Hallsteinn Sigurðsson
Encyclopedia
Hallsteinn Sigurðsson is an Iceland
ic sculptor and visual artist.He is noted for his Nordic god sculptures, some of which are located at the Laxá Power Station in the north central part of the country and are arranged in the facility’s tunnels and vaults. Some twenty five of his sculptures are exhibited in the Gufunes
sculpture park in north-east Reykjavík
.
, London
(1966–1967), Hammersmith College of Art
, London (1967–1969) and the St. Martin’s School of Art, London (1969–1972). In London he was influenced by the work of Anthony Caro
and other "New Generation" sculptors. After completing his studies in London, he made study trips to Italy, Greece and the United States.
Hallsteinn held more than a dozen solo exhibitions in the years 1971 to 1997, and has been hired to create monuments for various organizations and municipalities in Iceland. Early in his career, Hallsteinn created sculpture cast from concrete and various plastics. In his more recent works, Hallsteinn most often uses aluminium
and iron
alloy
, generally in abstract and geometric forms. Over time his structures have become lighter in form. Dozens of his works are in public ownership, and his works are represented in the collections of museums including the Borgarness Museum, Icelandic National Gallery and Reykjavík Art Museum
in Reykjavik
, where he resides. Some twenty-five of his sculptures are exhibited in the Gufunes
sculpture park in northeast Reykjavík. Hallsteinn is a member of the Icelandic Sculptors Society
, which he established in the Icelandic capital in 1972 along with Jon Gunnar Árnason
, Ragnar Kjartansson
, Þorbjörg Pálsdóttir
and others. He is also a member of the Icelandic Association of Visual Artists. In 2002 a set of his sculptures based on Nordic mythology was installed in the tunnels and vaults of the Laxárvirkjun hydroelectric power station
in north-central Iceland, where the works can be seen by visitors each summer. In 2006 he exhibited at the Sigurjón Ólafsson Museum with a collection named "Wheel-Plow-Wings".
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic sculptor and visual artist.He is noted for his Nordic god sculptures, some of which are located at the Laxá Power Station in the north central part of the country and are arranged in the facility’s tunnels and vaults. Some twenty five of his sculptures are exhibited in the Gufunes
Gufunes
Gufunes is a historical estate and park for sculptures and artwork in northeastern Reykjavik. Today it lies within the Grafarvogur part of the city, located to the southwest and south of the Eidsvik Cove and Geldinganes Headland. It contains some 25 sculptures by Hallsteinn Sigurðsson amongst...
sculpture park in north-east Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
.
Biography
Hallsteinn Sigurðsson was born in 1945 and studied at the School of Arts and Crafts in Iceland from 1963 to 1966, then went to the United Kingdom, where he studied sculpture at the Hornsey College of ArtHornsey College of Art
Hornsey College of Art is a former college centred in Crouch End, London, England. Since 2008, the building has been a part of Coleridge Primary School, upon its expansion to four form entry...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
(1966–1967), Hammersmith College of Art
Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College
Ealing, Hammersmith & West London College is a college of further education based across four campuses located in Acton, Ealing, Hammersmith and Southall districts of London, England. The college provides education for over 25,000 students, and it is a member of the 157 Group of high performing...
, London (1967–1969) and the St. Martin’s School of Art, London (1969–1972). In London he was influenced by the work of Anthony Caro
Anthony Caro
Sir Anthony Alfred Caro, OM, CBE is an English abstract sculptor whose work is characterised by assemblages of metal using 'found' industrial objects.-Background and early life:...
and other "New Generation" sculptors. After completing his studies in London, he made study trips to Italy, Greece and the United States.
Hallsteinn held more than a dozen solo exhibitions in the years 1971 to 1997, and has been hired to create monuments for various organizations and municipalities in Iceland. Early in his career, Hallsteinn created sculpture cast from concrete and various plastics. In his more recent works, Hallsteinn most often uses aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
and iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
alloy
Alloy
An alloy is a mixture or metallic solid solution composed of two or more elements. Complete solid solution alloys give single solid phase microstructure, while partial solutions give two or more phases that may or may not be homogeneous in distribution, depending on thermal history...
