Libia nasce a Madri, Olafur a Reykjavik, vivono e lavorano tra Rotterdam e Berlino
Libia born in Madrid, Olafur in Reykjavik, based in Rotterdam and Berlin
Education
1997-99
Postgraduate studies in painting and multi media, Frank Mohr Institute, MFA Groningen, NL,
Master workshops and guest teaching by: Sef Peeters, Tion Ang, Roy villevoye, John Kormeling, Job
Koelewijn, Fransje Killaars, JCJ van der Heyden, Wilma Suto, Andrés Serrano...
1994-96
Academie Minerva, Groningen, Bachelor, (NL)
1993
N. Academia de Belli Arti for visual arts Milano, exchange Erasmus grant, Multi media semestre, (IT)
1990-93
Fachhochschule fur Design, Dortmund, Object Design, (D)
Other studies:
1992
Folkwanghochschule fur Music, Tanz, Teater, Essen, (D)
1989-91
Studies in German language and philosophy, Bochum University, (D)
1984-00
Academias de Arte Flamenco: Amor de Dios, Madrid / Centro de Arte Flamenco De Jerez / Carmen de
Las Cuevas, Granada, (ES)
1988
High-School Graduation, Instituto de Bachillerato y COU, Nerja, Málaga, (ES)
Education Ólafur Ólafsson
1997-99
Postgraduate studies in painting and multi media, Frank Mohr institute, MFA Groningen (NL)
Master workshops: Sef Peeters, Tion Ang, Roy Villevoye, John Kormeling, Job Koelewijn, Fransje
killaars JCJ van de Heyden, Wilma Suto, Andrés Serrano
1996
Academie Minerva, one year Exchange studies, Erasmus grant, Groningen (NL)
1993-96
The Icelandic University of Arts and Crafts, Multi Media studies, Reykjavik (IS)
1992
High-School Graduation,
Prizes, Scholarships and Awards
Libia & Ólafur at the moment at Rijksacademie Amsterdam in the frame of Prix de Rome 2009.
2008
Shortlisted Prix de Rome 2009
Project Grant Fonds BKVB
Project Grant CIA, Center for Icelandic Art
2007
Project Grant Fonds BKVB, The Art, Design and Architecture Fund of The Netherlands
Project Grant CIA, Center for Icelandic Art
Nomination Prix Gilles Dusein for photography and video, 10 international artists
2006
Nomination DV culture price, Reykjavik, Iceland
Listamannalaun, 1 year research grant, TheVisual Artists’ Stipend Fond, Iceland
2005
CIA.IS Travelling Grant, Centre for Icelandic Art,
2004
CIA.IS Project Grant, Centre for Icelandic Art
Project Grant The Fonds BKVB, The Art, Design and Architecture Fund of The Netherlands
2003
MUGGUR Grant, Artist Travel Fonds, Iceland
Basis Stipendium, The Fonds BKVB, (NL)
Mondriaan Fonds for participation in the Havana Biennial
Project Grant from the Fonds BKVB, (NL)
Project Grant from the Fonds BKVB, (NL)
Residency Grant Fonds BKVB, (NL) for the Istanbul Residency Program - IRP- at Platform Garanti CAC
Istanbul
2002
ONS Research Grant, Centre for the Arts Rotterdam (NL)
Project Grant Culture Area - City Council, Málaga (ES)
Travelling Grant from Icelandic Ministry of Education and Culture
2001
Basis Stipendium, The Fonds BKVB, (NL)
2000
Grant from Sparisjódur Hafnarfjardar for The Last Minute Show at Straumur, (IS)
Grant Cultural Committee of Hafnarfjördur, Straumur Art Residence, Hafnarfjörður (IS)
Grant from the Province of Groningen, for the organization of Manifestation 22, (NL)
Travelling grant from De Grote Brugmans Fonds for a study visit to New York
Exhibitions
Solo exhibitions
2008
Galeria Ad-hoc, Libia Castro and Ólafur Ólafsson, Vigo
Harbor House Contemporary Art Museum Reykjavik, Everybody is doing what they can, curated
by Hafþór Yngvason, Reykjavik
Kunstlerhaus Bethanien, recent works, Berlin
2007
CAC Málaga, Libia and Ólafur, curated by Julieta Manzano (catalogue), Málaga
2006
Galerie Martin van Zomeren, Demolitions and Excavations, Amsterdam
2005
Reykjavik Art Festival, at Museum ASI, Material Time/ Work Time/ Life Time, solo presentation, Chapter
