected from the mind. The finger of “The Egg” was first the finger of the artists and his pallet (creation).

... and the story of a chosen detail that is visible in one of your paintings.

These elements can all be found when searched for.
Helgi Thorgils Fridjónsson
Helgi Thorgils Fridjónsson
Helgi Thorgils Fridjónsson
Helgi Thorgils Fridjónsson
Rafael Pinho
Helgi Thorgils Fridjónsson