Icelandic conceptual artist Kristján Guðmundsson dies at 84

Last Friday, Kristján Guðmundsson, a prominent conceptual artist from Iceland, died at the age of 84 in his home in Reykjavík, as announced by i8 gallery. He hailed from Snæfellsnes in western Iceland, where his parents were involved in the art supply business. Although he initially trained to be a pilot as a teenager, he became a notable figure in the mid-1960s by helping establish the SÚM movement in Reykjavik with Jón Gunnar Árnason and Hreinn Friðfinnsson. They launched Gallerí SÚM in February 1969, inspired by the Fluxus movement. In 1970, he moved to Amsterdam, merging publishing with his art. He represented Iceland at the Venice Biennale in 1982, creating minimalist works that delve into time and space. His 'supersonic drawings' featured gunfire to make dark lines, while 'once around the sun' (1975) included two books marking Earth's orbit. Hildigunnur Birgisdóttir, who will represent Iceland in Venice in 2024, noted that Guðmundsson's work profoundly influenced her view of art.