Early in this century, Sandra Dögg studied both design and photography at the Iðnskólinn. For artistic purposes, photography has been her primary medium, but she has also engaged in various forms of design and crafts over the years. Sandra has previously held art and photography exhibitions, both solo and with others. She has published two photography books, and her images have also appeared in anthologies.
Although Sandra had not considered herself an artist for a long time, it was clear that the muse of art was in her every fibre. She constantly travels through different media, finding a flow in the present moment. She loses track of time and place and always finds the most enjoyable medium to be the one she is working with at that very moment.
Curious, playful and resourceful, Sandra has experimented over the years and four years ago she began creating collage works on lacquer plates, or so-called shellac records, which were the precursors to the vinyl records we know today. The circular shape, which characterises the records, has a history longer than art itself and connects us to a perception of the sacred and of time. While it is a captivating form, it also imposes clear limitations.
The plates are delicate and fragile, but when Sandra began to work with them, she herself was both delicate and fragile after a severe trauma. The collages, assembled from images from various sources, allowed her to experiment, to fit and shape. To reassemble herself from what had previously been bound to another form and context.
Both the records and the photographs are items often found at second-hand markets and have even been considered rubbish. But from the chaos, art is born, unruly at first, but then harnessed and tamed in the hands of the artist.
The plates still resonate, though they convey in a new way, and that is precisely what Sandra loves to do in her art. Fiddling and experimenting until what is and was is transferred into what will be. The old and even the discarded are made new.
The artworks are meticulously composed of fragments that seem to belong to one another, not necessarily guided by the artist's narrative, but also open to the interpretation of those who engage with them.
There will be a special exhibition opening on Thursday, 4th December from 18:00-21:00 and you are welcome!
LG // Litla Gallerý is supported by the Culture and Tourism Committee.
Hafnarfjörður's due to the event
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Sandra Dögg
1974
In the early years of this century, Sandra Dögg studied both design and photography at the Technical College Reykjavík. While photography has long been her primary artistic medium, she has also worked across various forms of design and craftsmanship. Over the years she has presented both solo and group exhibitions, published two photography books, and had her images included in several art publications.
For a long time, Sandra did not consider herself an artist, yet it was evident that the artistic impulse ran through every fibre of her being. She moves fluidly between different media, finding presence and momentum in the act of making. Time and place fall away, and the medium she enjoys most is always the one in her hands at that particular moment.
Curious, experimental, and precise, Sandra has continuously explored new ways of working. Four years ago, she began creating collage works on lacquer discs — shellac records, the early predecessors of the vinyl records known today. The circular form that defines these records carries a history older than art itself, linking us symbolically to notions of sacredness and time. It is a form that fascinates while simultaneously imposing clear limitations.
The records are delicate and fragile. When Sandra first began working with them, she herself was in a state of fragility, navigating the aftermath of profound personal grief. The collages — assembled from fragments of images gathered from many directions — became a space for exploration, adjustment, and reconstruction. Through them, she pieced herself together anew, forming something from elements once bound to other shapes and contexts.
Both the records and the images she uses are objects often found in second-hand markets, sometimes dismissed as discarded or obsolete. Yet from this apparent disorder, art emerges — unruly at first, then shaped and guided by the hands of the maker.
The records continue to resonate, though they communicate in a new way, and it is precisely this transformation that Sandra seeks in her creative practice: to experiment and discover, until what is and what was becomes what may be. What is old — even considered outdated — becomes new.
Each work is meticulously constructed from fragments that feel as though they naturally belong together, guided not only by the artist's own narrative instincts but also open to interpretation by those who encounter them.
There will be a special exhibition opening on Thursday, 4th November from 18:00-21:00 and you are welcome!
Other opening hours
Fri 5th Dec 15:00 – 20:00
Sat 6th Dec 13:00 – 20:00
Sunday 7th December 13:00 – 18:00
LG // Litla Gallerý is sponsored by the Culture and Tourism Committee of Hafnarfjörður for this event.
