Helgason’s biggest painting, 250 x 410 cm, depicting Heimir, the men’s choir of Skagafjörður, a beautiful region in the north part of Iceland, famous for horse breeding, limerick making, drinking and singing. Helgason spent the summers of 1967, 1968 and 1969 on the farm Brekka in Skagafjörður.
“I got the idea at a concert up north. I was blown away by this wall of various characters, this charming mix of physical labour and musical talent, this meeting place of farm work and formal attire. I’ve always been fascinated by the Icelandic farmer, those raggedy weather-worn faces full of wisdom and wit, and here I got the opportunity to paint some 60 of them in one painting.”
Oil on Canvas, 2000