Trolls Böõgâr and Ūgh Represent Iceland at 2017 Venice Biennale with 'Out of Control' Exhibition

For the 2017 Venice Biennale, Iceland's national pavilion features two trolls named Böõgâr and Ūgh, who are presenting their first exhibition titled 'Out of Control' at Spazio Punch on the Giudecca. The trolls, described as 36-meter-tall giants with a penchant for gold and diamonds, are assisted by artist Egill Sæbjörnsson and Stefanie Böttcher, director of Kunsthalle Mainz. Their ambitious plans include a diamond-encrusted coffee bar and a sculpture in San Marco, though permission issues have arisen as trolls are unfamiliar with such restrictions. Böõgâr and Ūgh, who claim to have lived since before Africa existed and last visited Venice in 1547, express fascination with artists like Damien Hirst and Hieronymus Bosch. They hope to connect with another troll named ZhungTunx through Ai Wei Wei, seeking an ancient bone and gold chain. The exhibition runs from 13 May to 26 November, with the trolls aiming to 'trollify' the pavilion and beyond, despite some of their ideas being deemed 'absolute rubbish' by Egill.