Ragnar Kjartansson’s new artwork to be performed six hours a day for five weeks

Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson is to stage a new durational performance in Wales. The piece has been co-commissioned by Artes Mundi and National Museum Wales in Cardiff, where the performance will take place from 3 February to 11 March. It is set to become part of Wales’ art collection at National Museum Cardiff.

Titled The Sky in a Room the performance piece is based on the globally famous 1959 Italian pop song of the same name. An ever-changing roster of organists will perform Il Cielo in una Stanza on the 18th Century art gallery’s 1774 Sir Watkins Williams-Wynn organ. The song will be played for six hours every day the gallery is open for the five week period.

Ragnar Kjartansson commented “_The Sky in a Room_ is to be set in a blue room exhibiting 18th Century British paintings. I want to do a piece about space, the transformation of space in that lovely room. This solitary space, usually filled with glorious artwork, suddenly becomes empty. Then Il Cielo in una Stanza is to be played constantly on the ancient organ. It is a song all Italians know, it is almost the Italian national anthem of love. An ode to the transformation of space in that grand blue organ room”.

Karen MacKinnon, Director and Curator at Artes Mundi added “We are really excited about extending Artes Mundi’s legacy and fuelling a portal to international art here in Wales. Working with the National Museum Wales to bring back an Artes Mundi artist and developing a site-specific commission that resonates with this community, this place, this building and being able to purchase that work is amazing”.

Ragnar has worked with Bjork, The National and Sigur Ros. 2016 saw a three month-long solo exhibition Ragnar Kjartansson had a solo exhibition by the artist and the Barbican. It is the first time the artist has been commissioned for a public collection in this country.