Reykjavík Winter Lights Festival

Reykjavík Winter Lights Festival
9. - 12. FEBRUARY 2012
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Free
aperitif
when ordered
from LAVA’s
lunch or
evening
menu
Icelandic tasting experience
at restaurant LAVA at Blue Lagoon
www.bluelagoon.com
Treasure chest
The exhibition a­nd
museum shop a­re open
da­ily 10–17
Experience Viking-Age Reykja­vík a­t the
new Settlement Exhibition. The focus
of the exhibition is a­n exca­va­ted
longhouse site which da­tes from the
10th century ad. It includes relics of
huma­n ha­bita­tion from a­bout 871, the
oldest such site found in Icela­nd.
Multimedia­ techniques bring
Reykja­vík’s pa­st to life, providing
visitors with insights into how people
lived in the Viking Age, a­nd wha­t the
Reykja­vík environment looked like to
the first settlers.
Aða­lstræti 16
101 Reykja­vík / Icela­nd
Phone +(354) 411 6370
www.reykja­vikmuseum.is
The Settlement Exhibition
Reykja­vik 871 ±2 a­nd Árbæja­rsa­fn
a­re pa­rts of Reykja­vik City Museum
Reykjavik
Art Museum
Snøhetta –
architecture,
landscape,
interior.
Santiago Sierra - NO POBE.
Erró – Drawings.
Jóhannes S. Kjarval,
Mountain Milk, 1941.
My dreamland in the
North – Karen Agnete
Þórarinsson.
From Sketch to
Sculpture - Drawings
by Ásmundur Sveinsson.
Permanent exhibition
Kjarval – Key Works
3 September 2011 – 19 August 2012
Erró – Drawings
7 January – 14 March
Erró – Posters
14 January – 4 March
Snøhetta – architecture, landscape,
interior
30 April 2011 – 15 April 2012
From Sketch to Sculpture –
Drawings by Ásmundur Sveinsson
20 January – 15 April
Santiago Sierra
14 January – 4 March
My dreamland in the North – Karen
Agnete Þórarinsson
30 April 2011 – 15 April 2012
Magnús Árnason – Homage
Hafnarhús
Kjarvalsstaðir
Ásmundarsafn
Tryggvagata 17
Open daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Thursdays 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Flókagata
Open daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sigtún
Open daily 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
www.artmuseum.is
[email protected]
T +354 590 1200
What’s on in Reykjavík
www.whatson.is
C o n t e n t s
November
February 2011
2012
Daytrip – The Northern Lights........................6
24 Hour Day Tripper........................................8
Event calendar..............................................14
Ongoing exhibitions......................................20
News.............................................................22
The National Gallery of Iceland....................25
Reykjavík in a splash...................................26
Culture & arts................................................28
Wining & dining............................................34
Restaurant of the Month..............................41
Out of town...................................................42
Clubs and Bars down town Reykjavík.........43
Dear Visitor
Welcome to Iceland and its capital city. Reykjavík
has been called Europe’s coolest capital due
to the famed and energetic nightlife. This small
cosmopolitan city is just as much part of the
Icelandic experience as the midnight sun or
the magical landscapes forged by ice and fire.
But there is more to Reykjavík than pubs and
clubs, nature is also to be found within the city
itself; whether one is in the mood for a spot of
midnight golf, horse trekking, whale watching or
salmon fishing, there is no need to travel long
distances as all these choices and many more
are within one’s reach. Another must for all visitors
is dining out on specialities including delicious
seafood, ocean fresh from the morning’s catch
and highland lamb - purely natural food served at
the numerous high quality restaurants in the city.
Enjoy your stay in Reykjavík.
Top 10 sights in Reykjavík...........................46
Ingvar Kristjánsson, editor
Cool Pool´s In The Capital.............................48
Practical Information....................................50
Films and Tones............................................55
Daytrip - Gullfoss, Geysir
& Snowmobiling
Culture in the old shipyard
Top 10 Sights in Reykjavík
How to spend a day in Reykjavík
National Museum of Iceland
Hotels & guesthouses...................................56
Practical Information
Culture & Art
Wining & Dining
Event calendar
Map of Reykjavík City Centre.......................57
Map of Reykjavík
Map of Reykjavík..........................................58
Volume 29 • Issue 2 • Published by heimur HF. • Borgartún 23, 105 Reykjavík. Tel.:+354 512 7575, fax +354 561 8646
E-mail: [email protected]
Editors: Ingvar Kristjánsson, [email protected] and Páll Stefánsson, [email protected] • Layout: Heimur hf.
