Laboratory L.O.V.E
With The Icelandic Love Corporation (1996-2016)
Cafe Mokka Reykjavík 1996


















Laboratory L.O.V.E
With The Icelandic Love Corporation (1996-2016)
Cafe Mokka Reykjavík 1996
In July 1996 the members of The Icelandic Love Corporation: Sigrún Hrólfsdóttir, Dóra Ísleifsdóttir, Jóní Jónsdóttir and Eirún Sigurðardóttir, were invited to make an exhibition at Mokka Cafe, the oldest cafe in Reykjavík and has been the hang-out of poets and artists since it opened in 1958. The interior hasn’t changed , with its brown, woody, artistic and quiet ambiance. The members of The Icelandic Love Corporation decided to investigate "changes in the heart and mind of living organisms by increasing sensuality and cuteness of their ecosystem." They created flyers displaying their new logo (that wasn’t replaced until 2022) and slogan, Love Conquers All, Without a Doubt! And in a six-day art-research-based performance they made a site-specific installation where they investigated how the transformation of the cafe interfered with the local guests. At this time curator Hannes Sigurðsson was programming the art exhibitions at Mokka.
On the first day of the investigation, the team arrived at Mokka armed with their research equipment, white doctor’s robes, writing tools, and high heels, registering the atmosphere while the cultural locals of the café smoked and read the papers.
In the following days, they converted the site by hanging pink and green fuzzy blankets on the walls, attaching red fringes on the table lights, hanging car perfume cards picturing well-built men, bringing in a bowl filled with handwritten positive messages between playing with oversized cards picturing lightly dressed women.
On the sixth day, ILC hosted a celebration party on site with music and drinks where guests could, among other things, get their nails done, get a foot massage, be reborn as Venus and enjoy the highest level of transformation.