Theaterstück/Theaterpiece, 2014 (for Parkett no. 94)

Ragnar Kjartansson is an Icelandic contemporary artist who engages multiple artistic mediums, creating video installations, performances, drawings, and paintings that draw upon myriad historical and cultural references. An underlying pathos and irony connect his works, with each deeply influenced by the comedy and tragedy of classical theater. The artist blurs the distinctions between mediums, approaching his painting practice as performance, likening his films to paintings, and his performances to sculpture. Throughout, Ragnar conveys an interest in beauty and its banality, and he uses durational, repetitive performance as a form of exploration.

Reykjavík, Iceland