«Arvo Pärt wAs definitely An insPirAtion. i hAve AdmirAtion for doing something thAt wAs so simPle And beAutiful. i think the music critics would ProbAbly reAlly hAte it»
KW Tell me about the frames that you used in your recent show, are they found as well? A We were forever drawing and one day we were in the countryside and we were walking – it is very desolate in Iceland and empty – and we came upon a huge pile of abandoned windows, probably an old summer house or something. So we filled up a car, went home and returned and filled up another car and decided that it was the right way to make frames for our paintings. In 2006 we made an exhibition using these old windows as frames. Since then we have kept an eye out for old windows and collect them when we see them. But we don’t want to get stuck in one idea so we may not use windows forever. KW I think the art reflects something in the music. It is wistful and nostalgic. Is that fair? J Yes, I suppose our art is like that. Nostalgic, ghostly, dreamy. It reminds you of your past. KW Who inspires you? J There are many artists that inspire me but I can’t name any. KW Is there an artist? A Yes! Henry Darger, I only discovered him recently, I like Sally Mann as well. I am influenced by her photographs. KW Do you draw to your music? A We don’t draw to our music. Jónsi has got me into old music, crackling records. J Yes, I work at home and I always have music on. I like old music, old jazz, Django Reinhardt or Billie Holiday. KW Is the nostalgia in the music important in your artwork? J I like music for its atmosphere. I keep it on in the background. I like its scratchiness, it’s like a crackling fire in the background, it’s cosy – like creating a cocoon that is nice to be in. 21
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