ALPHA & OMEGA
Swedish artists Fredrik Söderberg and Christine Ödlund exhibit in the foyer of Hallgrimskirkja

The Friends of the Arts Society of Hallgrímskirkja would like to invite you to the opening of the exhibition Alpha & Omega by Christine Ödlund and Fredrik Söderberg in Hallgrímskirkja, 25 August 2017, at 6 pm. It is a great honor for us to welcome these distinguished Swedish artists in our venue, as this is the first time their work is being exhibited in Iceland.
During the work process of the five works Fredrik Söderberg is showing in Hallgrímskirkja, he took interest in the monk Beatus of Liébana’s (730-785) manuscript of Revelation, which later came to be transcribed in the monastery of Saint Sever in France, hence the name Alpha et Omega.

There are primitive and architectural features in the old manuscript that Söderberg has tried to translate into the paintings presented in Hallgrimskirkja. The symmetry present in ancient masterpieces are fascinating in all their simplicity.

Christine Ödlund’s work deals with the ability to transcend language barriers between people and plants and barriers between the invisible and the visible.

Three of works shown were made with an intensely dark background colour and almost abstract motifs, made with natural pigments, which when combined makes for a highly concentrated biological concoction.

The collage, Exploding Star is a veritable visual explosion in itself, combining a number of drawings illustrating what cannot be fully understood, the cosmic wonders taking place outside our atmosphere.

Christine Ödlund has been active in the international art scene and has taken part in exhibitions such as Momentum Nordic Biennal of Contemporary Art in Moss, Norway and the Marrakesh Biennale in Morocco.

Fredrik Söderberg’s work has been shown in the Historiska Museet in Stockholm, Galleri Riis in Oslo, the Swedish Institute in Paris and in Magasin III, Stockholm.

Both artists live and work in Stockholm.

The exhibition opens Friday, 25 August 2017, at 6 pm, in the foyer of Hallgrímskirkja. Light refreshments will be served. All are welcome!