Hrafnhildur Arnardóttir - Museum of Design and Applied Art’s exhibition at DesignMarch 2011 Using human hair as a main source of inspiration, Hrafnhildur Arnardóttir, a.k.a. Shoplifter, has set her mark on the art world. More than just a dominant material, the symbolic world and meaning of hair are an integral aspect of her visual creation. While constituting a vital part of our identity, and inextricably linked to ideas of vanity and attractiveness, hair can also stir unease – an indispensable device for conjuring dark imagery and dreadful characters surrounded by mystique. That fine thread, human and synthetic hair, is ever more apparent in the works of Arnardóttir. She has collaborated with numerous prominent designers and artists, since her works exemplify the three pillars of fashion: sophistication, provocation and excess. The last one can often be attributed to profound personal interpretation of artists and designers, where absolute control over fabric, color and form is achieved. Throughout her carrier as an artist, Arnardóttir´s creativity continues to flirt with the fashion world, she collaborates with fashion designers, frequently teaming up with renowned New York based stylist Edda Gudmundsdóttir. Furthermore, her collaboration with Björk for the cover of her album Medulla, is exemplary of the way her art and design transcends genres. Arnardóttir’s clothing, masks and sculptures made with human or synthetic hair are unquestionably made from unconventional material, inspiring more designers to make use of this curious fiber thereby answering the growing demand for recycling and eco-consciousness. Moreover, her works shed light on society’s ambiguous boundaries, the norms and customs of our many various cultures, the concept of the beautiful and the grotesque and the path that connects them whose foundation is often paved with lightheartedness and humor.