Hringr is a series of paintings by the artist Þorbjörg Signý Ágústsson (b. 1998) which seeks to interpret life and death through selected passages from the Völuspá. Each work in the series is based on key moments from the poem, which Þorbjörg uses to express connections that have shaped her experience of her own life. Thus, she seeks symbols for life, for all that is to come and all that has been. In the Völuspá, this cycle manifests in a constant tension between creation and the end. The poem is a captivating cultural heritage that tells the reader of the origin of the world in Norse mythology. The poem presents strong themes that reflect life itself. The search for wisdom, loss, and joy in the company of those closest to the gods often recall the fury and passion of humans. The poem appears in two Old Norse manuscripts, the Hauksbók and the Konungsbók. The stanzas recount the origin of the Aesir, their fates, and their final moments in Ragnarök. Beginning, middle and end. Life and death. The narrator is the Völva herself, and she guides the reader through 67 stanzas about the events leading up to the end of the world. Thorbjorg's paintings refer to several stanzas from the poem which she considers important for the narrative of life and death, and for her quest to understand the cycle of life in the Völuspá.
In the first stanza of the Hávamál, the Seeress relates her story to Odin and the Æsir; the story begins and life is brought to the poem.
1. Topic.
I call upon all
holy sheep,
more and less
possibly Heimdall's.
Do you want me, Valföður,
to count well
ancient gossip of a man
They are at the forefront of humanity.
Thorbjörg Signý is a 27-year-old artist who is taking her first steps into the art world. Her first work, Höfgar nauðir, was exhibited in 2021, which she created in collaboration with Creative Summer Jobs. She has also worked on several murals and exhibited her work at the Hafnarfjörður Library at the end of 2025. She graduated from the visual arts programme at Menntaskólinn á Tröllaskaga in 2024. Thorbjörg's primary medium is painting, and she works mainly with acrylics in her pieces. She draws inspiration from her own emotional life and experiences, creating colourful narratives about the self, the past, the future, and the moments in life that shape us all. Myths and legends are a rich source of inspiration for her, and she uses them to shed light on human nature and life itself.
There will be a special exhibition opening on Thursday, 20th August from 18:00-21:00 and you are welcome!
Curator: Elvar Gunnarsson
Other opening times:
Friday 21 August, 13:00–18:00
Sat. 22 August 13:00 - 17:00
Sun. 23 August 14:00 – 17:00
LG // Litla Gallerý is supported by the Culture and Tourism Committee.
Hafnarfjörður's due to the event
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In these works, I explore the relationship between a mare and a foal; the trust, protection, and quiet bonds that form between them. These connections are not always expressed through touch or obvious gestures, but through presence, distance, body language, and attention.
The mare represents love, shelter, and guidance, while the foal approaches the world with curiosity, vulnerability, and growing independence. Between them, a space emerges that is both physical and emotional; a space where trust can form and connection can grow.
The Icelandic horse is meaningful to me as a symbol of sensitivity, resilience, and closeness to nature. In the paintings, I focus on the subtle bonds that form between mare and foal; moments where trust, care, and independence coexist.
The Space Between Us is about the invisible bonds that form when two beings trust one another. It is about the closeness that can exist within distance, and the connections that hold us together without tying us down.
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Hringr is a series of paintings by the artist Þorbjörg Signý Ágústsson (b. 1998), exploring life and death through selected verses from the Völuspá. Each work draws upon a pivotal moment in the poem, using its imagery to express the connections that have shaped the artist's own experience of life. Through these paintings, she searches for symbols of life itself, of all that is yet to come, and all that has already been. In Völuspá, this cycle unfolds through a constant tension between creation and destruction. The poem is a remarkable work of Norse cultural heritage, recounting the origin of the world in Norse mythology. Throughout its verses, powerful themes emerge that reflect life itself. The pursuit of wisdom, the experience of loss, and the joy found among those closest to the gods often mirror the passion and fury of humankind. Völuspá survives in two medieval manuscripts: Hauksbók and Konungsbók. Its verses recount the beginning of the Æsir, their fate, and their final moments at Ragnarök. Beginning. Middle. End. Life and death. Narrated by the Völva herself, the poem guides the reader through sixty-seven stanzas describing the events leading to the end of the world. Þorbjörg's paintings reference selected verses that she considers essential to Völuspá's meditation on life, death, and her own search for an understanding of life's eternal cycle.
In the opening stanza of Hauksbók, the Völva addresses Odin and the Æsir. The story begins, and life awakens within the poem.
Stanza 1
Listening I ask for from all
hallowed kindreds,
greater and lesser
offspring of Heimdallr;
You want, Valfather,
that I should well recount
ancient story of beings
that I remember from the longest ago
Þorbjörg Signý is a 27-year-old artist taking her first steps into the world of fine art. Her first exhibited work, Höfgar nauðir, was presented in 2021 as part of the Creative Summer Jobs programme. Since then, she has completed several mural projects and exhibited a selection of paintings at the Hafnarfjörður Public Library at the end of 2025. She graduated from Menntaskólinn á Tröllaskaga in 2024. Painting is Þorbjörg's primary medium, and she works predominantly with acrylics. She draws inspiration from her own emotional life and personal experiences, creating vivid visual narratives that explore the self, the past, the future, and those fleeting moments that shape us all. Norse mythology and folklore are enduring sources of inspiration in her work, serving as a lens through which she reflects on human nature and life itself. The exhibition opens on 20 August and will run for one weekend. Everyone is warmly welcome.
This exhibition is dedicated to her family and closest friends.
There will be a special exhibition opening on Thursday, 20th August from 18:00-21:00 and you are welcome!
Curator: Elvar Gunnarsson
Other opening hours
Fri 21st July 13:00 – 18:00
Sat 22nd July 12:00 – 17:00
Sun 23rd July 14:00 – 17:00
LG // Litla Gallerý is sponsored by the Culture and Tourism Committee of Hafnarfjörður for this event.
