Light into Colour

Svavar Guðnason (1909-1988) is known as one of the pioneers of early abstract expressionist painting in Europe. His influential exhibition in Listamannaskálinn in Reykjavík in 1945 played a major role in paving the way for abstract art in Iceland. He matured as an artist in Denmark during the turbulent years of the Second World War as part of a group of progressive artists associated with Helhesten (The Hell-Horse) who through their works and ideals of a free, spontaneous expression, laid the foundation for the renowned Cobra movement.

In this prolific group of artists, Guðnason adopted an open-minded attitude toward artistic creativity, across definitions and boundaries. Throughout his career, he remained dedicated to the ideals of unrestrained expression and the universal value of art. His works reflect an immersion in the creative process, and a constant exploration of the expressive value and properties of colours, their texture and physical presence. Whether painting or drawing, working with oil paint, pastels or watercolour, on canvas or various types of paper, using brushes, palette knives or other tools, Guðnason regarded his works as equivalent means of expression, frequently exhibiting his oil paintings, pastels and watercolours side by side. Spanning Guðnason’s entire career, the exhibition Light into Colour aims to convey the artist’s diverse methods and materials, and the expressive vitality of his art.