Photos: Páll Kjartansson, Páll Stefánsson, Geir Ólafsson and other sources.
Printing house: Ásprent-Stíll ehf. Akureyri.
WHAT'S ON IN REYKJAVIK is published eleven times a year covering in and around Reykjavik. Please note that while
every effort has been made to ensure the information presented is accurate, should prices, times, dates or other
information change or be found inaccurate the publisher accepts no liability whatsoever.
Opinions expressed in WHAT'S ON IN REYKJAVIK are those of the individual authors.
Cover photo: Zetor Auglýsingastofa - Hallvardur Jónsson
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Experience the past
Welcome to Árbær Museum
Opening hours
June 1st - August 31st: Daily from 10am to 5pm
Sept 1st - May 31st: Open by arrangement.
Guided tours in English daily at1pm
www.alafoss.is
WARMTH FOR MORE
THAN A CENTURY!
WOOL SWEATERS,
BLANKETS & ACCESORIES,
TRADITIONAL CRAFTS
AND MODERN ART
ÁLAFOSSVEGUR 23,
MOSFELLSBÆR
& LAUGAVEGUR 8,
REYKJAVÍK CIT Y CENTRE
DAYTRIP
OF THE MONTH
The Northern Lights
Tour features
The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis
are a spectacular natural phenomenon, often seen dancing around in fantastic colours across the Arctic sky.
The Northern lights originate from the sun, where large
explosions and electronic storms throw flares and solar
particles deep into space. These clouds of solar particles
are caught by the Earth’s magnetic field on the south
and north poles. The solar particles collide with the atmospheric gases and create this wonderful light effect,
known as the Aurora Borealis.
When can they be seen? Northern Lights can be seen
when certain weather conditions are fulfilled, usually during crispy cold and very still evenings.
Locations visited
The locations visited are different every tour since we
go where it’s most likely to see the Northern Lights each
day. This tour is dependant on weather and sightings are
not guaranteed. If you don't see any lights on your tour
you are welcome on another Northern Lights tour free of
charge. Refreshments not included.
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Operation
October 16th – March 14th 2012.
Daily at 21:00
Duration 3 - 5 hrs.
Price
ISK 4900 Included Bus fare, guidance in
English and Pick-up at hotels and guesthouses 30 minutes before departure. Children 0-11 travel for free and 12 - 15 years
old, pay 50% of the adult price.
For further information contact:
Reykjavík Excursion
Tel.: (+354) 580 5400 · www.re.is · e-mail:
[email protected]
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24 Hour
Day Tripper
New in town? No need to worry. What´s On has
come up with a plan for a perfect day of
culture, cuisine and cool activities in Reykjavík,
the world’s smallest metropolis.
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7:00 Laugardalslaug Swimming Pool
If you want to get to know the locals, start your day
by soaking in the many hot pots of the city’s largest
swimming pool. There, you can listen to locals argue
about politics and other current affairs. A couple of
laps in the Olympic-sized pool followed by a moment
of meditation in the steam room is sure to leave you
rejuvenated and energized for the adventures that lie
ahead.
8:00 Grái kötturinn
After the swim you have surely worked up quite an
appetite. Head to cozy café Grái kötturinn (The Grey
Cat), which is frequented by artists, musicians and
writers, and enjoy an abundant breakfast and a cup of
java. If you need energy, Trukkurinn (the truck driver)
is your best bet.
9:00 The Pond and Hljómskálagardur Park
Stroll down Bankastraeti, Laekjargata and along the
Reykjavík pond. The swans and ducks won’t mind if you
bring them a piece of bread. Make your way through
Hljómskálagardur Park, where you’ll pass the beautifully
shaped Hljómskáli, the Music Conservatory.
9:30 The National Museum
Now it is time to get to know Iceland better, its history
and cultural heritage. Head over to the National Museum,
a modernized museum which has fascinating objects
on display, reaching as far back as the Viking age and to
modern times.
10:30 The Nordic House
Take a few minutes walk across the campus of the
University of Iceland and to the Nordic House. Designed
by Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, this is home to all things
Nordic: books, art, culture and even cuisine. Also check
out the gallery, which regularly has new exhibitions.
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24 Hour Day Tripper
12:00 City Hall
Make your way back towards City Hall, built by the
Pond. Designed by Studio Granda, this is one of
Reykjavík’s finest examples of contemporary architecture, although it caused controversy when it was
being built, some twenty years ago. The gigantic
map of Iceland in the lobby allows you to see the
bumps and indentations of the mountains and the
valleys and the glaciers of the country.
