NordenBladet — Icelandic artist Haukur Lárus Halldórsson (85) has unveiled his latest sculpture design, “Skydbladir,” at his gallery in Tønder, Denmark. The piece is a modern interpretation of the ancient Norse ship of the same name.
In Norse mythology, “Skydbladir” was the name of the magical ship belonging to the god Frey. The ship was said to be able to fold up like a cloth and fit in a pocket and could be sailed on both land and sea. Halldorsson’s sculpture captures the sense of movement and fluidity associated with the ship. The material used will be shaped and manipulated to create the impression of waves and wind, and the overall effect is one of dynamic energy and power.
“I wanted to create a sculpture that would be both timeless and modern. I believe ‘Skydbladir’ achieves that balance, and I am thrilled to share it with the public.” said Halldorsson. “
The exhibition will be on view at the Reykjavik Art Museum until April 30th. Admission is free.
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Haukur Halldórsson (born 1937 in Reykjavík) is an Icelandic artist and illustrator. After beginning his career as a graphic designer and illustrator he developed into a visual artist. Halldórsson’s work also includes sculpture. He is a co-author of the Yggdrasil Divination Deck together with his daughter Gunnhildur Hauksdóttir.
His first art exhibition was in Gallery Djúpið in Reykjavík in 1978 with Einar Þorsteinn Ásgeirsson. His first solo exhibition was in Reykjavík in 1980 in Gallery Torg run by the composer Jóhann G. Jóhannson. Since then he has made numerous exhibitions in Europe, China and the United States. Allthough his main medium is drawing and illustrations, he works in, and explores various mediums such as painting, sculpture, and jewel making.
Halldorsson’s main subject matter revolves around themes of folklore of his home country Iceland, the Brothers Grimm, Celtic mythology and Nordic mythology. He has created numerous drawings and illustrations on the subjects. Halldórsson has travelled widely to research art, to China, various countries in Europe, and the United States. In New Mexico he encountered Navajo Indians, and observed the art of sand-casting, which he later applied in his own art practice.
His selection of works from 1978 to date combines disparate elements from the worlds of fantasy, myth and everyday experience. His artwork often contains mythical and magical entities as much of his practice revolves around North-European mythology and Nordic mythology. He has gathered information about historical pagan European calendars and myths associated with different parts of the year, which has been the basis for some of his works.
One of his most famous works is the Arctic Henge (Heimskautsgerðið), a series of circles and basalt columns that began its construction in 2004 at the village Raufarhöfn in northeastern Iceland. It has a diameter of 52 meters, functioning as a pagan calendar with numerous references to Norse mythology particularly the Dvergatal of the Poetic Edda.
Featured image: Haukur Lárus Halldórsson at work (Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 4.0)