The Iceland Design Centre, Kraum design shop and Reykjavík Art Museum have joined forces to present an inventive design competition: contestants must design an object which is inspired by, or refers to, a work of art by Icelandic painter Erró.

The winner will be awarded a prize of ISK 500,000, contributed by Kraum, the Reykjavík Art Museum and the Federation of Industries, and the winning design will be sold at the Hafnarshús site of the Reykjavík Art Museum and in the Kraum shops on Aðalstræti and at the Kjarvalsstaðir site of the Museum. In addition, further objects designed for the competition will be selected for production in the coming months.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Erró’s unique gift of works of art to the City of Reykjavík, which now forms the foundation of the Reykjavík Art Museum’s Erró collection. The occasion will be marked by exhibitions of the artist’s work and a variety of events relating to the anniversary, including the design competition  in 2009.

At the Hafnarhús site of the Reykjavík Art Museum, many books on Erró and his work are available in the bookshop and the library, to which participants have access.

The competition is intended for trained designers and/or members of the organisations affiliated to the Iceland Design Centre. The result of the competition will be announced during DesignMarch on 27 March 2009.

An advisory board will make a selection from the proposals submitted. The board comprises: Halla Bogadóttir -  Kraum, Soffía Karlsdóttir – Reykjavík Art Museum, Þórey Vilhjálmsdóttir – Iceland Design Centre, architect Pálmar Kristmundsson, product designer Egill Egilsson and graphic desginer Gunnar Þór Vilhjálmsson.

For further information on the competition contact: Halla Bogadóttir tel: 661-7797, Soffía Karlsdóttir tel: 820-1202 or Þórey Vilhjálmsdóttir tel: 661-0101.

www.kraum.is
www.listasafnreykjavikur.is