Jónsi: FLÓÐ (Flood): Reykjavik Art Museum, Iceland

The first solo exhibition of Jónsi’s work in Europe will open at Reykjavik Art Museum’s Hafnarhús on June 1st and will be on view until September 8, 2024. FLÓÐ (Flood) will feature four installations, three of which are shown for the first time.

Interdisciplinary artist and musician Jónsi grounds his visual practice in material and metaphysical experimentations with sound, often through the engineering of immersive installations that reconfigure the act of listening by means of sight, smell, taste, and touch. Known for synthesizing compositions that are at once ethereal and electrifying, Jónsi employs a tonal palette ranging from ambient sounds, mechanically generated frequencies, samples from nature, as well as his own voice in boundlessly innovative sonic arrangements. Using a perfume organ to develop new and invigorating scents, Jónsi infuses his works with earthy, atmospheric fragrances that are subtle and frequently overlooked. In concert, these seemingly invisible forces redouble on their emotive strengths, leaving the viewer anchored through corporeal engagement while simultaneously transported via their cognitive imaginary.

Since initially gaining international recognition as the lead vocalist for the Icelandic experimental rock band Sigur Rós, Jónsi has collaborated with musicians, visual artists, and filmmakers to create a robust body of work across disciplines, resulting in prestigious awards and critical acclaim. As a visual artist, his solo exhibitions include shows at Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) in Tasmania; the National Nordic Museum, Seattle; and the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto.

Born in Iceland in 1975, Jón Þór "Jónsi” Birgisson, lives and works in Los Angeles.

Photocredit: Vigfús Birgisson for Reykjavík Art Museum