UNEARTHED

5200 years ago an eruption occurred. Then, the exploding volcano spread its lava all the way to Reykjavík. On its way it passed through extensive wetlands and shallow standing water, ultimately forming the pseudocraters known as Raúdhólar that still exist today. Nature violently unburied tephra (volcanic material), erupting and tearing apart the previous landscape. Today, the Red Hills are but a reminiscence of that ancient volcanic event, their original form and shape disrupted and altered by human intervention. Unearthed mounds eventually turned into a quarry, after which it was scattered across Reykjavík. One resting place of its soil is underneath the tarmac of Reykjavík´s domestic airport with its surrounding roads, and quite possibly under the Nordic House.

The exhibition Unearthed in the Greenhouse of the Nordic House is an investigation of the area Raúdhólar, located in the Heiðmörk recreational area. This exhibition presents a combination of artistic practice along with geological research. Through the sound installation, the artist aims to reconnect the origin of transplanted soil from Raúdhólar in its new location. Such performative storytelling allows the artist and the audience to understand the impact of quarrying in our society as one of the most landscape-transforming factors. The exhibition is positioned in the liminal space, between the presence and absence of soil, where the entanglement of folklore, geological events and human impact is explored. 

This exhibition is open from the 18th of November until the 26th of November, with the vernissage on the 18th of November at 14:00.

Corinna J. Duschl is a German artist, currently residing in Iceland. Through her work, she tries to create situations that make us relate to the troubled ecologies of our time. Within those complicated zones, thinking in dichotomies, such as the nature/culture split, becomes impossible, forcing us to acknowledge dense and entangled environments. Thereby, Corinna is deeply influenced by animistic and posthuman theory, conducting embodied research through her practice.

Daria Testoedova is an indigenous curator, art historian and researcher. Her initial interest is in the anthropological and ethnographic view of the fine arts and history of her indigenous Siberian roots. With her work, she delves into the depths of the cultural fabrics and explores the Anthropocene of the localities with thorough field studies. Daria explores indigenous knowledge, kinship and belonging, and decolonisation through her work.

Special thanks to the geologist Soley Johnson, graphic designer Luna Smolka and the technician/ sound designer Daníel Magnús.