3 The Noise of Money, curated by Jessica Morgan (cat.)
RAM Foundation, Dubble ruimte, Rotterdam
Ministry of Work and Social Affairs, Bone-lady and The Happy Campaign, curated by Theo Tegelaers
(cat.), Den Haag
Kunsthuis Syb, Dyn lân bestiet net, Beetsterzwaag, Friesland
2004
Deïska The Collection, Dyn lân bestiet net, Amsterdam
De Appel Contemporary Art Center, Wir wünschen Ihnen einen angenehmen Aufenthalt, Amsterdam
curated by Theo Tegelaers
2003
Galerie Akademie Minerva, Mind your step, step your mind, Groningen
Platform Garanti Contemporary Art Center, 20 minus minutes, Istanbul, curator Vasif Kortun
Oda Projesi, Camurdili Araniyor! Camurdili Araniyor!/Searching for a Clay Language! Searching for a Clay
Language!, in collaboration with kids from the Galata neighborhood and the artist group Oda Projesi,
Istanbul
2002
Rotterdam Central Train Station, Een plassende vrouw, (organized by CBK Rotterdam), curated by
Marc Bijl
Alternativa Siglo 21, Un elemento más, curated by Natalia Bravo, Málaga (cat.)
2001
Gallerí Hlemmur, Mjög Skemmtileg Sýning, Reykjavík
TENT Art Center, Etnozkitsco, Rotterdam, curated by Arno van Roosmalen
2000
Straumur Artist Residence, The Last Minute Show, Hafnarfjörður
Shop window at Laugarvegur, Búðargluggi / Shop Window, (organized by Gallerí Sævar Karl),
Reykjavík
TOKO independent art space, Baggage + 8 Days / An excavation, Groningen
1999
Dans Werkplaats Groningen - USVA theater, Grand Theatre and several urban locations in
Groningen,7 performances in diff. contexts, project of 5 months, directing a group of students and
amateu dancers
De Voormalige HBS artists initiative, without title,
1998
Galerie Sign, Finding Each Other, Groningen.
Group exhibitions
2008
Manifesta 7, Principle of Hope, curated by Adam Budak, Rovereto
Noordelijk Film Festival, curated Miryam van Lier, Leeuwarden
Van Abbe Museum, Be(com)ing Dutch, curated by Annie Fletcher and Charles Esche, Eindhoven
Akureyri Art Museum, BAE BAE Iceland, curated by Hannes Sigurðsson (book), Akureyri
Rotor, association for Contemporary Art, “Tit for Tat-Counter Images for Transcultural Thinking and
Acting” Curated by Anton Lederer and Margarethe Makovec, Graz.
Projet(or) Art Fair, stand Doual’art and I-Strike, curated by Lucia Babina and Kamiel Verschuren,
Rotterdam stand Het Wilde weten, organizers Daniele Pario Perra & Mark Glassner, Rotterdam
2007
Safn Museum, Sequences, curated by Birta Gumudsdottir, Reykjavik
Borderline Festival curated by Christian Schoen, Peking,China,
CBK and TENT centers for visual arts, De Vremdeling, curated by Mariette Dolle, Ove Lucas,
Rotterdam
Stroom and Skor, Architectural days, curated by Theo Tegelaers and Arno van Roosmalen, The Hague
Frank mohr Institute, MFA Groningen, Focus and Diversity, curated by Martijn Schuppers,Groningen
Deiska The collection, Amsterdam
Art Rotterdam with Gallery Martin van Zomeren, Rotterdam
2006
Nada Art Fair Miami, with Gallery Martin van Zomeren
Reykjavík city centre and The Culture House, Sequences, international contemporary art festival of
time based media, Reykjavik curated by Christian Schoen and Nina Magnusdóttir
Akureyri Art Museum, Homesick, curated by Christian Schoen, Akureyri (catalogue).
