Sigurður Guðjónsson, Veil (2012)
Sigurður Guðjónsson at National Gallery of Iceland
September 28, 2026
September 28, 2026
The National Gallery of Iceland exhibits Veil (2012) by Sigurður Guðjónsson, opening on October 2nd, 2026.
Siguður Guðjónsson’s mesmerizing video work Veil, was filmed in a single, 60-minute take. The piece captures, in image and sound, the interplay of the wind across the black sands of Skeiðarársandur. Drifting sand is swept away—layer by layer—from the camera’s steady gaze toward the endless horizon. Shown in a continuous loop without a distinct beginning or end, the work becomes an image of the unstoppable passage of time. The landscape’s muted appearance—is the work in color or black and white?—enhances its dreamlike quality.
In geology, the term "aeolian transport" refers to the movement of sand and dust particles across the earth's surface by the wind; the name is derived from Aeolus, the Greek god and guardian of the winds. The sand itself is also imbued with metaphorical significance: in an hourglass, it measures the passage of time; it slips through our fingers and shifts beneath our feet; and we can never hope to count the grains of sand on a beach.
Guðjónsson’s interest, however, extends beyond these poetic allusions; he focuses equally on the tangible—the sensory materiality of the surfaces and the way movement leaves its mark upon them. In his recent works, such as Perpetual Motion—created for the Icelandic Pavilion at the 2022 Venice Biennale—Sigurður has focused on machines and man-made materials. He examines this mechanical realm at close range—often under high magnification—within the controlled environment of his studio.
Veil, one of Guðjónsson’s earlier works, stands somewhat apart: here, he frames nature itself, creating a powerful image that invites the viewer—provided they are willing to take the time to look closely—to experience something lying just beyond the everyday.
The museum acquired the work in 2015 and is now exhibiting it at full scale on a large screen for the first time.
Siguður Guðjónsson’s mesmerizing video work Veil, was filmed in a single, 60-minute take. The piece captures, in image and sound, the interplay of the wind across the black sands of Skeiðarársandur. Drifting sand is swept away—layer by layer—from the camera’s steady gaze toward the endless horizon. Shown in a continuous loop without a distinct beginning or end, the work becomes an image of the unstoppable passage of time. The landscape’s muted appearance—is the work in color or black and white?—enhances its dreamlike quality.
In geology, the term "aeolian transport" refers to the movement of sand and dust particles across the earth's surface by the wind; the name is derived from Aeolus, the Greek god and guardian of the winds. The sand itself is also imbued with metaphorical significance: in an hourglass, it measures the passage of time; it slips through our fingers and shifts beneath our feet; and we can never hope to count the grains of sand on a beach.
Guðjónsson’s interest, however, extends beyond these poetic allusions; he focuses equally on the tangible—the sensory materiality of the surfaces and the way movement leaves its mark upon them. In his recent works, such as Perpetual Motion—created for the Icelandic Pavilion at the 2022 Venice Biennale—Sigurður has focused on machines and man-made materials. He examines this mechanical realm at close range—often under high magnification—within the controlled environment of his studio.
Veil, one of Guðjónsson’s earlier works, stands somewhat apart: here, he frames nature itself, creating a powerful image that invites the viewer—provided they are willing to take the time to look closely—to experience something lying just beyond the everyday.
The museum acquired the work in 2015 and is now exhibiting it at full scale on a large screen for the first time.