BERGLIND JÓNA HLYNSDÓTTIR
Born 16th of November 1979 in Iceland.
Lives and works in Reykjavík, Iceland & Sao Paulo, Brazil

EDUCATION:

2008-2010
VALAND SCHOOL OF FINE ARTS. Department of Fine Art, M.A.

2003-2006
ICELANDIC ACADEMY OF THE ARTS (LHÍ). Department of Visual Arts, B.A.

2002-2003
FJÖLBRAUT Í BREIÐHOLTI (FB). Foundational course in Fine Art.

1996-2000
MENNTASKÓLINN Í REYKJAVÍK (MR). Junior College.

EXHIBITIONS (SELECTED):

CFF, CENTER FOR PHOTOGRAPY: Draw Your Horns and Husband Your Resources shown as a part of the Hasselblad Victor Stipendium award show. CFF, Stockholm, Sweden 2010

Níu/NINE: A show curated by Birta Guðjónsdóttir with young political artist. Work shown: Húseinangrun= House Insulation /Isolation & Draw Your Horns and Husband Your Resources, photo and video installation, Gerðarsafn, Kópavogur, Iceland 2010.

ENTRE PONTOS/MID POINTS: (group show) The work Maintaining Liberty was both a public space sound installation and an installation at the JACA art center and residency. The show which was curated by Janaina Melo was made up of the local and international residents of JACA. Belo Horizonte, Brazil 2010

NEW NORDIC PHOTOGRAPHY:(group show) I was nominated for the Victor – stipendium from the Hasselblad Center for the work Draw Your Horns and Husband Your Resources and took part in a show in relation to that curated by Linda Frisk . Hasselblad Center, Gothenburg Konstmuseum, Sweden 2010

KONSTHALLEN:(group show) curated by Paula Zamora, Class Divideris a motorized installation with a realistic model of a real class divider that divides the audience at will, Konsthallen, Gothenburg, Sweden 2010

THE PPPTPC INSTITUTE:(solo show) Just Change an installation and publication based on a fictional organization for city policy and development in Gothenburg. Rotor 1, Gothenburg, Sweden 2009

SEQUENCES, Real-Time Art Festival: THE PPPTPC INSTITUTE (collaboration with Etienne de France): The PPPTPC Institute, it´s campaigns, its headquarters in Söluturninn (The Old Salestower) and the brochure Reykjavíkurvasakver are a part of a public space installation, publication and web based project based on this fictional organization for city policy and development. The PPPTPC Institute is a private joint venture that aims at producing a new Reykjavík that reflects the new Iceland. It´s business is in publicity, propaganda, popular thinking and pop culture (PPPTPC). Sequences, Söluturninn in Mæðragarðurinn, Reykjavík 2009.

LET ME THINK!(group show): curated by Laura Mott Dear Malevich. Video installation 9min, free standing scaffolding and screen built from scrap wood found in the former Soviet chocolate factory Red October. 3rd Moscow Biennale, Red October, Moscow 2009.

SUBVISION. ART. FESTIVAL. OFF: Kling and Bang´s screening of contempory Icelandic video works, Húsaeinangrun = House Insulation /Isolation 9min. At Subvisions main event stage, Hamburg, Germany 2009

ETERNAL SPRING (group show): Draw Your Horns and Husband Your Resources. Photographic pigment prints mounted on book plastic and cut out, accompanied by a text of economic duo terms. Rotor 1, Gothenburg 2009.

DIALOGUE (group show): curated by Esther Shalev-Gerz Húsaeinangrun = House Insulation /Isolation. Video installation 8 min 40 sec surrounded by all the fake plants that normally decorate the city museum. Gothenburg’s City Museum, Gothenburg 2009.

B-HOME #2 (group show). Agent Perspective. Pigment prints cut out and installed in the space in relation to how it was already arranged. B-home, Göteborg 2009

BÆ BÆ ÍSLAND = BYE BYE ICELAND:(group show) Hags_munir = Interests / Profitable Objects. The installation was a patio-viewing tower or guard tower with a photo and newspaper collage. This group show was thought of as the funeral, good bye party and deconstruction of the concept of Iceland as it has been pushed forth by the spin doctors of culture, business and politics. Museum of Akureyri, Akureyri 2008.

