February 7 - March 5, 2023

Knowing the Ropes

Knowing the Ropes is the name of an artistic project in which the Rope, as bearer of cultural and structural meaning, is explored within a contemporary nordic context. The result of the project will be presented during Stockholm Design Week 2023 at the Hallwyl museum.

The foundation of the project centres around two rope production facilities; Hampiðjan in Reykjavík, Iceland and Aarhus Possementfabrik in Denmark. Both have been operating since the early 20th century, producing ropes with nearly the same machines, but for two vastly different worlds: The Drawing Room and the sea. By exploring this intersection; where a rope on the one hand can save a life at sea, and on the other hand serve as an interior detail, three nordic artists have created objects with unexpected aesthetic and functional qualities.

The term “Knowing the Ropes” means to understand ones craft or profession. The origin may be nautical, referring to sailors that had to learn the function of each rope on the ship. Or it may come from the Theatre, where ropes are used to raise sceneries and more.

Portrait of the three artists holding a rope
Photo: Íris Dögg Einarsdottir.

Knowing the Ropes began in 2018 and was manifested as a collection of objects and video works at the Reykjavik Art Museum in 2021. As one of the Nordic regions best preserved examples of a victorian home at the turn of the 20th century, the artists have nu taken their project to the Hallwyl museum in Stockholm. By exploring the different rooms in the palace, and its founder Wilhelmina von Hallwyl herself, a collection of new objects and experiments have evolved and the result will be presented during Stockholm Design Week 2023.

Artists

Brynhildur Pálsdóttir (IS), Theresa Himmer (DK), Þuriður Rós Sigurþórsdóttir (IS).

Curator: Gustaf Kjellin

Opening reception

The exhibition will be displayed from 7 February to 5 March 2023.

Suported by the embassy of Iceland.