Katrín Elvars­dóttir / Sigrún Sigurð­ar­dótt­ir│ Home - Away

Reykjavík Museum of Photography

Most have had to leave their home country due to armed conflict: some have sought refuge in refugee camps, while others have fled from one country to another; all have ultimately found their way to Iceland and made a new home for themselves. 

In the exhibition _Home – Away_ we are provided with an insight into the lives of the fugitives and asylum-seekers which have come Iceland in the past years and decades. In Katrín Elvarsdóttir’s photographs we look into their eyes. We are able to see who they are – and we are given clues to the stories they have to tell. They show us objects that have a special place in their life – objects which connect them to their original country, and evoke strong feelings.


They show us objects that have a special place in their life – objects which connect them to their original country, and evoke strong feelings.

Part of their history is also conveyed through text from Sigrún Sigurðardóttir´s interviews with fugitives and asylum-seekers in Iceland. In a soundrecording, which forms a part of the exhibition, we are enabled to listen to each fugitive talk about his/her experience. 
They seek to find words to share their experiences, find a place in the language. Most of us know how difficult it can be to describe complex events and deep emotions. And when, in addition, the words we use belong to a foreign language, the task can seem all but impossible. For that reason there are many who say nothing, who never share their experiences with anyone – or never have the chance to tell their story. For that reason it is even more important for us to listen properly when we have the chance: to look and listen. 


Katrín Elvarsdóttir (b. 1964) graduated  with BFA degree from the Art Institute of Boston in 1993. Since then she has participated in many group exhibitions and has had solo-exhibitions in the USA, Russia, France and elsewhere. She has received many awards for her photography, and examples of her work are found in many Icelandic collections. In 2007 Katrín was nominated for the achievement prize awarded by Myndstef, the Icelandic visual copyright organisation.
 
Sigrún Sigurðardóttir (b. 1973) has a BA in history and a cand.mag. degree in modern culture from the University of Copenhagen. Her area of specialisation is photographic studies, more specifically, the significance of photographs for people’s perception and understanding of reality, past and present. Sigrún is now working on a photographic study at the National Museum of Iceland, and teaches at the Iceland Academy of the Arts. 


Katrín Elvarsdóttir / Sigrún Sigurðardóttir│ Home - Away

In the exhibition, which features photographic work by Katrín Elvarsdóttir and texts by Sigrún Sigurðardóttir, cand.mag. in modern culture, we meet different individuals who share the experience of having been forced to abandon their homes.

Katrín Elvars­dóttir / Sigrún Sigurð­ar­dótt­ir│ Home - Away

In the exhibition, which features photographic work by Katrín Elvarsdóttir and texts by Sigrún Sigurðardóttir, cand.mag. in modern culture, we meet different individuals who share the experience of having been forced to abandon their homes.

Katrín Elvarsdóttir / Sigrún Sigurðardóttir│ Home - Away