SÍM Gallery Artist Presents "Á tánum" in Öxarfjörður
Visitors exploring contemporary art in the region can experience a new exhibition titled "Á tánum" (On Tiptoes) by artist Ingunn St. Svarvarsdóttir—known artistically as Yst, who was named the artist of Norðurþing for 2025. Hosted in the rural venue known as Bragginn in Öxarfjörður, between Ásbyrgi and Kópasker, the showcase coincides with the local Solstice Festival on Kópasker.
The collection centers around three interconnected themes of transformation: environmental shifts and climate concerns, the departure from historical patriarchal structures, and personal evolution.
Exploring Environmental and Social Transformations
Yst draws directly from local landscapes and personal history to shape the artworks on display. Reflecting on regional environmental changes, she points to noticeable shifts in local bird populations, declining tern numbers influenced by recent weather extremes and food shortages, and changing coastal conditions driven by shifting river paths and strong westerly winds.
Alongside ecological themes, the exhibition touches upon social progress, drawing on the artist's own background and her past involvement with the Redstocking movement. Having experienced gender-based wage inequality firsthand in her youth, Yst highlights how far society has progressed since she and a small group of women first participated in municipal conferences decades ago.
The final strand of the exhibition explores internal personal growth and self-reflection, shaped by periods of solitude, study, and creative practice in the north.
For art enthusiasts discovering local culture through platforms like Musemap (musemap.art), exhibitions like this highlight the vibrant regional art scene found across Iceland. To find more creative spaces and upcoming cultural projects, you can explore the Reykjavik museums list or check the interactive map view.
