Jón Óskar (b. 1954) stands out on the Icelandic art scene for his paintings of conflict and even violence—not in representation, but rather in their process of creation. Subjecting his monumental canvases to corrosive chemicals, hot wax, or other forms of damage, then repairing them again, his finished paintings—often dark both in color and style—bear the scars of this treatment. In his photographs, drawings, and prints, he similarly explores the conflict between the surface of the picture plane and the subjects he portrays, whether they are portraits, historical themes, or personal references.

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www.jonoskar.org

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