12:10 Lunch
For lunch, downtown Reykjavík has a wide variety
of choices. Try for example the Fish Company or
even Gallery Restaurant Hotel Holt. There, you can
enjoy a reasonably priced three-course gourmet
meal surrounded by priceless samples of Icelandic
art collected by the owner of this historic hotel. If
you prefer something quicker, try the oh-so trendy
Laundromat Café or even the fresh and delicious
range of soups at the Reykjavík Art Museum Café.
13:30 Eymundsson
No visit to Iceland is complete without getting
to know its literary tradition. The four-floor store
Eymundsson, in Austurstraeti street, is a fantastic
place to get lost, browsing through novels, photo
books or magazines in Icelandic and a number of
foreign languages, such as English.
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14:00 Harpa Concert Hall and
Conference Center
This magnificent building down by Reykjavík’s harbor was
inaugurated earlier this year. Its stunning glass facade
was designed by world-renowned Icelandic/Danish artist
Ólafur Elíasson. More than a concert hall, Harpa houses a
design store, a music store and a selection of restaurants
and bars.
15:00 Mokka Café
Want to sit among poets and bohemians and breathe in
culture and creativity? Have a seat at Reykjavík’s oldest
café, Mokka, on Skólavördustígur Street, and enjoy a delicious waffle and piping hot cup of Italian-style coffee. The
décor has not changed at all since its opening in 1958.
16:00 Hallgrímskirkja Church
Stroll up Skólavördustígur towards Hallgrímskirkja
Church, which stands at the end of the street. After greeting—and perhaps even photographing—Leif “the Lucky”
Eiríksson, the first Western man to discover America,
who now proudly stands in front of the church, enter the
church and take an elevator to its tower. At 73 meters /
240 feet, you will get the best view of the city.
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16:30 Window Shopping
Head back down again and do some window shopping in Skólavördustígur, Laugavegur and Bankastraeti,
otherwise known as Fleece Street due to its wide
variety of shops selling Icelandic outdoor wear. If it is
the weekend, stopping by Kolaportid Flea Market is a
must, where you can buy everything from dried
fish to vintage vinyl records.
18:00 The Old Harbor
Down by the harbor, old fishing shacks have now
been beautifully renovated and turned into galleries,
cafés, restaurants, souvenir shops and more. Make
sure to stop by at Kaffi Haítí for a quick Haitian Fair
Trade espresso and a chat with its friendly owners. At
Saegreifinn you will find the best lobster soup in town,
and at Hamborgarabúllan, the juiciest grilled burgers.
19:30 Fine Dining
Reykjavík offers many top-notch restaurants.
Grillmarkadurinn opened its doors this summer and is
already among the city’s favorite haunts, offering fresh
produce straight from the farm, whether meat, fish or
greens. Also located in an old building overlooking
Ingólfstorg Square, Einar Ben is a classic choice for
fine dining, offering meat and fish courses par excellence. Sjávarkjallarinn follows the New Nordic Cuisine,
following the seasons and making mouthwatering
dishes from fresh Icelandic ingredients. For a more
casual meal in a stylish setting, check out
the restaurant / bar of 101 Hótel.
21:30 Live Show
Reykjavík has a vibrant cultural life, offering a wide
variety of concerts, shows, dance performances and
so on. For listings, consult websites such as
whatson.is and grapevine.is
23:00 Nightcap
Complete your day with a pint of beer at Ölstofan,
rubbing shoulders with who’s who of Icelandic society, from politicians to poets. A dark and cozy place,
it is located in a side street off Laugavegur. Another
cool and cozy bar, Boston, has also been gaining
popularity in recent years. Don’t be surprised to find
Björk next to you at the bar.
1:00 Clubbing
Still not sleepy? In that case, we suggest that you
dance the night away at the city’s coolest nightclub
Austur, frequented by local and international glitterati,
including football legends, models and pop stars. If
that is not your thing, try dancing on the tables of legendary Kaffibarinn, the epitome of cool 101 Reykjavík.
