At the graduation of the Iceland University of the Arts, which took place in Silfurberg, Harpa, on June 16, 2023, Björk Guðmundsdóttir was awarded an honorary doctorate at the school. She receives this honor for her artistic contribution. This is the second time in the history of LHÍ that the title has been awarded.
The title of honorary doctorate may be awarded to those whom the school wishes to honor for exceptional contributions to art and culture The selection creates an opportunity for the school to show respect for successful work and a significant contribution to the field of arts Those who receive this honor shall have accomplished a significant amount of work and are respected in their field, either as artists, scholars, or any kind of leader in the field of culture, art, or art education.
Friða Björk Ingvarsdóttir, rector of the University of the Arts, gave a speech on the occasion and reviewed Bjarkar's career, which is certainly not a single - but much more a natural force. “Apart from that, she is no ordinary musician and different laws seem to apply to her than most As a solo artist, she has continually continued to renew her connection to the compositions and her own imageEvery time she sends out a new creation, she brings us an unexpected and new coherent world.”
During the graduation ceremony, two works by Björk were performed. On the one hand, Atopos performed by Murmura, and on the other hand, tabula rasa performed by viibra.
On the occasion, Björk received a pendulum designed by Tinna Gunnarsdóttir, product designer, and former professor in the department of design, and an honorary document designed by Guðmund Oddi, former professor in the design and architecture department at LHÍ.
Speech by Friða Bjarkar Ingvarsdóttir, rector, at the award of an honorary doctorate
Dear guests: It probably hasn't gone unnoticed that Bjarkar Guðmundsdóttir's music hovered over the waters right now in the performance of Murmura, who performed the work Atopos. It is not by any chance, but because the University of the Arts now honors for the first time an individual an honorary doctorate, for its artistic contribution, on its own.
And it is a special honor for us that Björk wants to accept this sign of respect as a symbol of our gratitude for all her priceless creations.
The authors of the document and artefacts accompanying the title are Guðmundur Oddur Magnússon - Goddur - and Tinna Gunnarsdóttir, both former professors at the department of design of the University of the Arts, who designed an honorary document and the honorary artefact, the pendulum, for this occasion.
And then to the artist Björk. Ever since she came to the fore, young, she has been extremely faithful to her own sense of originality in creation and expression. She has never been a prodigy but worked as an entrepreneur and followed her own path exploring new worlds.
It is not for the saints to briefly trace her career so that the vast effect is revealed. But I do resort to a few factors that could not be combined in anyone other than this
Most of us know the story that Björk directly put Icelandic music on the world map. Although the music of our other compatriots has obviously found its way outside the country and impressed many people, it was still simply the first to pave the way for Icelandic music into the spotlight of the whole world, which has certainly also been useful to those who have come as a result.
Apart from that, she is no ordinary musician and different laws seem to apply to her than most As a solo artist, she has continually continued to renew her connection to the compositions and her own imageEvery time she sends out a new creation, she brings us an unexpected and new coherent world.
It never seems to look back or cut into the same knee, and in this constant artistic transformation process, it is perhaps symbolic that Björk takes a change of mode; metaphorically into a bird, a mushroom or a flower (for example) through incredible costumes and strong visual presentation.
In this way, it creates the connection with what resides within all of us, as a fragment of the huge and diverse whole of existence, in the irrational overlap of fantasy and the Earth's biosphere.
But Björk has not left it at that when it comes to nature. Nature is not only its source of origin but also an ideal. She fought with determination against the Kárahnjúka power plant and has been joined by artists of all kinds in the fight against the vandalism of nature, by human causes. Most recently, she has acted against senseless and cruel whale killing in this country, which we should all unite to stop with it.
Björk is also a researcher; she studies the forces that drive nature and the dynamics of perception. It became abundantly clear in all the immense ambitions that pushed Biophilia out of her mouth; therefore, a unique educational program for children and young people. And there she was joined by one of the most significant natural explorers of recent times, David Attenborough, who alone shows how deeply her professional reputation cuts.
She has also chosen an unusual way of bringing her creation into the cosmos She composes, sings, arranges, and produces all her material herself - as well as being her own publisher That alone creates a unique and invaluable freedom for her to obey her calling to the fullest, regardless of the forces of the market that might otherwise hamper her artistic freedom and ability to expand the boundaries of expression.
Her work and their setting thus blast all forms and work in many layers across all branches of art, as well as a connection to philosophical inspiration and science.
And speaking of originality; Björk has conducted incredible experiments on stage; played acoustic electronic music, controlled by computers, had a tesla tape play lightning and used a variety of other, unique experimental instruments. And because she gets a pendulum here to possess, it's nice to report that she has also had pendulums make sounds by plucking strings on a harp.
Björk has worked on film art and participated in art projects. And filled, for example, MoMa in NY with her work in an exhibition that attracted world attention. She has published books, one of her correspondence with one of the main thinkers of our time, Timothy Morton.
Of course, she has received nominations for all the main awards that can be received, for her magnificent contribution in different art forms - and won more awards than could be listed here.
At the beginning of this act, I referred to democracy and the role of the arts in fighting for the truth and forming a consensus against opinion suppressionBjörk is one of those who has made world headlines and taken considerable risks for her struggle in the interest of democracy Who does not remember her courage when she called for Tibet's freedom at the end of her performance of the song „Declare Independence“ at a concert in Shanghai, to protest Chinese aggression towards Tibetans.
It doesn't matter where the arts, philosophical debate and science of the day are brought down - Björk has set foot there. Her story is simply intertwined with the contemporary history of world culture.
I'm going to ask Björk Guðmundsdóttir to come up on stage here and accept these artifacts, as a sign of the University of the Arts' gratitude and respect for her work, and not least the unwavering courage to focus her art on all of us and at the same time spark our understanding of existence.