The Artist - Hreinn Fridfinnsson

Hreinn Fridfinnsson was born in Iceland in 1943. In the beginning of the 1970s, he moved to Amsterdam, where he has lived ever since. Still, Fridfinnsson has had regular contact with his homeland and held exhibitions in the other Nordic countries. This year, he represents Iceland in the big international art exhibition – the Venice Biennale.

Lately, Hreinn Fridfinnsson's art has often taken its starting point in the invisible, that which cannot be seen, but still affects our entire view of the world. Both the form and material in his sculptures express these thoughts and feelings. He has a lyrical-poetic character which ties him to the invisible world of the Icelandic sagas. Fridfinnsson is not an artist who is mostly interested in individual problems, but rather asks questions that involve everyone.

“Alveborg” awakens thoughts about Nordic mythology with trolls and elves, as well as Greek philosopher Plato and his idea of tetrahedron (a pyramid with four identical triangles) as a symbol for the universe and Nordic mythology. The crystal on the beautiful polished natural rock symbolises both the light and the clarity of the elves. In Hattfjelldal, it also resembles the municipal's own crystals.

It is important to Hreinn Fridfinnsson to leave the interpretation of his work to those who view the sculpture, and let his/her imagination wander freely.”