Hafnarfjörður's Artist in Residence 2017

Visual artist Steingrímur Eyfjörð has been appointed Artist in Residence of Hafnarfjörður for 2017. The Culture and Tourism Committee of Hafnarfjörður called for nominations for the title of City Artist in early 2017, and numerous nominations were received. The committee's decision was that for 2017, the visual artist Steingrímur Eyfjörð would be the City Artist of Hafnarfjörður.

Steingrímur Eyfjörð was born in 1954; he studied fine art in Iceland and the Netherlands. In his work, Steingrímur has delved into the realms of philosophy, science, sociology and anthropology, where the subjects can be as diverse as religion, politics, popular culture, Icelandic culture and history. His work often deals with what might be called modern-day folklore, drawing its material from esotericism, conspiracy theories and various pseudosciences. These stories reflect the multifaceted nature of humanity's quest for knowledge and attempts to define and examine reality from a broader perspective than that offered by conventional science.

A narrative work

Drawing is a voluminous means of expression in Steingríms's work, and in them a close visual kinship between drawing and literature is evident, as his works are often narrative in style. In Steingríms's works, one finds a passionate and non-judgemental discourse, where the beauty and the lyrical nature of all creation are points of contact. They are a kind of inward-looking journey or exploration, where each individual must come to terms with a particular situation. Often, it is a kind of play with the concept of art, where the work's progression, the creative process itself, is a visible part of it. Steingrímur's works raise thought-provoking questions about science, religion, politics, and Icelandic national and popular culture. Throughout this process, there is a belief in the innate intelligence of the individual within a society that seeks to mould people into a uniform form.

A career spanning four decades

Steingrím's diverse career spans four decades; he has exhibited his work both at home and abroad, both solo and with others. He has taught and been active in the professional association of visual artists. He was Iceland's representative at the Venice Biennale in 2007. Steingrímur has lived in Hafnarfjörður for the past five years; in January, a solo exhibition of his work was held at Hafnarborg, entitled 'Kvenhetjan'. The City Artist of Hafnarfjörður receives a payment of 1,000,000 króna as an incentive for continued creativity and activity. On Friday, 21 April at 8 p.m., there will be a short presentation on Steingrímur's career here at Hafnarborg.

^{Photographer: Einar Falur Ingólfsson}