Sunday, May 5, 2013

my love for Ragnar Kjartansson and the National

i was first introduced to the work of Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson a few months ago when a friend suggested i may like his installation "The Visitors" at Luhring Augustine in New York. my friend was right, i loved it. enough to go back several times. that installation soothed me, filled me with song and beauty, and made me cry and miss my friends.

so you can imagine my joy when MoMA PS1 announced a Sunday afternoon collaboration between Ragnar Kjartansson and the National, a 6 hour performance in which the band would repeatedly perform the song 'Sorrow'. my two favorite things; art and rock! simply the greatest collaboration between an artist and a band i have ever seen.. it was amazing!! the spirit of repetition really infuses a soul. you rock, you marvel, go get a drink, come back, start humming along. there are moments of boredom and euphoria, of humor and sadness, of joy and undoubtedly, pain. by the end, the crowd was singing along and erupting into wild applause in the small pause between songs, the band still rocking away and keeping their cool, Ragnar running about the stage alternately filming, serving snacks, and pouring drinks, and Bjork's kids running about the courtyard..

this afternoon was a beautiful beautiful thing!

Sorrow found me when I was young,
Sorrow waited, sorrow won.
Sorrow that put me on the pills,
It's in my honey it's in my milk.
It's only about half a heart alone
On the water,
Cover me in rag and bones, sympathy.
'Cause I don't wanna get over you.
I don't wanna get over you.




Sorrows my body on the waves
Sorrows a girl inside my cage
I live in a city sorrow built
It's in my honey, it's in my milk.
It's only my half of heart alone,
On the water,
Cover me in rag and bones, sympathy.
'Cause I don't wanna get over you.
I don't wanna get over you.









It's only my half of heart alone,
On the water,
Cover me in rag and bones, sympathy.

'Cause I don't wanna get over you.

I don't wanna get over you.


'Sorrow' by the National
Concept by Ragnar Kjartansson
MoMA PS1, May 5, 2013
all photos taken with an iphone

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