Symposium

Seas' Blue Yonder – Bryndís H. Snæbjörnsdóttir and Mark Wilson

On the occasion of the exhibition Seas' Blue Yonder by Bryndís H. Snæbjörnsdóttir and Mark Wilson, the National Gallery of Iceland will host a symposium at The National Gallery by the pond on 22 March at 1:00 pm.

Five presentations will be given in connection with the exhibition, and curator Æsa Sigurjónsdóttir will moderate discussions at the end. Museum admission applies.

Programme:

1:00 pm
Seas’ Blue Yonder – Bryndís H. Snæbjörnsdóttir and Mark Wilson

The artists talk about the concept and their working process in the creation of the exhibition Sea Blue at The National Gallery of Iceland.

1:20 pm
In the exhibition Seas’ Blue Yonder, whales are individuals rather than an objectified subjects. Through the lenses of biopower and the ethics of care, the artists challenge status quo stereotypes and reveal the moral conflicts in our relationship with nature. This talk examines whale imagery to ask a vital question: can art foster a new societal vision for the bond between humans and animals?

Æsa Sigurjónsdóttir, professor in art history at the University of Iceland and curator.
(The lecture will be in Icelandic).
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1:50 pm
An American Whaler in Iceland: How the ghost of a whaling station in Seyðisfjörður inspired the artist commission Seas’ Blue Yonder.

The history of the long-vanished site of the first industrial whaling station in Vestdalseyri, Seyðisfjörður serves as the background for understanding changing attitudes in the relationship between humans and whales.

Pari Stave, Head curator of The National Gallery of Iceland
(The lecture will be in English)

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2:10 pm
Right whale, wrong place?
Through the life, times and „afterlife“ of a right whale, caught off the shores of Iceland this talk explores the folklore and materiality of whales in the North Atlantic.

Kristinn Schram, associate professor of folkloristics, University of Iceland.
(The lecture will be in Icelandic)

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2:30 pm
In this presentation, visual artist Þórarinn Blöndal discusses the processing of whales from his personal experience as both a hunter and a nature enthusiast. The talk approaches processing as a knowledge tradition, emphasizing respect for the animal, sustainable use, and the close relationship between humans and nature.

Þórarinn Blöndal, artist
(The lecture will be in Icelandic)

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2:50 pm – 3:10 pm
The curator Æsa Sigurjónsdóttir moderates a panel discussion with the speakers, joined by the artists Bryndís H. Snæbjörnsdóttir and Mark Wilson.