Art Store Rotterdam artists initiative, rotterdam [inter]nationaal, (catalogue)
Museum Gouda, Nederland 1, curated by Ranti Tjang and Tiong Ang, Gouda
Stads Galerij Heerlen, Vademen, curated by Jannet de Goede, Heerlen
CAC Vilnius, On Mobility, curated by Kestutis Kuizinas, Vilnius (catalogue)
Art in General, Re-Shuffle: Notions of an Itinerant Museum, New York,
curated by Joshua Decter and students from Bard College curatorial program (publication box)
Art Fair Amsterdam, with galery Martin van Zomeren.
Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, Project Rotterdam, curated by Patricia Pulles, Rotterdam.
2005
De Appel Contemporary Art Center, On Mobility, curated by Saskia Bos, Amsterdam, (catalogue)
Bureau Beyond, Pursuit of Hapiness, curated by Nathalie Zonnenberg, Liesbeth bik, Tom v. Hestel,
Utrecht, (magazine)
Hasselt Trienale, Super! , Trienial of contemporary Art, Design and Architecture, curated by Edith Doove,
Hasselt
FIAC - Art fair Paris, with Galerie Martin van Zomeren, Paris
Travelling of-site project Venice Biennial, Waterways, curated by Renee Vara, Venice
Centre for the Arts Groningen, Kijkwijdte, organized by Frank Mohr Instituut
- Institute for Postgraduate Studies and Reasearch in the Arts and emerging Media, MFA Groningen
2004
Galerie Martin van Zomeren, Winter Kept Us Warm, Amsterdam
Witte de With and TENT Contemporary Art Centres, Tracer, curated by Caterine David and Arno van
Roosmalen, guest curator Pelin Tan (TR), Rotterdam, (catalogue)
MDD Museum, Ijs/Ice, curated by Edith Doove, Deurle, (catalogue)
Miami Art fair, of-site project, Life Boat, organizer by Mary Mattingly, Miami
Hunter College Gallery, The International Exchange Exhibition, New York (catalogue)
Rotterdam Schouwburg, Poetry & Art - 35th Poetry International Festival, (other sites - Museum
Boijmans van Beuningen, Donnar Bookshop, Public library and art center TENT), curated by Kamiel
Verschuren, Rotterdam
Zsolnay Factory, Media Factory, Pécs, Hungary, curated by Rita Varga and Attila Doboviczki
2003
8th Havana Biennial, Art together with life, curated by RAIN a.o Eugenio Valdés, Florian Zeyfang
Havana Cuba,(cat.)
Charlottenborg, From Dust to Dusk, curator Pontus Kyander, Kopenhagen, (catalogue)
Hafnarborg and city centre, Rambelta, Hafnarfjördur Art Festival, curator Úlfur Grönwold, (catalogue)
2001
Centre for the Arts Rotterdam, Flash and Fresh, Rotterdam
The Living Art Museum, Sjálfbaer tróun / Sustainable development, curated by Ásmundur Ásmundsson
and Ósk Vilhjálmsdóttir, Reykjavik,
2000
Rotterdam Harbor (and other public locations in the city), Ruis Reis - Point de Vue ‘Disposition et
Murmure’, curated by H J Alles, Rotterdam
Centre for the Arts Dordrecht, Proeftuin, curated by Sef Peters, Dordrecht (catalogue and CDR)
1999
On 3 temporary locations in Groningen, artists initiative, Manifestation “22”, Groningen, (catalogue)
rti et Amicitae, Op de Rug van de Tijger, MFA, postgraduate graduation Frank Mohr Institute,
Amsterdam (cat.)
