Ragnar Kjartansson | The Visitors

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Ragnar Kjartansson, "The Visitors," 2012

still from 9 channel HD video projection, 64 mins. Photo: Elísabet Davidsdóttir, Sound: Chris McDonald. Video: Tómas Örn Tómasson. Image courtesy of the artist, Luhring Augustine, NY, & i8 Gallery, Reykjavik. Gift of Graham & Ann Gund to ICA, Boston, Guggenheim Museum, NY, & Gund Gallery at Kenyon College,

Special Event: Thursday 9 February, 7-9pm.

Esker Foundation proudly presents the Alberta Premiere of The Visitors by Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson. Named by The Guardian newspaper as one of the "25 Best Art Works of the 21st Century" - through elements of theatre, music, and visual art, Ragnar Kjartansson creates performances in which he explores the intertwining of pathos, humour, and collective emotion.

The Visitors is a large sound and video installation consisting of nine audio and video channels that document a single-take musical performance. Running for just under an hour, the work depicts eight musicians performing the same melody of a song called “Feminine Ways,” based on a poem of the same name by artist Ásdís Sif Gunnarsdóttir.