Members are invited to preview Ragnar Kjartansson: Mercy, an exhibition that presents the works of one of the most distinctive contemporary artists working today, Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson.
This exhibition, the first of its kind in Australia, presents works that define Kjartansson’s art practice, which is steeped in humour, music and theatre. Drawing on Western musical and artistic themes, Kjartansson offers an adoring and satirical spin on literature, cinema and pop music, through new and recent video works.
Humour, often dark and at times unsettling, is another thread in Kjartansson’s work. In the ongoing video work Me and My Mother, where the artist asks his mother to spit on him, Kjartansson creates a portrait that captures dramatic pauses, sideways glances, grimaces and stifled laughter. Kjartansson’s artistic voice is unique and enthralling, offering audiences deeply reflective moments imbued with music, language and humanity.
Before seeing the exhibition, learn more about the artist in an exclusive Members-only talk by NGV Curator of Contemporary Art, Amita Kirpalani.
Learn more about the Members Talk: Curator’s Insights – Ragnar Kjartansson: Mercy