There's more to Iceland than Bjork: on at The Film Archive in Auckland until 24 November, Á jaðrinum (On the Edge) is the first screening programme of Icelandic videos in NZ.

Despite its small population a (a little over 300,000 people), Iceland has a rich and innovative arts scene, not only in the area of video but also in the traditional media of sculpture and painting. There's more to Iceland than Bjork: on at The Film Archive in Auckland until 24 November, Á jaðrinum (On the Edge) is the first screening programme of Icelandic videos in NZ.

Despite its small population a (a little over 300,000 people), Iceland has a rich and innovative arts scene, not only in the area of video but also in the traditional media of sculpture and painting.The exhibition gathers together works from young Icelandic practitioners and explores their visual styles, thematic approaches and filmic languages.

The works in this exhibition, curated by Leonhard Emmerling, document the wide range of themes and styles. A strong feminist approach is apparent in the works by Ásdís Sif Gunnarsðóttir or Dodda Maggy, while Sigurður Guðjónsson uses the icy landscape and ruined houses as stage settings for dark and uncanny, almost movie-like works.

Sara Riel ridicules the stereotypes of pixies, and Ragnar Kjartansson plays with the cliche of melancholy and depression on one hand, with catastrophic relationships between mother and son on the other. Stark conceptual works like Slagteri by Hlynur Helgason contrast with the playful animations by Sigga Bjorg Sigurðaðóttir, while the re-enactments of dreams by Raðhildur Ingaðóttir and the absurd settings by Hrafnkell Sigurðsson contrast with the light, but touching works by Kristín Helga Káraðóttir.

When: 25 October - 24 November 2007
Where: The Film Archive, Level 1, 300 Karangahape Road, Newton, Auckland

25/10/07