Through the VC Projects podcast platform, “Conversations About Art” Spotify we explore Sigurbjörnsson’s art, studio practice, influences, and inspired theory related to art and humanity. The artist is currently working on a series of paintings related to the heart.
Bjarni Sigurbjörnsson received his Bachelors and Masters of Fine Art at San Francisco Institute of the Art. After completing his degrees, he returned to Reykjavik to continue his career in art. The artist received a two-year stipend from the Icelandic Government for a sizeable site-specific land commission that combined painting and sculpture. In 2003, he took part in Los Angeles International Biennial, and the following year, he participated in the Pilsen International Biennial of Drawing. Over the past 25 years, Sigurbjörnsson has had numerous gallery and museums exhibitions in the U.S.A. and Europe.
Interviews with Bjarni Sigurbjörnsson: Flesh and Mind, Body Consciousness in Painting.
“Inside the Studio with the Heart Paintings"
In this episode, my guest, Bjarni Sigurbjörnsson, and I continue our talk about body consciousness in painting, by visiting his studio outside Reykjavik. We move through the space studying the process of the six-painting series related to the heart. These paintings were created from May – September 2021 and are roughly 10 x 10 feet tall. The artist talks about each work and how it came about. Looking at the finished paintings, we explore perception and sensation, touching again on Merleau Ponty's 'Eye and Mind' and 'Logic of Sensation' by Gilles Deleuze. The aftermath brings me to reflect on Deleuze and Guattari's "What is the Body Without Organs?". The project was based not only on an exploration of the heart cavity but also on where consciousness exists within the body. The artist inquires, "Does consciousness lie within the flesh or within the movement … the painting process will be the vehicle for exploring that."
In viewing the first four paintings one gets a sense of the density of the heart cavity with all its depth and dimension. In the last two paintings, there is a shift, and the palette changes with a revelation of light. The artist mentions Turner, and how his use of light was an inspiration. This comment informs me to ask about Iceland and how it might feel living in little or much light at different times of the year. Our discussion is genuine. Towards the end, I had to ask, "Did your interviews with medical and spiritual professionals in the field of the heart alter your intuitive process to create these paintings?" The artist answers, "No, but they did inform me on some level." Listen in to learn more.
Watch the video here | Listen to the podcast here
Bjarni Sigurbjörnsson received his Bachelors and Masters of Fine Art at San Francisco Institute of the Art. After completing his degrees, he returned to Reykjavik to continue his career in art. The artist received a two-year stipend from the Icelandic Government for a sizeable site-specific land commission that combined painting and sculpture. In 2003, he took part in Los Angeles International Biennial, and the following year, he participated in the Pilsen International Biennial of Drawing. Over the past 25 years, Sigurbjörnsson has had numerous gallery and museums exhibitions in the U.S.A. and Europe.
Visit the artist's website: http://www.bjarnisig.com
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