Clarity Jón Laxdal and the Akureyri Ar t Museum
Margrét Elísabet Ólafsdóttir
In the promotion material for Akureyri Art Museum’s exhibition of the works of Jón Laxdal Halldórsson, it stated that the works could be described as lyrical minimalism. The adjective lyrical implied that the works express a feeling or experience, supposedly difficult to put into words. This can certainly apply to Jón Laxdal’s works, but it does not mean that the feelings the works evoke cannot be voiced. It is more problematic to associate his works with minimalism, although they can be described as concise. Clarity would be a better description because in a clear light everything is visible, like the bottom of a clear lake. Clear light does not mean that the environment is plain or the water shallow, but rather that you can see at once both wide and deep. The works of Jón Laxdal are clear in this manner, not the least those that have been made in the last 10 years. They seem to completely reveal themselves at first sight, saying all that needs to be said in one instance. But with a longer look, their details become more apparent and a more ambiguous meaning is rendered. Photos Daníel Starrason
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