Um dyggð hins dúnkennda tilgangsleysis (2023)

roughly translates into ‘the Virtue of the Fluffy Pointlessness’

Akureyri, Iceland – Gallery Mjólkurbúðin proudly presents the work of two artists, Kate Bae and Magnus Helgason. Bae, a South Korean-born American artist residing in New York City, and Helgason, an Icelandic artist born and raised in Reykjavik, now based in Akureyri, have joined forces for an exhibition titled "Um dyggð hins dúnkennda tilgangsleysis," which translates to "The Virtue of the Fluffy Pointlessness." This collaboration blends minimalism and excess in a thought-provoking and visually dynamic manner, reflecting the artists' personal experiences and cultural backgrounds.

Employing drawing and painting as their mediums, the artists engage in a dialogue about the art-making process, emphasizing the importance of creating without preconceived expectations and acknowledging art as a source of both joy and beauty, as well as a site of potential conflict. Helgason incorporates found objects such as fake tiles, motorized tools, metals, and glass into his work, while Bae utilizes paint skins, spray paint, and discarded materials.

The collaborative installation explores the interplay of joy, chance, playfulness, and uncertainty, juxtaposing these elements with social hierarchies, political power, and cultural values. Five collaborative works, presented in the form of books, invite audiences to contemplate the liberating concept of "tilgangsleysis" – pointlessness.