PART TAKING ARTISTS: Ásmundur Ásmundsson, Berglind Jóna Hlynsdóttir, Bryndís Snæbjörnsdóttir, Erling Þ. V. Klingenberg, Hallgrímur Helgason, Hlynur Hallsson, Inga Svala og Wu Shanhuan, Kolbeinn Hugi Höskuldsson, Magnús Sigurðarson, Ólafur Árni Ólafsson og Libia Pérez de Siles de Castro, Ólafur Gíslason, Ólöf Nordal, Ósk Vilhjálmsdóttur, Ragnar Kjartansson, Róska, Rúrí, Þorvaldur Þorsteinsson, Unnar Örn Auðarson, Steingrímur Eyfjörð.

HIÐ BREIÐA HOLT = THE WIDE GAP / THE WIDE HILL: (collaboration) taken from Breiðholt the name of the suburb. A photography based collaboration and curatorial project. The project was based in the somewhat stigmatized Reykjavík suburb of Breiðholt and takes a part of its name from it. Ten pairs of grandchildren with one grandparent from this community worked with me for a period of 7 months to create the exhibition. The exhibition was made of Ten triptychs (2x (36×54cm) 1x (81×54cm)) plus compositions of photos in various sizes taken of the neighbourhood by the pairs, in all it consisted of 144 photographs. Gerðuberg Cultural Center, Reykjavík 2008.

MIÐBAUGUR OG KRINGLA: LEISURE, ADMINISTRATION AND CONTROL: (collaboration) Malbik = asphalt / bullshit. This was a large-scale collaboration and installation in the public space with various medias. Kringlan and downtown Reykjavík 2007.

ÉG, ÞÚ OG ÖNNUR VANDAMÁL / ME YOU AND OTHER PROBLEMS: (Solo show). A photo installation with mounted prints varying between 21×14.8cm and 14.8 ×10.5cm. Eye For An Eye Gallery (Auga fyrir Auga), Reykjavík 2007.

SJÖMÍLNA SKÓR: (group show)Heimilisfriðun = Household Reserve. An installation in two parts made with various materials. Cultural Center of Mosfellsbær 2007.

SEQUENCES:(group show) (www.sequences.is) Don’t you love me baby? This was an installation with a dancing plant on a robot vacuum. SEQUENCES is a time based media festival held all over Reykjavík directed by NÝLÓ, The Living Art Museum. City Hall of Reykjavík 2006.

AAA:(group show) ( expo-aaa.ch), Þórsgata 6. A story consisting of 8 photographs projected into an old industrial elevator shaft. Neuchatel, Swiss 2006.

GRADUATION SHOW LHÍ:(group show) Housewarming 2, an installation made up of a greenhouse, growing lights, heaters, solar power and numerous other gadgets for growing. Hafnarhúsið, Reykjavík 2006.

HARD REVOLUTION:(group show) Housewarming, an installation of hobby greenhouses and growing lights. NORD Kulturforum (nord.info), Potzdamer Platz, Berlin 2006.

VIRKNI, MEÐVIRKNI EINLÆGNI / ACTIVITY CODEPENDENCY SINCERITY: (Solo exhibition) Installation in 5 parts: Photographs mounted on aluminum plates 60cm x 90cm, sticker lettering mounted on the wall in various sizes, balloon multiples distributed to the independence day parade, an interactive installation with clay on an aluminum platform and drawing installation. Gyllinhæð Gallery, Reykjavík 17. June 2005

SPEAK UP: Þórsgata 6 part 1. This was a seminar and exhibition about local ethics in art, where students and professors from the Balkan and Nordic countries had lectures followed by discussions about their work. Gallery Nova, Zagreb, Croatia 2004.

RESIDENCIES:

CENTER FOR ARTISTIC RESEARCH, Valand School of Fine Art, Gothenburg University, Sweden 2011.

JACA: JARDIM CANADA CENTER OF ART AND TECHNOLOGY: 2 month residency, research and project development. Belo Horizonte, Brazil 2010

ACADEMICHESKAYA DACHA: residency and master class about Moscow Concepualism in preparation for the show Let Me Think that was a part of the Moscow Biennale, Vyshniy Volochok, Russia 2009.

ART WORKS IN COLLECTIONS:

DRAW YOUR HORNS AND HUSBAND YOUR RESOURCES: In the private collection of Mariana Sucupira.

TEACHING:

THE ICELAND ACADEMY OF THE ARTS
I taught a conversation course called A New Iceland. It was an interdisciplinary course between all departments of the academy from fine art to design and theater. The discussions were surrounding the subject what is to be done in Iceland after the crisis. Útgerðin, Reykjavík 2011

VILNIUS ACADEMY OF ARTS
Leisure, administration and control, This was a course on art in the public space. We researched the history and design of public spaces in Vilnius and helped the students get started with their proposals for 2009 when Vilnius becomes one of the culture cities of Europe. Vilnius 2008.

