Today, groundbreaking visual artist Joan Jonas will be in conversation with Markús Þór Andrésson, Director of the Reykjavík Art Museum, alongside the incredible Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson, talking about how Halldór Laxness’s works have inspired them in their own artistic creation. Joan has been under influence of Under the Glacier and Ragnar of World Light. The conversation will raise questions about the afterlife of literature in visual art: What in Laxness’s works offers such a transformation?
This is an event organized by the Reykjavík Art Museum and Gljúfrasteinn Museum, on the occasion of Ragnar Kjartansson’s exhibition of the work Worldlight at the Reykjavík Art Museum and the 70th anniversary of Halldór Laxness’ Nobel Prize.
In an interview with Icelandic news outlet Vísir, Joan says this about Laxness:”He added things to my work and transformed the work because of the poetry, his poetry. ” Ragnar speaks about the influence that Joan has had on his work: “Big time, kind of embarrasingly much. I use literature a lot in my work and it has totally come from, Joan opened that door for the artists who came after her, to fool around with literature. I think it’s fantastic that Joan is here. One of the greatest artists of our time. Wow. She’s inspired by Laxness, it’s a good reminder of how important a writer he is.”
