Join us June 20 for a lecture by Dagmar Malena Winther, Acting Director of The National Gallery of the Faroe Islands (Listasavn Føroya)! Presented in Fog Swept Islands: Faroe Islands Culture Days alongside the exhibition Fog Swept Cargo, Winther will discuss the Faroese cultural identity within the contemporary arts landscape.
The Faroe Islands – 18 islands in the North Atlantic — are a grain of sand to America’s far-ranging lands and diversity. What does art look like in this small place? While Faroese artists only first received formal education 100 years ago, today many artists live and practice on the Islands. Artworks can be found in every home and subsea tunnel, inspired by local life, culture, and the forces of nature. Today’s vibrant Faroese contemporary scene holds a wide variety of styles, expressions and connections to the international artworld.
Join us this evening for a fascinating art journey that introduces distinctive works unlike those elsewhere in the world. Winther will also discuss Faroese artistic connections and influences with other countries, including the U.S. She will also share perspectives on its “national” art scene and humorous or critical angles on life in the North Atlantic.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF THE FAROE ISLANDS
The National Gallery of the Faroe Islands, located in the capital Tórshavn, is its main museum of Faroese art. Established in 1989, its collection consists of approximately 2,900 works, with its oldest works dating back to the 1830s. The museum features a large section for its permanent collection as well as special rooms for changing exhibitions.
During World War II, when the ties between the Faroe Islands and Denmark were suddenly cut, Faroese students in Copenhagen took the initiative to establish the Faroe Islands Art Association. Founded in 1941, it was the mission of the Faroe Islands Art Association to provide a collection of Faroese art that could eventually be housed in the Islands. In 1948 the cornerstones of a public Faroese art collection were laid when the Parliament established the National Art Museum. The two collections — The Parliaments and the Faroe Islands Art Association — were merged into Listasavn Føroya in 1989 when the National Gallery of the Faroe Islands was officially established. Today, Listasavn Føroya is primarily funded by the government. The oldest part of the museum was built in 1970. The museum was extended in 1993 and will be further expanded with new buildings from summer 2024.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Dagmar Malena Winther is Acting Director at the National Gallery of the Faroe Islands. Dagmar has a background in Art History from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and a MSc in Management from Lund University, Sweden. Dagmar has worked with Faroese art and artists for the past 10 years. She has also worked with art in Danish government buildings and contemporary art in Copenhagen.
Photo by Ingi Joensen