THE ICELAND ACADEMY OF THE ARTS
Miðbaugur og Kringla, This was a course in relation to the “Miðbaugur og Kringla” exhibition made with students from the Iceland Academy of the Arts about art in the public space. Reykjavík 2007.

LECTURES:

ICELAN ACADEMY OF THE ARTS, public lecture about my practice, research and theoretical strategies during the Conversation course: A New Iceland. Útgerðin, Reykavík, Iceland 2011

CENTER FOR ARTISTIC RESEARCH, Lecture about my artistic research during my stay at the residency. Valand School of Fine Art, Gothenburg University, Sweden 2011.

LECTURE: About my work and theoretical strategies on the behalf of JACA Art Center. Guignard Art School, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

CONFERENCE: BORDERS, PAIN AND TRANSITIONS with Berglind Jóna Hlynsdóttir artist, Johanna Willenfelt artist, Eva Mark doctor of philosophy, Fredrik Svensk art critic and theory teacher, Johan Öberg research secretary and criminologist. Konsthallen, Gothenburg, Sweden 2010.

SUBVISION. ART. FESTIVAL. OFF: Lecture about the history of Kling and Bang and contemporary art scene of Iceland. Subvision, Hamburg, Germany 2009.

ICELANDIC VISUAL ART AWARD CONFERENCE: (Un) Making of Public Space with Berglind Jóna Hlynsdóttir artist, Jeff Byles writer, Haukur Már Helgason philosopher. Brekkuskóli, Akureyri 2008.

CONFERENCE about the exhibition “HIÐ BREIDA HOLT” = “THE WIDE GAP”: along with the head of photography of Morgunblaðið (The morning paper), photographer Einar Falur Jónsson and Sigrún Sigurðardóttir cultural theorist. Gerðuberg 2008.

BÆ BÆ ÍSLAND = BYE BYE ICELAND: I took part in the conference held about the exhibition. I had a speech about “Interests / Profitable Objects”, which was also the title of my work for the group show in the Art Museum of Akureyri, Ketilshúsið Akureyri 2008.

VILNIUS ACADEMY OF ARTS: Open lecture about the exhibition and project “Miðbaugur og Kringla” and the possibilities KUNO has for exchange programs. Vilnius 2008.

KUNO SEMINAR: Tools for teaching, lecture about the project and exhibition “Miðbaugur og Kringla” for the KUNO board and associated schools. Bergen 2008.

LUNCH LECTURE OF THE OPEN ART ACADEMY: Open lecture about the project and exhibition “Miðbaugur og Kringla”. Iceland Academy of the Arts, Reykjavík 2007.

GRANTS:

GRETA MUNTHE SANDBERGS SCHOLARSHIP: graduation scholarship 2010

ARNUFSKAFONDEN: Exhibition and travel grant for the Moscow biennial 2009.

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ICELAND: Guðmunda Andrésdóttir, study grant 2008.

NORDIC CULTURE FUND: Sponsored “Miðbaugur og Kringla”, 2007.

REYKJAVÍK CITY COUNCIL: Sponsored “Miðbaugur og Kringla”, 2007.

KRINGLAN MALL: Sponsored “Miðbaugur og Kringla” 2007.

LISTAHÁSKÓLI ÍSLANDS: Sponsored “Miðbaugur og Kringla”, 2007.

GUTENBERG PRINT SHOP: Sponsored “Miðbaugur og Kringla”, 2007.

SPRON BANK (ICE BANK): Sponsored the making of my work for the group “Hard Revolution”. Berlin 2006.

INOVATION FUND FOR STUDENTS: They sponsored the collaboration between me and my colleague on the project: “Speglun samfélagsins í sjónmenningu” = “The reflection of society in culture”. Reykjavík 2005.

CURATING AND EXHIBITION COLLABORATION (SELECTED):

SPARC – Sao Paulo Art Residency C
Helped to found and direct the new art residency in 2011. Sao Paulo, Brazil.

THE PPPTPC INSTITUTE ( w Etienne de France): a fictional institution. Sequences, Söluturninn, Reykjavík 2009.
– I edited and curated the publication Reykjavíkurvasakver that was a part of the collaborative project between me and Etienne de France. The publication contained projects by Icelandic and international artists, all of the project where fictional histories about Iceland and the city of Reykjavík that where then published in this face information guide about Reykjavík.

