Shoplifter in Hrútey
On 3 July, a new art exhibition will be opening on the beautiful island of Hrútey. It will be open to the public until 28 August. The show is a large-scale, outdoor artwork by Icelander via New York-based visual artist Hrafnhildur Arnardóttir, otherwise known as Shoplifter. Shoplifter sets out to contrast Hrútey's natural wonders and parallel them with her synthetic works of nature that can be viewed as corresponding, opposing, or inverse reflections. Hrafnhildur is one of Iceland's leading contemporary artists and represented the country at the Venice Biennale in 2019. Her installation, Chromo Sapiens, attracted a lot of attention and was considered one of the exhibition's highlights. Her upcoming installation in Hrútey is expected to attract attention from far and wide.
Why Hrútey?
Hrútey is an island located in the middle of the Blanda glacial river in Blönduós. The objective of the installation is to encourage travelers heading North—both locals and those from abroad—to experience a remarkable, original, world-class work of art. Apart from encouraging visitors—many of whom pass through Blönduós unaware of the natural wonders of Hrutey—to slow down and explore the area. The exhibition aims to compel observers to contemplate the interplay between nature and human nature.