, generally in abstract and geometric forms. Over time his structures have become lighter in form. Dozens of his works are in public ownership, and his works are represented in the collections of museums including the Borgarness Museum, Icelandic National Gallery and Reykjavík Art Museum
Reykjavik Art Museum
Reykjavik Art Museum is the largest visual art institution in Iceland. It occupies three locations in Reykjavík; in Harbour House by the old harbour at Kjarvalsstaðir by Klambratún and in Ásmundur Sveinsson Sculpture Museum in Laugardalur...
in Reykjavik
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
, where he resides. Some twenty-five of his sculptures are exhibited in the Gufunes
Gufunes
Gufunes is a historical estate and park for sculptures and artwork in northeastern Reykjavik. Today it lies within the Grafarvogur part of the city, located to the southwest and south of the Eidsvik Cove and Geldinganes Headland. It contains some 25 sculptures by Hallsteinn Sigurðsson amongst...
sculpture park in northeast Reykjavík. Hallsteinn is a member of the Icelandic Sculptors Society
Icelandic Sculptors Society
The Icelandic Sculptors Society was established in the Icelandic capital of Reykjavík in 1972 by Hallsteinn Sigurðsson, Jon Gunnar Árnason, Ragnar Kjartansson, Þorbjörg Pálsdóttir and others....
, which he established in the Icelandic capital in 1972 along with Jon Gunnar Árnason
Jón Gunnar Árnason
Jón Gunnar Árnason was an Icelandic sculptor.After studying at the University of Iceland Reykjavík Arts and Crafts from 1944 to 1946 and the School of Visual Arts, he graduated as an engineer from the Technical University of Reykjavik in 1952...
, Ragnar Kjartansson
Ragnar Kjartansson (sculptor)
Ragnar Kjartansson was an Icelandic sculptor. He was a member of the Icelandic Sculptors Society which he established in the Icelandic capital in 1972 along with Hallsteinn Sigurðsson, Jon Gunnar Árnason, Þorbjörg Pálsdóttir and others. He was also the founder of Glit, Ltd., the only ceramic...
, Þorbjörg Pálsdóttir
Þorbjörg Pálsdóttir
Þorbjörg Guðrún Pálsdóttir was an Icelandic sculptor. She is perhaps best known for her four green alien-like public statues Dansleikur/Dance in Reykjavík, which she completed in 1970. Other works of note include Par...
and others. He is also a member of the Icelandic Association of Visual Artists. In 2002 a set of his sculptures based on Nordic mythology was installed in the tunnels and vaults of the Laxárvirkjun hydroelectric power station
Icelandic hydroelectric power stations
Over 80% of electricity in Iceland is generated in hydroelectric power stations. While geothermal energy is used for heating , the hydroelectric power stations, historically all run by Landsvirkjun, are central to the existence of Iceland as an industrialized country.The largest power station by...
in north-central Iceland, where the works can be seen by visitors each summer. In 2006 he exhibited at the Sigurjón Ólafsson Museum with a collection named "Wheel-Plow-Wings".
Notable works
- Ál-eggið -1968
- Maður og kona I – 1968
- Ferningar I −1973
- Steinbarn II – 1974
- Hyrningar VIII −1975
- Veðrahöll IV – 1978
- Harpa −1987
- Svif XXIII – 1987
- Fönsun IX – 1988
- Far I – 1991
- Far II – 1991
- Keilur V – 1991
- Skeljar I −1994
- Skeljar III −1994
- Skeljar V −1994
- Skeljar VII −1994
- Fönsun XII – 1994
- Pýramídar II −1994
- Píramídar III −1996
- Skeljar XII −1996
- Veðrahöll IX – 2002
- Fönsun XVI – 2004
- Vængir I – 2005