03 10 2026

 

Friend sent this;  its in Bergen. Cant find out how to copy whole article - would like to get there but will probably opt for saving for the catalogue due in December.

 

The exhibition will span 25 years of artistic production through more than 125 works at Kode’s main venue for temporary exhibitions, Stenersen, bringing together seminal works of Einarsson’s oeuvre, as well as new works commissioned specially for the exhibition.

The purpose of a system is what it does (POSIWID) is part of Kode’s ongoing series dedicated to mid-career artists with personal and professional connections to Bergen, where Einarsson studied in the late 1990s.

Einarsson works across a wide range of media, including installation, painting, sculpture, printmaking, video and photography.

Drawing on his own ever expanding artistic archive, comprising photographs, archival material and other collected sources, Einarsson uses found materials to explore the visual culture that surrounds us.

The Purpose of a System

The exhibition draws its title from a phrase coined by the British theorist Stafford Beer: “The purpose of a system is what it does”.

The phrase explains how the observed purpose of a system is often at odds with the intentions of those who design, operate and promote it. How visible, and invisible, power structures in our contemporary society play out and affect us, has been a consistent theme in Einarsson’s practice.

Einarsson’s visual language addresses both the ways in which resistance can arise in response to a surveillant control society, and how extreme individualism and countercultural positions have, at times, manifested in terrorism and crime.

In the same way, he also addresses the art world as a system that balances between communication and exclusion, where questions of style and real political conflict can unfold simultaneously.

Recurring themes in his work are the outsider position, the tension between group mentality and personal freedom, and countercultural movements such as activism and punk culture.

Einarsson dissects the English language with precision and wit, distilling the zeitgeists of contemporary culture with bleak levity. Despite his often dark themes ridden with paranoia and doom, humour lurks in the background.

The accompanying catalogue, to be published by Skira Arte in December 2026, will offer new perspectives on Einarsson’s practice by Dieter Roelstraete, Huey Copeland, Mathias Faldbakken, and a essay by
the exhibition curator Synnøve Marie Vik (Kode).

30 09 2026

 Complex time away. Catastrophic falling house made it to Private Eye - what is happening beggars belief - but still no sign of being allowed to live there. Only news is that the council are rendering a home that the insurance company has called 'without damage' into a building site that we must pay for. The insurers wont.

So, hotels and friends took the brunt of me.

Conference was a huge success, a sell-out, and a hot thang of ideas and info. Very proud to have been involved.

Came home to a rat infestation which Bob has niftily avoided by going to London!! 

Only show I saw was the amazing Anish Kapur and so glad I saw it, however disturbing and uncomfortable it was - and it was, indeed.

Here's a mysterious sign...

08 09 2026

 Off to assess the damage to the London house tomorrow - v frightening - thence to a birthday conference for my dads 100th., Manchester Uni.

I was asked to bring books to flog and of course can't, luggage being luggage - even if I could afford it I haven't the strength to carry it. And non of the conferees will be able to carry books in their return luggage. Allenna suggested a flyer - she's so clever - 

AI did it because I hadn't a clue, and it does the job. 

Conferees can go home and choose books at their leisure. 

And no trees are abused as its print on demand. 

Can't help thinking Stafford would be OK with that.

Been cleaning brushes and the like, ready to hit the ground running when I get back. 

(Watch this space, hahahahaha.)

06 09 2026

 Been restoring an old pic dated 1983. It was Ians, I gave it to him; he died under it. 

Then it started to grow mould.

Washed, scrubbed, sprayed with vinegar - oil paint is fantastic, lasts forever. Even when it homes monocellular fungi. 

Beastly hot (fires locally, three nights of fire fighting) Spent a chunk of today in the bath, reading.

05 09 2026

 The ink is rather good, slightly viscous and nicely transparent. Gave half to Bieke. 

Otherwise, Im dibbling at ongoing things, some of which have been ongoing for a very long time. 

Trying to keep travel panic under control. London house still sealed up, not allowed in- getting a sofa hopping agenda organised and worried that I'II fall apart. Or it might all be terrific fun :)

Took this snap of a geckko last night and this morning when I opened the balcony door, it fell on my head. 

02 09 2026

 Bieke was kind enough to bring me some walnuts in shells, so Ive been mostly turning them into ink. Quite nice therapy.

Getting worried about the London trip now, the house there is still closed as a dangerous structure and though a friendly artist has offered his spare room I'm concerned that my energy wont hold up to the inevitable rigours. 

Dentist this morning, replacing fallen filling. He often clarifies things.

31 08 2026

Chronos devouring his son, signed so it must be finished - a few more odd  ones nearly done.