Unstable Systems
Instability can be a creative force in art, design, and architecture. Artists, designers, and scholars work both with and against systems that are ever-changing, fragile, or unpredictable. Whether dealing with technological systems, ecosystems, social structures, or sensory experiences, instability is often a prerequisite for creation.
Instability opens pathways for new ideas and processes, reshaping how we approach and redesign the systems that shape our lives. It can also refer to the creative act itself—one that does not follow predetermined trajectories or established norms. Art, design, and architecture serve as tools to disrupt stable systems and/or shed new light on systems that appear stable but in reality, they are not. No system is truly stable, and when we resist that instability, it becomes a problem. Instability is perhaps the only certainty we can rely on.
Hugarflug 2025, the annual conference on artistic research, will take place on September 11–12. It will serve as a platform for research that engages with instability across various systems—from technological advancements such as AI and interactive systems to issues related to politics, society, and the environment. We will explore how instability functions as a tool for generating new possibilities while also fueling unrest and transformation within society and academia. The Iceland University of the Arts invites proposals of all kinds, including presentations of ongoing or completed research by our faculty, students, and collaborators.
HOW TO GET TO THE CONFERENCE VENUE
Hugarflug will take place at the Iceland University of the Arts, located at Stakkahlíð 1, 105 Reykjavík.
By Bus:
You can take bus routes 1, 3, or 6 to the stop “Stakkahlíð”, which is right next to the university. Plan your journey on www.straeto.is or use the Klappið app for real-time info and tickets.
By Taxi:
Taxis are available through Hreyfill (+354 588 5522) or BSR (+354 561 0000). You can also use the Hopp ride-share app or electric scooters, widely available around the city.
COMMITTEES
Conference committee
Ása Helga Hjörleifsdóttir – Film Department, Iceland University of the Arts
Guðbjörg R. Jóhannesdóttir – Art Education Department, Iceland University of the Arts
Katrín Gunnarsdóttir – Performing Arts Department, Iceland University of the Arts
Margrét Elísabet Ólafsdóttir – Fine Art Department, Iceland University of the Arts
Sigmundur Páll Freysteinsson – Research Coordinator, Iceland University of the Arts
Steindór Grétar Kristinsson – Music Department, Iceland University of the Arts
Thomas Edouard Pausz – Design Department, Iceland University of the Arts
Valgerður Jónsdóttir – MA Graduate Student, Fine Art Department, Iceland University of the Arts
Conference organising team
Sigmundur Páll Freysteinsson – Coordination
Tinna Pétursdóttir – Conference Manager
