Erró - Prints at the Reykjavík Art Museum

Written by Larry Calhoun Wednesday, 06 July 2011 20:25

Reykjavík, Iceland - Erró is a master narrator with images.  His works when viewed in series as he has created is somewhat like glancing through chapters of a colorful and complex story.  He combines cut-outs from cartoon strips, art history books, magazines, and postcards and makes new visual episodes that seize viewers one way or the other regardless of their interests, prior knowledge and cultural background.

Not only is the subject matter of Erró’s pieces diverse and powerful, the distinctive strength of each of his assembled image is revealed eloquently through the medium he chooses to use – be it collage, painting, aquarelle, print-making, sculpture, baked enamel or even carving, all of which are represented in the museum’s collection that the artist donated to the city of Reykjavík in 1989. 

The works shown in Erró – Prints are selected from the museum’s collection.  These are series that Erró has worked on for the past 30 years or so, with the earlier prints dating back to the 1970s and the most current ones from 2006.  Erró reworks many of his prints from his existing paintings, in particular Mao’s Last Visit to Venice series, which was first shown at the Venice Biennale in 2003, is based on an earlier painting series or The Chinese Paintings from 1974-79.  Like in the paintings, the prints show interweaving propaganda pictures that were approved by the Chinese authorities at that time, with views of western cities taken from postcards and tourist brochures – the effect is projections of incompatible figures and places that are picturesque and beautiful and the mood bright like good weather conditions.

In the exhibition there are also pieces belonging to the Femme Fatales series that Erró has also shown as paintings, as well as newer works that he juxtaposes picture of a doll with Marilyn Monroe or Elvis Presley, who are pop icons that are universally recognizable.  A few of the prints shown are based on the mural Erró did for an official room at the city hall of Lille, France.  While the city council invited artists with Erró among them, to decorate the city hall with art works, he accepted the invitation and gave the room an attitude that is unmistakably “Erró” – with images that told the history of Lille covering the walls from floor to ceiling.

Since the inauguration of the Reykjavík Art Museum, it has mounted annual exhibitions from its Erró Collection.  The art of Erró is often looked at based on his subject matter or his choice of medium.  In tandem with a gift of 35 new and recent prints to the museum from the artist, the exhibition presents Erró’s earlier prints from various periods with his recent ones, to be seen collectively together for the first time.

Selected Biography

Guðmundur Guðmundsson – who adopted the pseudonym Erró – was born 1932 in Ólafsvík on the northwestern coast of Iceland.  He graduated as a teacher in arts from the Fine Art School of Reykjavík in 1951.  In the years 1952-1954 he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Oslo, Norway, where he participated in study trips to Spain and Italy and experienced the art of Hieronymus Bosch among others in museums and exhibitions.  In 1954 he enrolled in the Academy of Fine Art in Florence, and the following year he studied at an art college in Ravenna where emphasis was placed on mosaic.  Erró decided to settle in Paris in 1958 where his work eventually became known as part of the Narration Figuration Movement.  Erró’s works can to be found in museums and public collections all over the world.

Visit the Reykjavík Art Museum at : www.listasafnreykjavikur.is