26. June - 22. August 2010 Works by Eiríkur Smith 1951 - 1957
The artist’s career in 1951 – 1957:
1951:
Eiríkur applied at the ‘Académie de la Grande Chaumičre’ in Paris early in 1951 along with Benedikt Gunnarsson and was awarded a student grant of 6000 kr by the Icelandic Education Ministry. He hired a studio with Guđmundur Elíasson sculptor and socialized with artists Hörđur Ágústsson, Ţorvaldur Skúlason, Gerđur Helgadóttir, Thor Vilhjálmsson, Sigurđur Sigurđsson and Guđmundur Steinsson. Eiríkur Smith was first exposed by geometric art when he visited the Galerie Denise René and started reading the art magazine Art Aujourd’oui (Art Today). He travelled to Spain and other places. He exhibited watercolour, pastel and charcoal works at Listvinasalurinn in Reykjavik with Benedikt Gunnarsson. Critics of the time noticed the influence from Kandinsky, Schneider and Hartung. Eiríkur intended to go back to Paris but instead started his full time studies in photo-engraving at the Technical College of Hafnarfjordur and graduated in Spring 1952.
1952:
Eiríkur was permitted to use a class room in Flensborg College for painting due to the good will of the head master, Benedikt Tómasson. He began by painting abstract works and his first private show was in the autumn in Reykjavik at Listamannaskálinn. He got a good review in the national paper Morgunblađiđ however he only sold one art work. At the same time he was also working as a foreman at a taxi station. He met Atli Már and Ásgeir Júlísson advertisement designers which led to some future collaboration.
1953:
Eiríkur joined the Association of Icelandic Visual Artists in February with Karl Kvaran and Benedikt Gunnarsson. He participated in a combined exhibition at Listamannskálinn with artists Hörđur Ágústson, Karl Kvaran, Sverrir Haraldsson and Svavar Guđnason which was the first pure geometric exhibition in Iceland. It was very influentual because many different people attended and wrote reviews.
Met his future wife Bryndís Sigurđardóttir but married her in 1957.
1954-1972:
Eiríkur became an apprentice in photo–engraving at Eymundur Magnússon in 1954 at Litróf where he finished his ´Sveinspróf’ or his journeyman’s certificate. Whilst working as a photo engraver he contributed in the art books of Helgafell and got to know Ragnar in Smári a leading art collector at that time.
1955-1957:
Eiríkur started building his house in Stekkjarkinn in Hafnarfjordur and moved in Spring 1957 with his wife Bryndís. He was so occupied building the house that he was not able to produce much work. Whilst working on the house Eiríkur realised that his passion for abstract no longer existed however the nature still appealed to him and he became more inspired by lyrical abstract. He was offered to exhibit at Arte Nordica Contemporane in Rome or generally called the Rome exhibition in winter of which is organised by the Icelandic part of the Nordic Art Union. He exhibited three geometric works which were probably gouache paintings.
1957:
After he has relocated into his new house he had a large bon-fire where he used many of his first works and geometric paintings as fuel. This was a dramatic reackoning on his behalf however he has been critised for being reckless for doing so but in a way it was a form of purgatory for him, after which he could begin a fresh start.
Formal Discipline
The exhibition Formal Discipline Works by Eiríkur Smith 1951 – 1957 in Hafnarborg is the first in a series which celebrate his career and will continue over the next few years to introduce his versatile style. Eiríkur Smith was born 1925 in Hafnarfjörđur and studied at the Icelandic College of Art & Crafts from 1946-48 and subsequently completed his further studies in the private art school Rostrup Böyesens, Copenhagen 1949-50. Furthermore he went to study in Paris from 1950-51. His career can be divided into periods in terms of style, composition and years all of which can be considered an important part of Icelandic Art History. Eiríkur Smith's art works are a large part of the Hafnarborg Art Collection. The theme of this exhibition follows an indepth study and analysis of his career and will primarily consist of works from two era´s. The curator is Ólöf K. Sigurđardóttir the director of Hafnarborg and assistant curator is Heiđar Kári Rannversson.The artist’s career in 1951 – 1957:
1951:
Eiríkur applied at the ‘Académie de la Grande Chaumičre’ in Paris early in 1951 along with Benedikt Gunnarsson and was awarded a student grant of 6000 kr by the Icelandic Education Ministry. He hired a studio with Guđmundur Elíasson sculptor and socialized with artists Hörđur Ágústsson, Ţorvaldur Skúlason, Gerđur Helgadóttir, Thor Vilhjálmsson, Sigurđur Sigurđsson and Guđmundur Steinsson. Eiríkur Smith was first exposed by geometric art when he visited the Galerie Denise René and started reading the art magazine Art Aujourd’oui (Art Today). He travelled to Spain and other places. He exhibited watercolour, pastel and charcoal works at Listvinasalurinn in Reykjavik with Benedikt Gunnarsson. Critics of the time noticed the influence from Kandinsky, Schneider and Hartung. Eiríkur intended to go back to Paris but instead started his full time studies in photo-engraving at the Technical College of Hafnarfjordur and graduated in Spring 1952.
1952:
Eiríkur was permitted to use a class room in Flensborg College for painting due to the good will of the head master, Benedikt Tómasson. He began by painting abstract works and his first private show was in the autumn in Reykjavik at Listamannaskálinn. He got a good review in the national paper Morgunblađiđ however he only sold one art work. At the same time he was also working as a foreman at a taxi station. He met Atli Már and Ásgeir Júlísson advertisement designers which led to some future collaboration.
1953:
Eiríkur joined the Association of Icelandic Visual Artists in February with Karl Kvaran and Benedikt Gunnarsson. He participated in a combined exhibition at Listamannskálinn with artists Hörđur Ágústson, Karl Kvaran, Sverrir Haraldsson and Svavar Guđnason which was the first pure geometric exhibition in Iceland. It was very influentual because many different people attended and wrote reviews.
Met his future wife Bryndís Sigurđardóttir but married her in 1957.
1954-1972:
Eiríkur became an apprentice in photo–engraving at Eymundur Magnússon in 1954 at Litróf where he finished his ´Sveinspróf’ or his journeyman’s certificate. Whilst working as a photo engraver he contributed in the art books of Helgafell and got to know Ragnar in Smári a leading art collector at that time.
1955-1957:
Eiríkur started building his house in Stekkjarkinn in Hafnarfjordur and moved in Spring 1957 with his wife Bryndís. He was so occupied building the house that he was not able to produce much work. Whilst working on the house Eiríkur realised that his passion for abstract no longer existed however the nature still appealed to him and he became more inspired by lyrical abstract. He was offered to exhibit at Arte Nordica Contemporane in Rome or generally called the Rome exhibition in winter of which is organised by the Icelandic part of the Nordic Art Union. He exhibited three geometric works which were probably gouache paintings.
1957:
After he has relocated into his new house he had a large bon-fire where he used many of his first works and geometric paintings as fuel. This was a dramatic reackoning on his behalf however he has been critised for being reckless for doing so but in a way it was a form of purgatory for him, after which he could begin a fresh start.