1998 U.S.V.A., O.E.F, Open Electronisch Festival, Groningen
Arti et Amicitae, De Leugenaars / The Liars (N) ON LINE, curated by Floor van Keulen, Amsterdam
(catalogue)
Groninger Museum, Text, curated by Ton Maars, Groningen
Reykjavík Art Festival, Flögð og fögur skinn, at Kirkjuhúsið, curated by Hannes Sigurðsson (catalogue)
Centre for the Arts Groningen, Over de grens van de schilderkunst, collaboration project of Frank Mohr
Institute, Groninger Museum and Centre for the Arts Groningen
Artist Talks, Public Appearances and Teaching
2008
Artist talk at Kunstlerhaus Bethanien Berlin (DE)
Workshop at the Reykjavik’s Arts University (IS)
2007
Presentation at Van Abbe Museum, Caucus in the frame of Becoming Dutch, curated by Annie
Fletcher and Charles Esche, Eindhoven (NL)
Workshop leaders, together with Erkan Özgen, of the project Here as the center of the world, Diyarbakir,
Turkey, organized by DAI (Dutch Art Institute MFA in the Netherlands) and Anadolu Culture - Centre of Art
and Culture, Diyarbakir. Curated show of the oucome at Anadolu Culture
Artist Talk at Anadolu Culture, Diyarbakir (TR)
Workshop at the Faculty for Visual Arts Madrid, curated a show of the oucome at the Faculty, Madrid (ES)
Studio visits guest teaching at the DAI, Dutch Art Institute (MFA), Enschede (NL)
Workshop in Landgraaf for the Visual Art Academie in Mastricht (NL)
Lecture/artist talk in Town House Galery, Cairo (EG)
Artist Talk and studio visits, guest teaching at the DAI, Dutch Art Institute (MFA), Enschede (NL)
2006
Artist Talk at the Royal Academie Den Haag (NL)
Artist talk at De Appel Contemporary Art Center, Amsterdam (NL)
Panel disscussion at the opening of Homesick at the Akureyri Art Museum, Akureyri (IS)
Guest teaching at the Icelandic Art University (IS)
2005
Master Classes at Minerva Academie, Groningen (NL)
Artists talk at RAM Foundation, Rotterdam (NL)
2004
Workshop for last year students of Minerva and Zwole, at Hotel Maria Kapel, Hoorn, curated a show
from the outcome at Maria Kapel (NL)
Guest (Ólafur) in Nico’s Talk Show at Club Math, Rotterdam (NL)
2003
Artist Talk at Frank Mohr Instituut MFA (NL)
Artist Talk at The Living Art Museum, Reykjavik, (IS)
Artist Talk at Het Wilde Weten, Rotterdam, (NL)
Master Class at Bilgiz University MFA, Istanbul (TR)
Artist Talk at Istanbul Thecnical University, (Department of Art and Architecture) (TR)
Artist Talk at Bilgiz University MFA, Istanbul, (TR)
BBC Turk, item on 20 Minus Minutes in Platform Garantie CAC Istanbul (TR)
BBC Turk, item on Searching for a Clay Language! at Oda Projesi, Istanbul (TR)
Artist Talk at the Icelandic Art University (IS)
2002
Málaga Regional TV, item on un elemonto más, at Alternativa Siglo 21, Málaga (ES)
Icelandic National TV, Mosaic - program on arts and culture, item on Very Amusing Exhibition, at Gallerí
Hlemmur, Reykjavík (IS)
Works in Collections
The Reykjavik’s Art Museum (IS)
The National Galery Iceland (IS)
Deiska de Collection, collection of contemporary art Amsterdam (NL)
MUDAM-Fondation Musée d’Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean, Luxembourg (LU)
Samskip collection (IS)
Centre for the Arts Rotterdam (NL)
Hanze hoogeschool , university of Groningen. (NL)
Sólvangur collection (IS)
Private collections in Mastricht, Groningen, Reykajvik
Ram Foundation The Netherlands (NL)
Stays in Artists Residencies
2009
Prix de Rome: 3 maanden at the rijks Academy
2008
Künstlerhaus Bethanien, 1 year residency, Berlin, Germany
2007
FAAP residency Sao Paolo, 1 month residency for project Perambulacao/Zwerven, Brasil
Townhouse Galery Cairo, 1 month residency, Egypt
2003
IRP- Istanbul Residency Program at Platform Garanti CAC, 6 months, Istanbul, Turkey
2001
Foundation B.a.d., guest studio for 6 months, Rotterdam, Netherland
2001-02
Foundation Het Wilde Weten, 3 months, Rotterdam, Netherland
2000
Artist residency Straumur, 3 months, Hafnarfjördur, Iceland
Publications, nominations
All catalogues or books are mention above by each project-exhibition.
a specified list follows.