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THE
SEAFOOD
GRILL
SKÓLAVÖRÐURSTÍGUR
14
101 Reykjavík
Tel: 571 1100
www.sjavargrillid.is
IT WAS IN 2010 THAT A YOUNG LAD FROM HÚSAVÍK, A LITTLE FISHING TOWN UP NORTH, WAS AWARDED
THE TITLE “CHEF OF THE YEAR”. THE YOUNG CHEF, GÚSTAV AXEL SPENT MONTHS TRAVELING
AROUND ICELAND LOOKING FOR THE REAL TASTE OF THE COUNTRY. ALONG THE WAY HE FOUND A FEW
THINGS THAT NOW ARE KEY ITEMS OF THE INTERIOR OF THEIR NEW RESTAURANT. AN OLD FREEZING
PLANT FROM FLATEY, IN THE NORTH OF ICELAND NOW SERVES AS A BACKDROP FOR THE BAR AT
SJÁVARGRILLIÐ AND ALL AROUND THE RESTAURANTYOU WILL FIND DRIFTWOOD FROM HÉÐINSFJÖRÐUR
THAT WAS DRAGGED ALL THE WAY TO SKÓLAVÖRÐUSTÍGUR TO SHELTER OUR GUESTS.
ON THE ROAD GÚSTAV CAME UP WITH A MENU LIKE NO OTHER, GÚSTAV’S OWN
INTERPRETATION OF THE COLLECTIVE GRILL TASTE OF HIS HOMELAND, ICELAND.
TAKE A LOOK AT OUR MENU, IT WILL BE A PLEASURE TO FIRE UP THE OLD GRILL WHEN YOU MAKE UP YOUR MIND.
Come ride with us
ISK 500.- discount!*
For almost 30 years Íshestar has given people an
opportunity to experience the Icelandic horse on long
and short trips. Horses are our passion.
Come ride with us in the beautiful surroundings of our
Íshestar Riding Centre. You get free transport from all
major hotels and guesthouses in the capital area.
Name the magic word,
"Blesi", and you will get ISK
500.- discount on the Lava
tour. Only valid when paid
at our Riding Centre.
*Not valid with other offers.
For further information check out our website
www.ishestar.is, call +354 555 7000 or be our
friend on Facebook.
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Elding Whale Watching
from Reykjavik
all year round
Call us on
(+354) 555 3565
or book online at
www.elding.is
Make
it’s El sure
ding!
Take part in an adventure at sea with an unforgettable trip into the
world of whales and sea birds. Before or after the tour you can also
enjoy the exhibition in the Elding Whale Watching Centre.
Elding Whale Watching schedule – all year round
13:00
Apr
9:00
May
9:00
Jun
Jul
Aug
9:00
9:00
9:00
10:00 10:00 10:00
13:00 13:00 13:00 13:00 13:00
14:00 14:00 14:00
17:00* 17:00
17:00
17:00
20:30** 20:30 20:30**
ENNEMM / SÍA / NM49703
EL-01 / EL-02 / EL-03
Jan-Mar
Sept Oct-Dec
9:00
13:00
13:00
17:00*
* From 15 May to 15 September
** From 15 June to 15 August
Viðey ferry
Viðey Island is situated just few minutes from Reykjavík by ferry. It is
interesting to visit the island any time of the year and each season has
it's own charm. The ferry's winter schedule runs through three seasons;
autumn, winter and spring with departures on Saturdays and Sundays
from Skarfabakki pier.
Environmental Award
Icelandic Tourist Board
Tour Operator
elding.is
Authorised by
Icelandic Tourist Board
event calendar
what // where // when
How to locate events
Example: Reykjavik Art Museum – Hafnarhús (C-2) = (Compare this to the map of Reykjavik at
the back of What´s On. Also check out listings in the Culture & Arts section pg. 28
February 2012
Erró – Drawings
World-renowned artist Erró might not be as well
known for his drawings as for his paintings, but
this exhibition presents around 200 of his works.
The oldest are from 1944, the latest quite recent,
and the artist has utilized a multitude of techniques and methods in creating them. It was a
watershed in Erró’s art when his collages first
started to appear. At that time he completely
abandoned the graphic creation and his collages became sketches on which he based his
paintings, graphic works and aquarelles. The
hand was no longer the main interpreter in his
works of art; it was rather an instrument to project images on paper, canvas and other media,
often with the aid of slide projectors or overhead
projectors. This exhibition is organized in a close
cooperation with Erró and based on works from
both the artist’s private collection and the collection of Reykjavik Art Museum. Curated by
Danielle Kvaran. On display until 26.08
•
• Reykjavík Art Museum - Hafnarhús: Erró – Posters
Reykjavík Art Museum – Hafnarhús (C-2)
Exhibitions
Erró – Posters
Exhibition posters have two major functions; to inform the public about
an existing exhibition and what‘s on exhibit and to attract visitors to
the site (a museum or a gallery). The posters combine useful information, both words and graphics, on specific artistic events, and with time
they become a unique documentation. Reykjavik Art Museum recently
received as a gift more than 100 of Erró‘s posters, including exhibition posters, in addition to the 137 posters that were included in Erró´s
generous gift of art in 1989. This exhibition is the first opportunity the
public has to view a selection of Erró‘s posters from the artists different
private exhibitions in his career of 50 years. The exhibition is curated by
Danielle Kvaran. On display until 14.03
•
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Santiago Sierra
The Spanish artist Santiago Sierra chocks people
with his radical and provocative works that challenge the audience‘s sense of propriety. Sierra
is accused of abusing the miserable situation of
unfortunate people by paying them for participating in his works with actions that many consider extremely problematic. Sierra‘s intention,
however, is not to chock, but to shed light on
the general public‘s ideas on inequality and the
unequal distribution of wealth within the society.
