Borders Within²

The painting installation explores the relationship between expectations and reality. The works are influenced by commercial advertisements and nature photography associated with travel and tourism. These images present viewers with visions of unimaginable fantasy landscapes that are often portrayed as destinations that must be visited at least once in a lifetime. In reality, many of these remarkable locations have been affected by mass tourism. I approach this topic through my personal experience of a trip to Iceland. The intuitive paintings symbolize fantasy, while the harsh, rigid wooden legs emphasize their physical reality as flat surfaces by allowing viewers to see the backs of the canvases. The series comprises eight square-format paintings of varying sizes, seven of which stand on wooden-framed legs. The paintings are inspired by Iceland’s natural sites. The installation is accompanied by a 14-second video showing the front of Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavík, Iceland.