Bjarni H. Þórarinsson bases his works on a scientific structure that stems from the Benda, a concept with many points of reference; it is essence, mode, mind, soul, emotion, form and substance and reveals several paths to understanding. The Visio-Rose is the central plane of the Benda where aptitudes for image, sound and logic coexists in a language that is arranged within the space, according to a strict order.

In 1991 the founders of Safnasafnið bought two works by Bjarni, twin roses made with drawing ink, and they remained interested in strengthening the museum’s artwork collection with more of these. In 2019 the artists was contacted with a view to setting up a special room or museum department about his work and art career, and the following year it was formed and documented, citing 11 objectives, and named Such a Collection!

On that occasion, Bjarni gave 25 pictures made with pencil, the so-called Þróunarvíðróf (Alternative wide spectrum), and one picture from his Söguvíðróf (Historical wide spectrum). Around the same time, Guðmundur Oddur Magnússon (Goddur) contributed to the museum a number of A4-sized Visio-Roses, aswell as various design materials and printed matter, manuscripts and brochures, all related to Bjarni’s artistic oeuvre. In 2021, 90 printed coloured Visio-Roses in A3 and 60 posters of the same size, depicting all the artist’s main events, were added to Such a Collection!

Finally, Goddur gave the museum a number of photographs and collages of Bjarni that show him in various roles related to his films and performances. The publication of this anthology follows on from an exhibi- tion in the museum in 2021, and sheds more light on an art career that is without parallel.