Faroese art

In the Faroe Islands, art is an important part of everyday life and in the public debate.

[citation needed] The ever-changing Faroese weather and light provide opportunities for endless nuances, something which has fascinated both foreign and local artists over the years.

Danish art critic Ole Nørlyng concludes that nature, the wild landscape, is the driving force behind Faroese artists,[2] but except for a close affinity with the landscape and culture of the islands, there has always been great diversity in Faroese art.

He was fortunate enough to receive some help and advice from an American explorer, Elizabeth Taylor, who stayed in the Faroes in 1895.

This marked a turning point in Faroese art history, as this was the first time ever a painter had succeeded outside of the Islands.

The late 19th century marks the beginning of a Faroese art tradition slowly developing for the first time.

The arrival of Elizabeth Taylor with her knowledge of art helped to inspired several to start painting.

With the first painters, the love and affection of the homeland was obvious, and still in the 21st Century the theme is being treated by a new generation of artists.

The real history of Faroese art starts in 1927, when three young artists held an exhibition in Tórshavn.

Mikines began his education at the Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen in 1928 with Aksel Jørgensen and Ejnar Nielsen as his teachers.

Mikines demonstrated a new approach to substance and form in painting which had a profound influence on Faroese art.

Faroese art experienced a virtual blossoming after World War II, when several talented and productive artists returned to the Faroe Islands after finishing their studies in Denmark.

The ones who followed included the classical modernist Janus Kamban (1913–2009), the colourist Ruth Smith (1913–1958), the graphical artist Elinborg Lützen (1915–1995) and the great abstract painter Ingálvur av Reyni (1920–2005).

Zacharias Heinesen (1936), Thomas Arge (1942–1978), Tróndur Patursson (1943), Torbjørn Olsen (1956), Barður Jákupsson (1943) and Amariel Norðoy (1945) all belong to this group, as do many others.

But despite the light and distinct colours of nature and scenery, Faroese art is not exclusively landscape.

The interest in the human mind, existential or philosophical questions or the internal landscapes seems to rise.

One of the artist working in this field is Ole Wich (1953), who has worked with cross media art on the internet connected to present political and culturel issues in the faroese society, as well as conceptuel pieces places between visual expression and science.

The younger generation of Faroese artists has mainly chosen to reside abroad as has Hansina Iversen, who is based in Copenhagen and Hanni Bjartalíð in Helsinki.

In the Faroe Islands there is a great interest in buying Faroese art to decorate your home with.

Faroese art is among the main motifs, both in reproductions of important paintings and in involving the artists in drawing stamps.

The very first Faroese sculptor Janus Kamban by artist Hans Pauli Olsen , the most successful and popular Faroese sculptor nowadays. He works mainly with bronze.
Díðrikur á Skarvanesi (1802–1865). This is one of the oldest preserved works in Faroese art. This painting together with four others by the same artist represent the beginning of the history of Faroese visuel art
Chain Dance 1939 by Janus Kamban . Kamban was a Faroese sculptor and a representative of the "first generation" of professional artists in the Faroe Islands. Photo: Ole Wich
Light art inside deep-sea tunnel Norðoyatunnilin by Tróndur Patursson , who is well known both as a painter and as a sculptor. Above all, he is widely known for his glass paintings.
The largest collection af Faroese art is on display at Listasavn Føroya , the art museum in Tórshavn