This unique exhibition, which comes directly to Iceland from its highly acclaimed presentation in London, after being shown previously throughout Norway, presents three different types of contemporary Orthodox Christian icons: the Traditional icons, following the Byzantine tradition, together with the strikingly different and lesser known Modern and Naïve styles.

They are the work of 20 contemporary iconographers, both men and women, from Bulgaria, Greece, Romania and Serbia & Montenegro, mostly urban lay people, many of who hold degrees in fine art.

While some of the artists are interested in reviving and interpreting the historical traditions of Byzantine or primitive/naïve iconography, others reveal more recent painterly influences, experimenting with visual languages new to the tradition.

The art of iconograhy, which incorporates various Mediterranean artistic influences, flourished throughout the Byzantine Commonwealth, continues to the present day. Its interpretation of the human body, objects, light and perspective are set in strong contrast to western post-renaissance religious art, seeking to express a different theological conception centered in an eschatological worldview.

Naïve The style of these icons, which emerged in north-western areas of today’s Romania in early eighteenth century, is close to primitive and naïve art. They are painted with tempera colours on the back of a sheet of glass, and were influenced by local naïve folk art with its pure colour tones and expressive drawing, and by both Byzantine and Roman Catholic traditions. While freely introducing a number of a number of previously unseen subjects, these charming icons transmit a pure and childlike joy and spontaneity.

Modern Often painted by younger artists who appreciate and
admire modern secular art, they desire to express the same
theological message as Byzantine art, but in contemporary icons
with an innovative visual language. Although painted within the broad
frame of iconographical canons, and rarely introducing new themes,
modern icons do differ dramatically in style, colouring, drawing and
technique, containing elements of various twentieth century modern
art idioms.

Traditional These icons are enjoying a revival in the Balkan region, and there is a growing admiration and demand from the general public and the Orthodox Church. While painted closely in line with their medieval Byzantine prototypes, they bear the clearly visible artistic stamp of their contemporary authors.

Before coming to Reykjavik, the exhibition has toured to the following locations:

Trondheim Trondheim Art Society (TKF), June 2003
Trondheim SPECTRUM Conference Center, June 2003
Oslo Bøgstad Gård Gallery, July 2003
Helsinki Uspensky Cathedral, April 2004
Oslo International Cultural Centre and Museum
(IKM), March-May 2005
Bergen Korskirken Church, June-August 2005
Stavanger Cultural Centre 'Kulturhus Sølvberget',
December 2005-January 2006
London, Church of All Hallows by the Tower, March-May 2006