Their work has been reviewed in publications such as Contemporary UK, Untitled UK, Art.es ES, Artecontexto
ES, Art in America USA, C -Magazine CA, Time Out Istanbul TR, NRC NL, Morgunblaðið IS, Metropolis
M NL, Mister Motly NL, Sjonauki IS, XXI magazien for architecture, Kunstbeeld NL, CNN Turk
TR, National Icelandic TV and radio, regional televisons, and in numerous catalogues and other specialized
publications.
Libia & Ólafur have been Shortlisted with the basis price of Prix de Rome 2009, they will compete now with
other 3 artists for the first, second, third and forth price in a new production, the price and exhibition of it
will be opening may 9th 2009.
They have been nominated for the international french price, Prix Gilles Dusein for photography and video
the year 2007 among 10 other artists.They were nominated in 2006 for the Icelandic national DV-culture
prize with 4 other artists, Dieter Roth and Bjorn Roth won the first price. 1996 Libia was nominated for the
painting price, Buning Brungers Stichting (NL)
Publications
Editors Bikvanderpol and Üstek F, The lost moment, authors: publishers Bikvanderpol, Rotterdam, 2007
Editors: Libia Castro, Ólafur Ólafsson, and Julieta Manzano, Texts authors: BikvanderPol and Pelin Tan, Title: Libia Castro & Ólafur Ólafsson, publisher CAC Málaga, january 2007
Editors: Renee Ridgway and Katarina Zdjelar, authors: Frans-Willem Korsten, Bojana Kunst, Jan Verwoert, Mieke Bal, Boris Buden, Thomas Michelon, Rosi Bradotti, Hito Steyerl, Nato Thompson, Dieter Lesage, Jelena Vesic, Steve Rushton, title: Another.publication@gmail.com, cover Libia Castro & Ólafur Ólafsson, printed by De Maasstad, Rotterdam printed in EU, 2007
Editors: Edna van Duyn and Claud Biemans, text :Dirk van Weelden, title: On Mobility, publisher: De Appel Amsterdam, july 14 2006, Amsterdam.
Editors and authors: Jessica Morgan and Bjorn Roth, Material time, Work time, Life time, Binding: Hardcover, 191 pages, Publisher: Ram Pubns and Dist, Published Date: 06/10/2006
Editors:Hannes Sigurdsson and Christian Schoen, interviews with the artists: Christian Schoen, title: Homesick, publisher: Akureyri Art Museum, May 6 2006
Editors: Theo Tegelaers and Nicolette Enke, title: Sociale Werken, publisher: rijksgebouwendienst, The Hague 2006
Editor Edna van Duyn, texts Saskia Bos, Charles Esche, Hou Hanru, Michael Acher, Edan van Duyn, jorg Heiser, Gavin Jantjes, Luk Lambrecht, Annelie Pohlen, title: If walls had ears, Survey of activities and exhibitions De Appel 1984-2005, publisher De Appel, Amsterdam 2005
Editors: Mariette Dólle, Felix Jansen, Arjan Reinders, Nathalie Zonnenberg, end editor: Henriette Heezen,
texts: David Hammers, D Hooijer, Bibejan Lansink, Gijs van Oenen, Arjan Reinders, Jowi Schmitz, Henk wildschut, Nathalie Zonnenberg, title: Happy Magazine, exhibition: Pursuit of Happiness, publiser: Bureau Beyond, Utrecht 2005
Editors: Saskia Bos, Edna van Duyn, Henk Slager, Theo Tegelaers, De Appel Reader No 2, texts: Livia Paldi, Binna Choi, Jan Verwoert, Edith Doove, title: Contributions to a topical artistic discourse, publisher De Appel, Amsterdam 2004
Editors: Bregje van Woensel and Renske Janssen, curators Catherine David and Arno van Roosmalen, texts and guest curators: Andres Broeckmann, Ritsaert ten Cate, Annie Fletcher, Thomas michelon, Pelin Tan <Waanja>, publisher: Witte de With, Rotterdam 2004
Editors: Antonio Zaya and Hilda Maria Rodriguez, texts: title: El arte con la vida,8 Bienal de la Habana, publisher: Consejo Nacional de Artes Plasticas y Centro Wifredo Lam, editorial Cromart, Madrid octubre 2003.