SUBVISION. ART. FESTIVAL. OFF
producer and representative of the Kling and Bangs art collectives exhibition at the Subvision art festival which was focusing on collectives and self organized initiatives from all over the world. The Kling and Bang exhibition consisted of the artists, Eirún Sigurðardóttir from the Love Corporation, Bjarni Massi and a collaborative project between Unnar Örn and Hugin Þór Arason in three containers over a period of three weeks along with public lectures and video screenings of Icelandic video works. Hamburg, Germany 2009.

HIÐ BREIÐA HOLT: A photography based collaboration and curatorial project. Gerðuberg Cultural Center, Reykjavík 2008.
-A photography based collaboration and curatorial project. The project was based in the somewhat stigmatized Reykjavík suburb of Breiðholt and takes a part of its name from it. Ten pairs of grandchildren with one grandparent from this community worked with me for a period of 7 months to create the exhibition. The exhibition was made of Ten triptychs (2x (36×54cm) 1x (81×54cm)) plus compositions of photos in various sizes taken of the neighborhood by the pairs, in all it consisted of 144 photographs. The main focus of it was look at the politics of perspective and relations in photography critically.

THE LIVING ART MUSEUM 2008
I was voted on the board of the Living art Museum this summer. The Living Art Museum (Nylo) is an internationally acclaimed venue for contemporary visual art in Iceland. This reputation is founded upon it´s commitment to the presentation of innovative work by Icelandic and international artists.

MIÐBAUGUR OG KRINGLA: LEISURE, ADMINISTRATION AND CONTROL: Malbik. This was a large-scale collaboration and installation between 15 Nordic artists organized by me and Bjarki Bragasson. Kringlan mall and downtown Reykjavík 2007.
We created the platform for this project, found funding and created collaborations with numerous private and public institutions. The group worked together for over a year on research and ideas for the project, came together in Iceland for field research and spent one month together constructing the projects.

SKIPHOLT
Exhibition by John Bock.
Kling og Bang, Reykjavík. May 2005
I was one of his assistants for during the shooting of the film Skipholt and the making of the exhibition. I took all of the stills, which where then used to make an artist book along with his sketches, sold in a very limited edition. My photos were also used for the catalogue and in all of the advertising.

SHEEP PLUG FACTORY, -SHEEP PLUG CLUB, REYKJAVÍK, EGILSTAÐIR AND PARIS. With Jason Rhoades and Paul McCarthy. 2004-2005
The Sheep Plug Factory and Sheep Plug Club were collaborations between 15 Icelandic artists, Rhoades and McCarthy. The factory produced around 200 sheep plug sculptures made of sheep fat, wool and lie. The factory then paraded the sculptures down the main street of Reykjavík and installed them in Kling og Bang gallery. Then there was a work trip to the Fantasy Island exhibition where Rhoads and McCarthy created a Macy’s department store in the landscape of Egilstaðir. Then the factory was exported to Paris and shown in Centre Pompidou in the Dionysian exhibition in February 2005. There we took part in a performance that created the installation. During this process I photographed the factory and it’s employees.

REFLECTING SOCIETY IN VISUAL CULTURE 2004
Initiative project with Bjarki Bragason
The project got a grant from the Students Initiative Fund. It was a visual culture research project that resulted in an installation in the public space that was then monitored by us over a period of time.

GYLLINHÆÐ 2004-2006
I founded and ran Gyllinhæð the student gallery of the Icelandic Academy of Art in the fall of 2004 to 2006. It was situated on Laugavegur the main shopping street in Iceland. It was opened in collaboration with Kling og Bang on the second floor above their gallery. During that time I curated a few group exhibition of students work.

OTHER EXPERIENCE (SELECTION):

PHOTOGRAPHY 1996-
Before I studied art I worked as a photographer. I started very young working for youth magazines and music magazines. I did editorial, advertising and fashion photography but I realized with time that my real interest was in art where I still use the photographic media a lot.

STUDENT COUNCIL HEAD 2003-2004
I was the head of the student council in the Iceland Academy of Art. Where I created and organized many events with the council along with fighting for the student’s rights.

HANDBOOK FOR “HITT HÚSIД 2003-04
This was a book about the culture house “ Hitt Húsið” that I published along with María Kristín Jónsdóttir. It was distributed for free to all 16-25 year olds in Reykjavík.