The Living Art Museum's three-part archive consists of records of artist-run spaces, art initiatives, and collection and preservation of Performance Art in Iceland.
The Living Art Museum's three-part archive consists of records of artist-run spaces, art initiatives, and collection and preservation of Performance Art in Iceland.
The collection process started as a creative collaboration with The Reykjavík Municipal Archives, Iceland Art Academy, The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service, University of Iceland, National Museum of Iceland amongst others. The history of the Living Art Museum itself has been preserved at The Reykjavík Municipal Archives since 2010.
Records of Artist Run Spaces
The Living Art Museum manages original records and documentation of artist run spaces and initiatives in Iceland.
Nýló has collected information on over 100 artist run spaces and continues to do so, e.g. SÚM, Suðurgata 7, Gallerí Gangur, Rauða Húsið á Akureyri, Langbrók, Gula Húsið, Kling og Bang gallerí, Crymo gallerí, Harbinger og Ekkisens, to mention a few.
The collection process started as a creative collaboration with The Reykjavík Municipal Archives, Iceland Art Academy, The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service, University of Iceland, National Museum of Iceland amongst others. The history of the Living Art Museum itself has been preserved at The Reykjavík Municipal Archives since 2010.
Records of Artist Run Spaces
The Living Art Museum manages original records and documentation of artist run spaces and initiatives in Iceland.
Nýló has collected information on over 100 artist run spaces and continues to do so, e.g. SÚM, Suðurgata 7, Gallerí Gangur, Rauða Húsið á Akureyri, Langbrók, Gula Húsið, Kling og Bang gallerí, Crymo gallerí, Harbinger og Ekkisens, to mention a few.
A large part of records of artist-run spaces has been lost over the years as there was no organization to receive them. As a part of collecting information on artist-run spaces, the boards and staff of Nýló have worked systematically on interviewing people who have been involved in the operation of these exhibition spaces and initiatives. Recordings of the interviews can be found in the museum’s archive, which is located in the museum's collection space in Breiðholt.
Documentation of Performance Art
Another important aim of the museum is about gathering documentation, recording and mediating sources of Performance Art in Iceland. Nýló has gathered sources from dozens of performance works from the year 1978.
The collection process is done in dialogue and collaboration with artists who have worked with the performance medium in their artistic practice. Most artists work with the performance form at some point in their artistic careers and some have made it their main subject. Suffice to mention Magnús Pálsson, Rúrí, Halldór Ásgeirsson, Kristján Guðmundsson, Ragnar Kjartansson and Gjörningaklúbbinn.
The Living Art Museum is the only museum in Iceland that systematically collects and registers this time-related medium. As part of the collection of documentation of performances, the museum initiated a collaboration with The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service in recording artists' descriptions of their own performance work. The recordings can be found in the archive and guests are welcome to request to listen to them.
