Ragnar Kjartansson

In 2013, Ohio indie-rock band the National performed their song “Sorrow” 105 times in a row, for a total of six hours. The resulting recording and video, titled “A Lot of Sorrow,” was in collaboration with Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson. That will be one of the videos on view beginning Thursday, February 11, when Montréal’s Museum of Contemporary Art opens the first major Canadian exhibition of his work. Kjartansson’s performance-based creations are described as “walking a thin line between mysticism and parody.” Visitors will also experience the sage/satirist’s pieces featuring Icelandic musicians, including members of Múm and Sigur Rós. If you’re looking for an unusual encounter with Icelandic cultural output beyond Björk, this is an ace way to do it.