The Nordic Fashion Biennale (NFB) is a dynamic platform to promote West Nordic fashion design. It is an arena that brings together designers, artists, academics, business entrepreneurs and specialists in the field of fashion.

This year’s Biennale offers an inspiring and aesthetic exhibit, entitled The Weather Diaries, uniting the works of many of the most talented designers from the Nordic islands:

Mundi (IS), STEiNUNN (IS), JÖR by GuðmundurJörundsson (IS), Kría (IS), Hrafnhildur Arnadòttir a.k.a. Shoplifter (IS), Guðrun & Guðrun (FOE), Barbara I Gongini (FOE), Rammatik (FOE), Bibi Chemnitz (GL), Najannguaq Lennert (GL), Nikolaj Kristensen, and Jessie Kleemann (GL).

The curators behind this 3rd NFB are the American-Austrian artists Cooper & Gorfer, based in Sweden. Known for their strong narrative imagery with references to culture and fashion, they have been commissioned to create a photographic exhibition interpreting fashion from Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Over the past two years, Cooper & Gorfer have worked with the art and fashion scene in the West Nordic Islands. The outcome is an alluring exhibition and book.

Here are some of the designers:
BARBARA Í GONGINI (FO)

A Faroese fashion designer based in Copenhagen, Barbara Í Gongini is widely know for her conceptual process. Her designs represent high quality and artistic integrity, with a particular focus on the principles of sustainability in manufacturing. While epitomizing the avant-garde, her collections bear no sign of compromising responsibility, working in tandem with industry leaders to develop the ideal low-impact product.

Her garments are androgynous and concise, with subtle intricacies and monochromatic shades. They are heavy yet elegant at the same time. The essences of extreme light and dark, of over-stimulated senses, can be found in her designs. Barbara Í Gongini’s collections might not be classical in style, but are timeless in their confidence. They might not be for the faint hearted either, aimed for a broad audience ready to dress beyond gender, class or age.

Barbara Í Gongini lives and works in Copenhagen, Denmark.

photo inspiration-of-the-nation.com

MUNDI (IS)

Guðmundur Hallgrímsson, a.k.a Mundi, is undoubtedly one of Iceland’s most interesting fashion exports of recent years. In 2007 he founded his own brand MUNDI, and has been picked up by stores around the world since his first collection.

In his search to satisfy his artistic curiosity, Mundi playfully crosses established boundaries between fashion, art, filmmaking and graphic design. He works closely with the Gelitin art collective doing performances in international venues such as Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris (2008), Venice Biennale (2009), and the Museum of Modern Art in Vienna (2012). He has produced and directed several short films including “The Rabbit Hole” (2010), “The Journey” (2012) and “Snowblind” (2013).

Mundi lives and works in Berlin.

www.mundivondi.com

photo mundivondi.net

photo mundivondi.net

The Journey from NOWFASHION on Vimeo.

HRAFNHILDUR ARNARDÓTTIR AKA SHOPLIFTER (IS)

The work of the Icelandic artist Hrafnhildur Arnardóttir a.k.a. Shoplifter, has gained large international recognition in both the art world as well as in the
design scene. She is best known for her extravagant and often humorous pieces made out of human- and synthetic hair, exploring its symbolic nature and artistic meaning. Her work is often forcing us into two opposing sensations, such as delight and disgust. It is simultaneously comical, romantic, silly and beautiful, with the theme of vanity as a connecting thread.

Like so many other Icelandic creatives, she does not want to be restricted by one medium or definition. Her body of work thrives in the area of visual art, performance, and design. Shoplifters work has been shown in numerous galleries and museums from the Reykjavik Art Museum to the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

“I think the most beautiful element in the world is the pure desire to decorate and beautify your self.” –Shoplifter

Shoplifter lives and works in Brooklyn, New York

www.shoplifter.us

photo contemporaryartlinks.blogspot.com

photo shoplifter.us

 
STEINUNN (IS)

With timeless design and a discerning professional sense, Steinunn Sigurðardóttir has established her place as a world-class designer. Her signature styles are elegant intricately manufactured knitwear pieces. Her artistic creations build on years of collaboration with many renowned fashion houses combined with a deep knowledge of material textures and three-dimensional shaping. Rooted in folk art traditions, Steinunn Sigurðardóttir has shaped her own world of subtle nuances, reminiscent of the hardy but delicate flora of Iceland.

Steinunn’s reputation crosses borders, evident by her many accolades, including the first Swedish Söderberg Prize to be awarded to a clothing designer, in 2008.

Steinunn lives and works in Reykjavik, Iceland.

www.steinunn.com

photo alaskadesignforum.org

photo iceland.is

via nordicfashionbiennale.com