Ragnar Kjartansson: Mercy at NGV International

Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson, known for video art blending music and performance, has a current exhibition at NGV International in Melbourne titled Ragnar Kjartansson: Mercy. The show features eight films inspired by music videos, opera, and ballet, running until 4 October 2026. Kjartansson, from a family of creatives, uses repetition and characters to explore performance, collaboration, and reality versus staging. In a video transcript, he describes his early work as performing himself, finding beauty in stepping out of life. He notes the poetic quality of figures stuck in nothingness, which creates tension without narrative. His advice to others includes volunteering in artist-run spaces and focusing on the scene and others' work, which he says helps his own work blossom. He remains active in Reykjavík's artist-run scene, finding it keeps him fresh.