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‘It’s beautiful and sad to be a human being’: Ragnar Kjartansson brings ‘the best artwork of the 21st century’ to Australia
A nine-screen installation with a cult following is one of many highlights in the Icelandic artist’s first major Australian show, at Melbourne’s NGV
TL;DR
- Ragnar Kjartansson's exhibition 'Mercy' is his first major solo show in Australia, held at the National Gallery of Victoria.
- The exhibition includes eight of Kjartansson's video works, notably 'Me and My Mother,' which documents him and his mother restaging a piece every five years.
- His nine-screen video installation 'The Visitors' is considered by The Guardian as the best artwork of the 21st century and has developed a significant cult following.
- Kjartansson's work often explores the duality of human existence, blending beauty and sadness, sincerity and irony, as taught by his father.
- Music serves as a central emotional element in many of his pieces, creating shared, hypnotic experiences for viewers.
- The artist draws inspiration from various sources including music, painting, film, theater, and current events, reflecting both optimism and a sense of malaise.
- His work often references global politics and a sense of 'nothingness and beauty,' with titles like 'Mercy' hinting at grace, violence, and religious undertones.