Hreinn Friðfinnsson
To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today
28 September 19 – 5 January 20

 

Opening: 27 September 19, 7 pm

 

<p>Hreinn Friðfinnsson, <em>First House, </em>1974, one of 16 <span lang="EN-GB">color photographs</span>, Courtesy the artist, i8 Gallery, Reykjavík; Galerie Nordenhake, Berlin/Stockholm/Mexico City; Meessen De Clercq, <span lang="EN-US">Brussels</span>; Galería Elba Benitez, Madrid</p>

Hreinn Friðfinnsson, First House, 1974, one of 16 color photographs, Courtesy the artist, i8 Gallery, Reykjavík; Galerie Nordenhake, Berlin/Stockholm/Mexico City; Meessen De Clercq, Brussels; Galería Elba Benitez, Madrid

 

As one of Iceland’s leading artists, Hreinn Friðfinnsson (born in 1943, Bær Dölum, IS) is celebrated for his inspirational and poetic use of everyday objects. His vocabulary, underscored by a delicate sense of humour, playfully implements storytelling and perceptual ploys. Friðfinnsson’s work could be characterised as conceptual, it investigates our understanding of time and the world around us. He is truly a natural storyteller; hence most of his works often ask for a narrative, or the fabrication of a story, even if there isn’t one. As explained by the artist himself: “Notions of time are always compelling. I read what comes my way about physics and mathematics, but I read as one who is uninitiated. The feeling and the interest in the essence of time is serious, but my dealing with time is not knowledge-based; it is more exploratory and feeling-based”. 

 

With subtle gestures, Friðfinnsson uses the exhibition space as a stage upon which to transform time, space, objects, the rational, and the irrational into captivating yet humble miracles.

 

To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today is organized in partnership with Centre d’Art Contemporain Genève (24 May – 25 August 19). Presenting around fifty works, the exhibition at KW celebrates Friðfinnsson’s extraordinary practice with a comprehensive retrospective spanning over half a century of work. It is the first institutional solo exhibition in Germany of Icelandic artist Hreinn Friðfinnsson. A catalogue raisonné accompanies the exhibition.

 

Curators: Krist Gruijthuijsen, Andrea Bellini
Assistant Curator: Cathrin Mayer

 

Exhibition Folder (PDF)

Publication

 

 

 

The exhibition To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today by Hreinn Friðfinnsson is co-produced with the Centre d’Art Contemporain Genève (CH) and supported by the Mondriaan Fund.

 

 

 

 

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Hreinn Friðfinnsson, A Pair, 2004–2005, installation view To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy Antonio Dalle Nogare Collection, Bozen (IT), photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, A Pair, 2004–2005, installation view To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy Antonio Dalle Nogare Collection, Bozen (IT), photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, Summernights, 1990, Courtesy the artist
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, Summernights, 1990, Courtesy the artist
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, Source, 1992/2005, installation view To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy the artist, photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, Source, 1992/2005, installation view To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy the artist, photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, <i>I Collected Personal Secrets</i>, 1972–2015, Installation view <i>To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today</i> at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy the artist, Photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, I Collected Personal Secrets, 1972–2015, Installation view To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy the artist, Photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, <i>Dropping by at Jón Gunnar’s (Reconstruction)</i>, 1992, Installation view <i>To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today</i> at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy Private Collection, Photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, Dropping by at Jón Gunnar’s (Reconstruction), 1992, Installation view To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy Private Collection, Photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, <i>Five Gates of the South Wind</i>, 197–1972, Installation view <i>To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today</i> at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy Le Centre Pompidou, Paris, Photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, Five Gates of the South Wind, 197–1972, Installation view To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy Le Centre Pompidou, Paris, Photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, <i>Below and Above</i>, 1983–1984, Installation view <i>To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today</i> at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy the artist, Photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, Below and Above, 1983–1984, Installation view To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy the artist, Photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, Installation view <i>To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today</i> at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, Installation view To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, <i>Untitled</i>, 1983–1984, Installation view <i>To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today</i> at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy Le Centre Pompidou, Paris, Photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, Untitled, 1983–1984, Installation view To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy Le Centre Pompidou, Paris, Photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, <i>Door</i>, 1964–1965/2016, Installation view <i>To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today</i> at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy Collection of Reykjavík Art Museum, Photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, Door, 1964–1965/2016, Installation view To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy Collection of Reykjavík Art Museum, Photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, Installation view <i>To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today</i> at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, Installation view To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, <i>Palace</i>, 1990, Installation view <i>To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today</i> at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy the artist und i8Gallery, Reykjavík, Photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, Palace, 1990, Installation view To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy the artist und i8Gallery, Reykjavík, Photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, <i>Attending</i>, 1975, Installation view <i>To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today</i> at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy the artist und i8Gallery, Reykjavík, Photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, Attending, 1975, Installation view To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy the artist und i8Gallery, Reykjavík, Photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, Installation view <i>To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today</i> at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, Installation view To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, Installation view <i>To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today</i> at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, Installation view To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, Installation view <i>To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today</i> at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, Installation view To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, <i>Blind Date</i>, 2015, Installation view <i>To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today</i> at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy Galerie Nordenhake Berlin/Stockholm/Mexico City, Photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, Blind Date, 2015, Installation view To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy Galerie Nordenhake Berlin/Stockholm/Mexico City, Photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, <i>Geometric Composition with a Helping Hand</i>, 1990, Installation view <i>To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today</i> at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Reykjavík, Courtesy the artist, Photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, Geometric Composition with a Helping Hand, 1990, Installation view To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Reykjavík, Courtesy the artist, Photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, Installation view <i>To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today</i> at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, Installation view To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, <i>Door</i>, 1964–1965/2016, Installation view <i>To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today</i> at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy Collection of Reykjavík Art Museum, Photo: Frank Sperling
Hreinn Friðfinnsson, Door, 1964–1965/2016, Installation view To Catch a Fish with a Song: 1964–Today at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Courtesy Collection of Reykjavík Art Museum, Photo: Frank Sperling