Kristinn Már Pálmason shows paintings that are large in size and fizzing with life. Almost in motion, they draw us in like a whirlwind – so much is happening on the picture plane. We see a range of geometrical shapes, manifestations of diverse symbols, and allusions to semiotics of past and present, figurative and abstract drawings, along with some handwritten words, and elsewhere natural shapes. In Kristinn’s paintings the light comes from within and shines outwards. He uses a combination of spray technique, ink drawing and paint to create an ambiguous world of diverse objects and forms that seem to float around each other within the picture plane. Kristinn’s work is very musical, with sharp, gripping swings between crescendo and diminuendo, chaotic rhythm and a turbulent energy that seems to vibrate, making our pupils expand. And underneath is a heavy beat. In these visually complex paintings, chaos is not a force to be tamed but an integral part of a visual work of art. The world of Kristinn’s art is organised and at the same time fragmented, a sort of visual cacophony that has its zone in the overtones of consciousness, like the zone where dreams appear to us.
Kristinn Már Pálmason (b. 1967) lives and works in Reykjavík. His works have been exhibited widely abroad and in most major art museums and art spaces in Iceland. He has engaged in various art related projects and co-founding of art galleries in Reykjavík, such as Anima (2006 -2008) and Kling & Bang (from 2003). Pálmason graduated with an MA degree from The Slade School of Fine Art, University College London (1998) as well as studying at the Icelandic College of Art and Crafts (1990-1994).