Þórdís Erla Zoëga on Art and Personal Style
Artist Þórdís Erla Zoëga shares her views on the relationship between creative work and clothing. She also reflects on intuition, simplicity, and fashion as visual expression.
Do you see a connection between your creative work and the way you choose your clothing?
Yes, definitely. I often find myself inspired by textures, materials, and color combinations through my artistic practice. Those influences naturally find their way into the way I dress and other aspects of my style. For example lately I´ve been working with color gradience in my works and thus gravitate toward gradient clothes. I even colored my hair gradient/ombre for my last opening.
Do you see personal style as something intuitive or intentional?
I think it’s a combination of both. When I was younger my style was much more colorful and eclectic. Over time, I’ve simplified my wardrobe and now tend to wear more monochromatic clothing. I feel most comfortable in jeans, a shirt and a cool jacket. The choices are intentional, but they’ve also become intuitive through repetition and knowing what styles and fits work for me.
Do you feel that the thoughtful selection of clothes helps or distracts from your creative work?
Since simplifying my wardrobe, I find it much easier to get dressed and make decisions. It frees up mental space and allows me to focus more on my work and creative process.
Could you describe your personal style in a few words?
Simple, textured, comfortable and relaxed formal.
You often work together with architects and interior designers. Would you say that, in general, the style of architects differs from that of artists? If so, in what way?
Yes, I think there are some differences. Architects often gravitate toward elegant and simple clothing. Artists, on the other hand tend to be more experimental and expressive in their choices, often mixing unexpected pieces or incorporating vintage and thrifted finds.
That said…people are as many as they are different.
Finally, do you have any particular thoughts on fashion, even if they are not directly related to architects or artists?
I’m interested in fashion as another form of visual expression. Just as in art, I’m drawn to materials, textures and color. Fashion can communicate a great deal without saying anything at all.
Þórdís Erla Zoëga (b. 1988) is an Icelandic artist whose work explores the intersection of material research, digital aesthetics, and contemporary forms of intimacy and connection. She graduated in 2012 from the audiovisual department at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam. Working across installations, sculpture, painting, and video, her practice investigates post-humanism, science fiction, and the effects of man-made materials on human perception and behaviour within technologically mediated environments. Zoëga has exhibited widely in Iceland and internationally, with works shown at institutions including Reykjavík Art Museum and the National Gallery of Iceland. Her practice also includes a substantial body of public and site-specific works, such as Daily Shift (2019) at Konsúlat Hotel and Litaveita / Hue Supply (2022) in Seltjarnarnes, and she has been selected to realise a major large-scale public commission for the New National Hospital of Iceland.
www.thordiserlazoega.is
Photos: Sunna Ben / Eyþór Árnason
