Our girl in New York

Hrafnhildur Arnardóttir is a New York-based Icelandic artist whose alter ego is Shoplifter. She chose to move to New York for her Master of Fine Arts degree after visiting on a graduation trip with the Icelandic Art School. She still feels she made a very good choice. She has a thing for hair, which she claims to be the ultimate human art material. Her signature pieces are hairsculptures, one of which Björk wore on the Medúlla album cover. In September you can catch Shoplifter’s art at the Reykjavík Art Museum.

Why Shoplifter?

It is a nickname that stuck with me after somebody I met misheard my name as Shoplifter when I said, Hi my name is Hrafnhildur. I found it so funny that I didnt want to let go of the joke and got myself into this alter ego.

Can you tell us about your show at the Reykjavík Art Museum?

Im participating in the group show Pakkhús Postulanna e. Apostles Clubhouse curated by Huginn Arason and Daniel Björnsson that opens on Friday, September 1st at 8pm. The name derives from a legendary string of events in the 1990s when the rave scene exploded in Iceland and with it the sense of unique theme parties. We are about a dozen artists participating and two designers along with a team working on the catalogue including the writer and philosopher Oddný Eir Ævarsdóttir among others. The show is attempting to take over the museum and entertain the visitor. Its interesting that all of us in the exhibition seem to be wrapping up the museum in one way or another so the show is very installation-oriented.

As a New York-based Icelandic artist do you think it is important to exhibit in Iceland?

It is of the utmost importance for me to bring my work to Iceland and re-evaluate it within that social context, the same as I do whenever I exhibit anywhere of course, but something is always unique with the original check point.

Does the art world here differ from that in New York?

Yes, tremendously, but I doubt we have space here and now to fully go into that. Frankly, I find that most things in Iceland are different from the rest of the world, both in a very positive way but sometimes negative as well.

How has your life been since you moved to New York?

Well the city has been extremely inspiring to me and therefore my work and I guess I live a rather typical city life. My favourite thing about New York is the variety in everything and the creative energy.

Is art important?

I could not live without it and I believe the same is true for a lot of people whether they realize it or not.

What inspires you?

People and conversations.

When did you decide to become an artist?

I sincerely dont know, but it was a very easy and natural choice.

How do you explain your art?

Its a study on humans.

Do you think it is important for artists to explain what they do?

Maybe to a similar extent that other professionals have to explain their job. But I get rather irritated when I am asked constantly to defend my job and its product.

You have a thing with hair. Why?

Its the ultimate human art material, a thread or a fibre loaded with history.

Is it an obsession?

It surely has become an obsession or maybe the more I start investigating the material the more it gives.

What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?

Brush my hair.

Tell us about your upcoming show in New York.

Im doing a project for NIKE that opens on September 9th in New York. Me and photographer Ryan McGinley were invited to make a show to celebrate a new line in womens footwear. We are both incorporating the shoes in our work to some extent so it is a very corporate project and a new way of working for me. It will open during New York fashion week and then go to Milan for their fashion week as well; it is simply a way for NIKE to market a new line through art and it has been quite interesting to take part in that.

When away what do you miss the most about Reykjavík?

My family and friends, the big sky and Vesturbæjarlaug swimming pool.

Where would you take tourists in Reykjavík?

To a swimming pool and downtown Reykjavík, Fríða frænka antique shop and Sirkus bar.

How do you picture your future?

As bright as one can hope for.

hannabjork@reykjavik.com Photo by Heiða Helgadóttir