An Inventive Conversation with Gabríela Friðriksdóttir

Courtesy of the artist

Gabríela Friðriksdóttir is an Icelandic multi-disciplined artist and filmmaker. Her work has been exhibited throughout Iceland, Europe, and the world, including The Living Art Museum and Reykjavik Art Museum. Her artwork is featured on both Michael Wookey’s and Björk’s LPs. I got the pleasure to ask Gabriela about censorship within the arts, her artistic process when creating for a client, and what she thinks is the most important quality in an artist.

UZOMAH: What art method do you most identify with?

GABRIELA: I like all the methods, but first is the idea, and from there I use whatever method that suits it.  To draw and sketch is, of course, the most useful to present an idea but I also sketch with other materials, for example, clay and plaster.  I’m making a model now of spaces in a museum in Germany, where I have an exhibition next autumn and I really love to play with that. I make the models out of paper cartons and make miniatures of the installations out of clay and found material and that’s really practical since it’s not easy to travel during those epidemic times. 

U: How does animation bring your drawings more to life and are visually active?

G: Animation is a beautiful word.  Anima comes from Latin and means soul or spirit so when my drawings have been animated they breathe in this spirit and become something else.  They take off on a journey full of possibilities, a lonely guy in a drawing meets a lonely cat and together they are not so lonely anymore.  So maybe one could say that by animating a drawing you are in a sense activating its soul.

“View Head,” 2013 wood, rope, string, mud, glue, canvas and sawdust 55x35x30cm Courtesy of the artist

U: Is there any difference in your artistic process when you create in 2D or 3D?

G: No, there is not much difference; it’s always about transforming an idea into or onto something….Well, sometimes 3D can of course be a bit more complicated.

U: What, in your opinion, is the most important quality of an artist?

G: Devotion I think is the main quality; there are millions of artists and they take on so many different ways of expressing themselves so I think at the end of the day it is really important to be steadfast and true to oneself.

“Crepusculum Animation,” 2011 dur:21min, ed.3+2AP Courtesy of the artist

U: What stands out for you when choosing a location for your films?

G: The locations must have this certain atmosphere that embraces the soul of the scene, a space that creates a certain feeling that can help to express the meaning of the scene.  When filming outdoors I tend to choose elements in nature that are dramatic and full of texture and since most of my films are without a dialogue I seek places with many voices, dramatic landscapes that have a certain character that speaks or whispers a meaning into the scene.

U: What do you prefer when sculpting, traditional or digital?

G: I prefer to get my hands dirty and to feel the material with my body. But when I’m working on a project that needs to be produced by someone else I have to digitalize it and make technical designs for the manufacturers; that’s a totally different feeling and your hands are clean…hahaha!

“Crepusculum Video,” 2011 Duration: 29.min/ ed.3+2AP Courtesy the artist

U: Do you work with an artist or client when creating art for them, are they hands-on, or are you free to create?

G: I’m free to create whatever I want in my own art-making but when I collaborate with other people, for ex. musicians or dancers, it is important to discuss, listen and be open to others’ opinions.

“The North,” 2020 Acrylic paint & ink on canvas  170cmx140cm Courtesy of the artist

U: What are your thoughts about governments providing funds for art programs and public art exhibits?

G: I think that all governments should sponsor culture.  Societies cannot live without art so I think it’s just natural and self-evident for the governments to do so.

U: What role do you see art in terms of displaying self-expression and as a form of activism in the future?

G: Art will always be about self-expression and art movements have had a huge impact on societies through the ages.  Art is always active and is a great tool to get public attention, posters, banners, flags, films, books, photos, words from artists have been used as propaganda for all kinds of activism.

This will not change and the future is now!!!!

“Cabin Fever,” 2018 video. dur.03:00min ed.3/3 +1AP Courtesy of the artist

U: How does censorship of the arts affect society?

G: I’m against all suppression and censorship and I think it always affects the societies when something is kept under; it will always seek surface and when kept long under, it will strike back stronger than thunder. 

You can find more info about Gabriela’s work here.