Text about my grandfather from Kjarvalsstaðir.
This text is from Kjarvalsstaðir the museum named after Kjarval:About KjarvalJohannes S. Kjarval holds a special place in Icelandic art history and culture as one of the most highly regarded artist of the nation. He was a living legend and by many considered the ultimate romantic bohemian artist. His roots lay in the old Icelandic rural community, but his life and art are tightly bound to the cultural awakening of the nation in the first half of the 20th century. Kjarval is famous for his interpretation of Icelandic nature. He captured the beauty and the mystical quality of the land. His landscapes express a comprehension of nature based on the gift for entering into it and perceiving it from within, along with a strong sympathy for all living things that inhabit it. His depiction of lava emphasizing its surface and tactility gave a new dimension to the Icelanders' perception of nature and brought its close and unassuming details to their attention.Johannes S. Kjarval1885 Johannes Sveinsson is born in Efri-Ey at Medalland on the South -East part of Iceland the 15th of October.1890 Moves to the North-East part of Iceland with his relatives.1901 Moves to Reykjavik.1904 Attends classes in drawing. His teacher is Stefan Eiriksson. Studies at Flensborgarskoli. Works as a fisherman over the next years.1908 His first private exhibition in Reykjavik.1910 Takes lessons in art with Asgrimur Jonsson. Takes the name Kjarval.1911 Has a private exhibition in Seydisfjordur. Goes to London and stayed there until 1912.1912 Moves to Copenhagen and takes preparatory course at Teknisk Selskap Skole.1913 Starts studying art at the Royal Academy in Copenhagen.1914 Spends the summer in Iceland and paints an altar-piece for Bakkagerdiskirkja -church in Borgarfjordur eystra.1915 Marries Tove Merrild, a writer.1917 Finishes his studies at the Royal Academy in Copenhagen.1918 Has a private exhibition at Den Frie in Copenhagen.1920 Goes on a study trip to Italy and is there for six months.1922 Moves back to Iceland with his family.1924 Paints a fresco for the Icelandic Landsbanki (a bank).1925 Publishes an art magazine, only two numbers were published. Divorces his wife.1928 Goes to Paris and stayed there for six months.1929 Gets a studio in Austurstraeti 12 in Reykjavik. He kept that studio for the rest of his life.1930 Paints during the summer at Thingvellir. From then on he focused on painting outside, mostly around Reykjavik. Publishes the book Grjot (Rock).1931 Has an exhibition in Charlottenborg, Copenhagen.1932 Participates in an Icelandic exhibition at the Galerie Moderne in Stockholm and at the Kunstforeningen in Oslo.1933 Has an exhibition in his studio at Austurstraeti.1935 Has an exhibition to celebrate his fiftieth birthday at the Menntaskoli in Reykjavik. Exhibits 410 of his works.1940 Starts combining landscapes and figures in his art. From now on he travels around Iceland, f.ex. to Snaefellsnes to paint.1942 Gets a studio in an sports hall over the summer. He gets to work there over the next 20 years.1945 Has an exhibition in the Artist's Hall in Reykjavik. Has more exhibitions there over the next years. Some members of the Parliament suggest a new house and a studio should be built for Kjarval.1948 Goes to the East coast of Iceland to paint.1950 Builds a summer house, spends most summers there for the next 20 years. A book on Kjarval is published with 80 pictures of his works and text by Halldor Kiljan Laxness.1954 The city of Reykjavik bought the painting "Critic."1955 A retrospective exhibition with works by Kjarval is held at the National Art Museum of Iceland, 25000 people visit the exhibition.1958 Gets the Prins-Eugen medal in Sweden.1960 Exhibits with Ásmundur Sveinsson at the Venice Biennale.1963 Exhibits with Ásgrimur Jonsson and Jon Stefansson at a public exhibition in Moskva, Russia.1966 Paints his last painting by Bleikdalsa -river at Kjalarnes, Iceland.1972 Dies the 13th of April1973 Kjarvalsstadir open the 24th of March.2002 Kjarvalsstofa, a museum dedicated to Kjarval opens at Borgarfjordur eystra, where he grew up on the east coast of Iceland.