CANDIDATE 2000

Hreinn Fridfinnsson

Hreinn Fridfinnssons (born 1943, lives and works in Amsterdam) art can be characterized as conceptual even though his conceptualism is more in visual poetics than in philosophical abstractions. Hreinn Fridfinnsson was one of the founders of the SÚM group in Reykjavik in 1965, which is considered the avant-garde in Iceland from the mid-sixties to the mid-seventies. The influence of the SÚM generation on the birth of the avantgarde in Icelandic art in the 1960s was decisive.

The turning point in Fridfinnsson's life and art was his move, in 1971, to Holland, where he has lived for most of the time since and where he achieved international success and recognition for his poetic and philosophical studies of the visual enigmas of everyday life. His inspiration usually comes from the Icelandic nature, folklore and folk beliefs, from dreams, short poetical texts and literature. All trough his career Fridfinnsson has returned to documenting Icelandic landscapes either in black-and-white or in colour, as in the sunset landscape of 'Elsewhere' (1998-2000).

Exhibitions
Wäinö Aaltosen museo, Turku
Hämeenlinnan taidemuseo