Saturday, 25th January at 3 p.m. We warmly welcome you to the opening of the exhibition. Helga Vignis Bragasonar, Kyrrs career, which revolves around the photographer's visual exploration of buildings and building materials. The subject matter also involves a multi-layered analysis of the beginning and end of buildings, where Helgi critically examines numerous aspects of the construction industry, such as material utilisation, waste, and environmental impact. The exhibition features, among other things, still lifes created from construction waste or symbols of affluence from building sites, as well as photographs of concrete fragments and drawings of buildings that have been demolished long before their time. The exhibition is part of the Iceland Photo Festival 2025 and is curated by Aldís Arnardóttir.

Construction and bustling building sites are modern symbols of prosperity and wealth, just as the still lifes of 16th-century Dutch artists were for the society from which they emerged. Throughout history, however, the number of construction cranes has often been interpreted as a symbol of a country's prosperous economic state – the more cranes there are, the greater the society's prosperity. Thus, an erect, imported construction crane can be seen as a precious cargo from distant lands. However, it is also worth noting that almost nothing on the building sites found here in Iceland is of Icelandic origin – not the cement, not the formwork, not the electrical wires, not the pylons.

This development is a clear sign of the effects of prosperity and globalisation, which certainly extend far beyond the Icelandic construction industry. In his work, however, the artist points out that such rapid economic growth often lacks prudence, foresight and efficiency. Furthermore, it can be noted that buildings which have even stood for only half a human lifespan are in many cases demolished to make way for new ones, which again raises questions about the ephemeral nature of urban development and the sacrifices that are often forgotten when the man-made environment undergoes change.

Helgi Vignir Bragason (b. 1972) graduated with a diploma in creative photography from the School of Photography in 2023. He had previously completed an M.Sc. in Management from the University of Reykjavík (2013) and a B.Sc. in Building Engineering from Vitus Bering CVU in Horsens, Denmark (2003). Helgi's work is also often connected to his decades of experience in the construction industry. The artist's recent exhibitions include ÁBATI – a reflection on material at the Fire Station, Reykjavík (2024), and Ljósrák at Gallery Kannski, Reykjavík (2024). Helgi Vignir is a member of FÍSL and SÍM and lives and works in Hafnarfjörður.

Free admission – see you at Hafnarborg.