Explore how creativity has permeated Icelandic society and become a global asset in cultural production and advertising.

Art historian and curator Æsa Sigurjónsdóttir will explore “Icelandicity” through the work of artists such as Birgir Andrésson, Ólöf Nordal, Rúrí, Ólafur Elíasson, and Ragnar Kjartansson, as well as the concept of nation branding developed by Simon Anholt and other marketing experts. Her talk is titled “Postnational Identities and Environmental Strategies in Icelandic Contemporary Art.”

After Sigurjónsdóttir’s presentation, Jean Robertson, Chancellor’s Professor Emerita, will moderate the Q&A.

Support for this event is provided in part by the Christel DeHaan Family Foundation Visiting Artist Lecture Fund.

JOIN US IN PERSON

This event is free and open to the public. It will take place from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Eskenazi Hall’s Basile Auditorium. A reception will follow.

Masks are optional on all IU campuses. Go to iu.edu/covid for the most recent COVID-19 updates, policies, and resources

Visit herrongalleries.org for details on parking, gallery hours, exhibitions, and more.

ATTEND VIRTUALLY

Guests who prefer to attend virtually can do so by pre-registering at go.iu.edu/4sL9. The talk will also be live-streamed at facebook.com/HerronGalleries beginning at 5:30 p.m.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Æsa Sigurjónsdóttir is a curator and associate professor of art history, theory, and curatorial studies at the University of Iceland. Her research focuses on contemporary art, art historiography, the history and theory of photography, visual culture and curatorial studies, and she has written extensively on these subjects. She has curated exhibitions for the National Gallery of Iceland, the Reykjavík Art Museum, the Reykjavík Art Festival, Bozar Brussels, Riga’s European Capital of Culture, the “Curated by” festival in Vienna, and the Fondation des Artistes (FNAGP) in France.

Sigurjónsdóttir’s most recent curatorial project, with artists Brynds Snbjörnsdóttir and Mark Wilson, was “Visitations: Polar Bears out of Place” at Akureyri Art Museum from Sept. 25, 2021, to Jan. 16, 2022.