Berglind Rognvaldsdottir
"I remember having a dream about dying ... and no one knew anything about all these images, poems and projects that I left behind."
Berglind Rognvaldsdottir
Visual Artist
City of residence, OSLO, NORWAY
Location: Mellomstasjonen
Date and time:
Artist TALK: Friday 12 October (time TBA)
Launch Friday 12 October 19:00 - 21:00
Exhibition is up 13 October 12:00 - 19:00
Q & A:
COL: How old are you and where are you from?
BR: I'm 32 and I am from Iceland
COL: What do you do?
BR: I´m a camera based artist. I tell stories about women for women.
COL: How long have you been doing it?
BR: I have always been creating, but I didn't share it with other people until recently. After having 3 kids I just didn't want to waste any more time being insecure and shy about my art. That's why at the age of 30 I decided to go back to school and pursue my passion.
COL: What’s your first artistic memory?
BR: My little pony (the 1985-87 tv series) I watched it religiously from age 4 to 10, and I was forever mesmerized by the pastel colours, glittery glitter and the blue sky.
COL: What inspired you to pursue a career in art?
BR: The idea to make something that had a message that I believe in, like women's rights, motherhood and body positivity. The documentary film: Finding Vivian Maier also gave me a lot of motivation to share my art more, I remember having a dream about dying after seeing it and no one knew anything about all these images, poems and projects that I left behind.
COL: Do you remember your first work of art?
BR: Oh, I think it was a ceramic vase I made in school that to be honest ended up looking like a large piece of poop. Everyone in my class made fun of it but I was so sure it was a masterpiece. I ended up keeping it on a shelf in my room through my whole teen years.
COL: If you could have any piece of art in history, what would you choose?
BR: Fearless Girl statue by Kristen Visbal, me and my kids would get in formation behind it every morning before we break into a dance off to Katy Perry's “Roar”, then we would go into the day feeling unbeatable.
COL: What is your relationship with fashion?
BR: Fashion was my first love and will always be a big part of where I look for inspiration.
COL: What does the word “collective” mean to you as an artist?
BR: To be part of a group that is motivated to produce together through shared interests and passions.
COL: What is the best and worst thing about being an artist?
BR: Best thing is being able to express myself through my art, and the hardest thing is finding the confidence to proudly call yourself an artist. I´m still a newbie so I'm a work in progress in that area.
COL: Who do you admire?
BR: Annie Leibovitz, Cindy Sherman, Marina Abramovic, Ashley Armitage, Björk, Vigdís Finnbogadóttir (The female president of Iceland when I was growing up) and my fierce female girlfriends, just to name a few of the top of my head.
COL: What can we expect to see at this year’s festival?
BR: Nipples, nipples and a little more of nipples
COL: Who are you excited to see?
BR: Everyone! I'm very proud to get to be a part of this years group show.
