Woman – Working through burnout through creativity // Unnur Gígja Ingimundardóttir

The exhibition is the result of the process of recovering from burnout and guides the viewer from shock and anxiety to exploring their emotions, and finally, to coming to terms with letting go. Emotions can hit with such force that the body reacts with tangible pain, but sometimes they simply need to be allowed to wash over you like a tidal wave. I was so stuck on the question, „why?“ when the anxiety came on, I would lock it away and intensify it, instead of simply letting it pass. When I think about it, a line from the film Elizabethtown always comes to mind: „You have five minutes to wallow in the delicious misery, embrace it, discard it and proceed.“

In the process itself, I worked from a two-dimensional form to three-dimensional, and then back to two-dimensional. The process was very healing in itself. I started in my sketchbook and didn't really know where it would lead me, but a visual interpretation of my state of mind emerged. From that imagery, I decided to sculpt women in different stages of the process and then reinterpret them back into a two-dimensional form. After working so deeply with my emotions, I experienced first-hand how art therapy works and how creativity can help you out of suffering. I rediscovered a part of myself that I had lost through motherhood, studying and work. Eventually, a whole series was created that tells the story of a woman working her way out of burnout through creativity.

Unnur Gígja Ingimundardóttir (b. 1988) has completed a diverse range of art courses, both at the Breiðholti Comprehensive School and the Hafnarfjörður College of Arts and Crafts, eventually graduating from the fashion design programme at FB. She has completed a B.Ed. degree in primary education with a focus on art and craft subjects and will complete a master's degree in teaching art and craft subjects in June 2026. Alongside her studies, she has worked as a teaching assistant in a primary school, first as a supply teacher and later as a form tutor. Over the years, Unnur has always done something creative in her spare time, whether it's drawing, painting, sewing or writing, but it is only now that she is stepping forward as an artist.

Curator: Elvar Gunnarsson

There will be a special exhibition opening on Thursday, 30th April from 18:00-21:00 and you are welcome!

Other opening times:

Friday 1 May, 13:00–18:00
Sat. 2 May 13:00 - 17:00
Sun. 3 May 14:00 – 17:00

LG // Litla Gallerý is supported by the Culture and Tourism Committee of the City of Hafnarfjörður for the event.

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The exhibition is the result of a process of finding my way back from burnout. It traces a journey from nervous collapse and anxiety towards examining emotions and, ultimately, accepting the need to let go. Emotions can hit so hard that the body responds with tangible pain, but sometimes they simply need to be allowed to wash over us like waves. When anxiety arose, I became so stuck asking “why?” that I locked it away and intensified it, instead of allowing it to pass through me. Whenever I think about this, a line from the film Elizabethtown comes to mind: “You have five minutes to wallow in the delicious misery, embrace it, discard it and proceed.”

In the artistic process itself, I moved from two-dimensional work into three-dimensional form and then back again into two dimensions. The process was deeply healing, as it began in my sketchbook, with no real sense of where it would lead, and gradually became a visual interpretation of my state of mind. From that imagery, I decided to sculpt women at different stages of the process, and then translate them back into a two-dimensional form. After working with these emotions on such a deep level, I experienced first-hand how art therapy works and how creative practice can help a person move through suffering. I rediscovered a part of myself that I had lost through motherhood, studies, and work. In the end, the process became a full series telling the story of a woman working her way out of burnout through creation.

Unnur Gígja Ingimundardóttir (b. 1988) has completed a wide range of art courses at both Fjölbrautarskólinn í Breiðholti and Iðnskólinn í Hafnarfirði, and ultimately graduated from the Fashion Design programme at FB. She holds a B.Ed. in Primary Education with a focus on arts and crafts, and will complete her master's degree in arts and crafts education in June 2026. Alongside her studies, she has worked as an instructor in compulsory school, first as a supply teacher and later as a class teacher. Over the years, Unnur has always engaged in creative work in her free time — whether drawing, painting, sewing, or writing — but only now is she stepping outside the box and presenting herself as an artist.

Curator: Elvar Gunnarsson

There will be a special exhibition opening on Thursday, 30th April from 18:00-21:00 and you are welcome!

Other opening hours

Fri 1st May 16:00 – 20:00
Sat 2nd May 13:00 – 17:00
Sun 3rd May 14:00 – 17:00

LG // Litla Gallerý is sponsored by the Culture and Tourism Committee of Hafnarfjörður for this event.