Stare is a photography-focused exhibition at Gerðarsafn featuring works by eight artists who explore personal narratives and the human condition. The exhibition intentionally breaks traditional photographic rules to favor sincerity, raw emotion, and vulnerability over technical perfection.
The exhibition Stare, which opens at Gerðarsafn during the Iceland Photo Festival 2025, presents a collection of photographic works that function as radical whispers, inviting viewers to engage with the unique personal narratives of each artist. By centering the exhibition on the act of staring, the works challenge the traditional power dynamic between the photographer, the subject, and the viewer, placing the subjects in the position of primary actors who dictate the terms of the encounter.
Technically, the exhibition celebrates the medium of photography by rejecting conventional standards of composition and perfection. Instead, the participating artists embrace rawness, emotional honesty, and imperfection to explore themes of trauma, chaos, and humor. The result is a visceral experience that prioritizes open-hearted storytelling, ranging from diary-like intimacy to punk-inspired aesthetic choices, highlighting the unbreakable strength found within fragile human softness.