Sigurdur Gudmundsson
Sunday, 8 January 2012
Work from his oeuvre.
“These photographs, influenced by Fluxus and conceptual art, and collectively titled Situations, construct a certain poetic and philosophical vision through a series of staged situations where the artist himself is a stand-in for a persona caught in different circumstances. Each mise-en-scène frames human existence in a humorous and pointed way, confronting the balance between nature and culture. Gudmundsson juxtaposes his meditations on existential questions, such as D’où venons-nous? Que sommes-nous? Où allons-nous? (Where do we come from? Who are we? Where are we going?), with an imaginative interpretation of the environment and elements of fantasy. At the same time, he positions human beings as part of nature, and offers viewers a fresh angle on the interpretation and experience of culture. The artist’s symbolism is drawn from subjects which range from science to fairytales, though his main source is daily life. Unlike some of the dry conceptual art of the seventies, Gudmundsson’s work is a dynamic meeting of lyricism, humor, and melancholia.” – text via i8