Editors Libia Castro and Ólafur Ólafsson, texts: Arno van Roosmalen, Halldór Bjorn Runólfsson and Libia Castro,
title: un elemento más, publisher: Alternativa Siglo XXI and Area de Cultura, Málaga 2003
Editor: Úlfur Grönvold, title: Rambelta, publisher: Samsýning Hafnarborg, 1. juni. 2003
Editor and author: Sef Peeters, title: De Proeftuin, publisher: Center for the visual arts Dordrecht, Augustus 2000
Editor and author Edith Doove: title Super! Agenda, publisher: Super! Hasselt 2005
Editor Sandford Wurmfeld, title: The International Exchange Exhibition, publisher: Hunter College Art Galleries,
New York October 2004
Editor Christine Sluymans and Floor van Keulen, text: Jan hein Sassen, title:De leugenaars / The liars, publisher: Arti et Amicitae, Amsterdam 1998
Coordination Joshua Decter and the students of Bard College curatorial program, title: Re-Shuffle/Notions of an Itinerant Museum, a publication as exhibition, publisher: Bard College, New York 2006
Editor Steven Barich Kucharski, interviews conducted with the artists: S.B. Kucharski, title: Open Issues, publisher: S.B.Kucharski, Rotterdam 2004
Editor: pontus Kyander, texts: Inger Christensen, Charles Esche, August Strindberg, pontus Kyander, Djelaluddin Rumi, Sappho, title: From Dust to Dusk, publisher: Charlottenborg, Copenhagen 2003
Editor: Katalin Herzog, texts: Akki Colenbrander, Nienke Noorman, Mark Hoge, Rinske Hordijk, Marije van der Vall, title: Op de rug van de tiger, publisher:Academie Minerva Press, Groningen January 1999
Their work has been reviewed in publications such as Contemporary UK, Untitled UK, Art.es ES, Artecontexto ES, Art in America USA, C -Magazine CA, Time Out Istanbul TR, NRC NL, Morgunblaðið IS, Metropolis M NL, Mister Motly NL, Sjonauki IS, XXI magazien for architecture, Kunstbeeld, CNN Turk TR, National Icelandic TV and radio, regional televisons, and in numerous catalogues and other specialized publications.
Editor Christine Sluymans and Floor van Keulen, text: Jan hein Sassen, title:De leugenaars / The liars, publisher: Arti et Amicitae, Amsterdam 1998
Coordination Joshua Decter and the students of Bard College curatorial program, title: Re-Shuffle/Notions of an Itinerant Museum, a publication as exhibition, publisher: Bard College, New York 2006
Editor Steven Barich Kucharski, interviews conducted with the artists: S.B. Kucharski, title: Open Issues, publisher: S.B.Kucharski, Rotterdam 2004
Editor: pontus Kyander, texts: Inger Christensen, Charles Esche, August Strindberg, pontus Kyander, Djelaluddin Rumi, Sappho, title: From Dust to Dusk, publisher: Charlottenborg, Copenhagen 2003
Editor: Katalin Herzog, texts: Akki Colenbrander, Nienke Noorman, Mark Hoge, Rinske Hordijk, Marije van der Vall, title: Op de rug van de tiger, publisher:Academie Minerva Press, Groningen January 1999
Their work has been reviewed in publications such as Contemporary UK, Untitled UK, Art.es ES, Artecontexto ES, Art in America USA, C -Magazine CA, Time Out Istanbul TR, NRC NL, Morgunblaðið IS, Metropolis M NL, Mister Motly NL, Sjonauki IS, XXI magazien for architecture, Kunstbeeld, CNN Turk TR, National Icelandic TV and radio, regional televisons, and in numerous catalogues and other specialized publications.
