On June 17, 2009 The Lost Horse Gallery in Reykjavik will host Foolsgold:Iceland, an exhibition which first opened in March in New York City. The exhibition will bring together a group of artists that will create work based on endangered species. The artists aim to create and inspire awareness of nature conservancy. With this exhibition the artists aim to raise funds for ASEA, a newly found organization dedicated to raising environmental awareness.
Fool’s Gold is a term referring to pyrite, a mineral that closely resembles gold. It ‘fools’ the viewer into thinking that it is something precious, a symbol of status. The exhibition was titled Foolsgold in reference to the appeal of animal parts used as ornament for our own vanity. While these animals are indeed of great value, the cost to them of acquiring their fur, skin, and tusks is so great that we are the fools for ignoring their majesty while they are alive. All of the artists involved were concerned with the suffering that various animal species endure because of cruel poaching and farming practices. They hope that their work can inspire and remind viewers of the beauty and awe of these majestic animals.