He has remunerated prostitutes in heroin for having a line tattooed on their backs while sitting in a
straight line. He has engaged labourers to carry
heavy objects back and forth in complete futility, and locked up others in cardboard boxes in
the suffocating summer heat. Sierra represented
Spain at the Vienna biennale 2003, where no one
except his countrymen were allowed to enter the
exhibition hall. This is Sierra‘s first international
exhibition of all documentaries and videos, and
his impressive performances will also add flavour
to the daily life in Reykjavik during the time of the
exhibition. On display until 15.04
Reykjavík Art Museum – Kjarvalsstadir (E-4)
Exhibitions
Kjarval – Key works
The Reykjavik Art Museum draws on its extensive collection of works by Jóhannes S. Kjarval
for ongoing exhibitions at Kjarvalsstaðir. The
exhibition in Kjarvalsstaðir’s east gallery features key works from the museum’s collection.
These key works from Kjarval’s oeuvre offer a
unique and powerful retrospective of the career
of Iceland’s most beloved painter. Permanent
exhibition
•
event calendar
what // where // when
• Reykjavík Art Museum - Hafnarhús: Santiago Sierra
Snøhetta –
architecture, landscape, interior
The international recognition that the
architecture firm Snøhetta has received
is quite unique in a Norwegian context. The firm has won two open,
international competitions: Bibliotheca
Alexandrina and Oslo’s new Opera
House, which have become landmarks
in their countries. On the firm‘s 20th
anniversary in 2009 a major exhibition opened in Oslo’s new National
Museum – Architecture. This exhibition at Kjarvalsstaðir displays highlights
from the original exhibition. The exhibition is made up of eight units which
present the firm and its work in a varied and a vivid way. The exhibition has
been commissioned by the Norwegian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is produced by Norway’s National Museum
of Art, Architecture and Design in close
collaboration with Snøhetta. Curated by
Eva E. Madshus, Senior Curator at The
National Museum of Art, Architecture
and Design. On display until 04.03
My dreamland in the North –
Karen Agnete Þórarinsson
The painter Karen Agnete (1903-1992)
was one of many Danish women who
married an Icelander and moved with
their husbands back to Iceland from
Copenhagen in the first half of the 20th
century, after both having studied at the
Danish Art Academy. She was fascinated by Iceland and Icelanders, and
for six decades she painted and exhib-
• Reykjavík Art Museum – Kjarvalsstadir: Kjarval – Key works.
ited her works all over Iceland and
became a respected and well known
painter here. This exhibition highlights
the types of paintings she concentrated on, portraits, moods of nature, flowers and still life. The exhibition‘s title is
a line from the poem “Bláskógavegur”
by Einar Benediktsson. The exhibition
is curated by Hrafnhildur Schram. On
display until 04.03
Architecture and time travel
An open and informative art workshop
for families was set up in connection
with the exhibitions in the West Wing.
Snøhetta is a Norwegian architect firm
located in Oslo and New York. Karen
Agnete was a painter and the Danish
wife of painter Sveinn Þórarinsson. She
left the sophisticated bourgeoisie of
Copenhagen and moved to Iceland and
into a turf house. The characteristics of
Icelandic architecture are for instance
found in turf houses, houses clad with
corrugated iron, and later concrete
buildings. Groups are welcome, but they
have to book in advance with the museum’s information department through
e-mail: [email protected] On
display until 04.03
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event
calendar
what // where // when
Fashion – Gorgeous Gowns
Icelandic dresses from ca. 1947-1970.
Each dress is a unique creation. Most
are “model“ dresses or couture, made
to order for the client. Some of the
dresses in the exhibition are from the
National Museum collection, while others are privately owned. The Museum
has been collecting twentieth-century
garments for some time, with the
focus on Icelandic craftsmanship and
production. The dresses contributed
by private owners were selected to
reflect, on the one hand, changing
fashions, and on the other the women
who wore the dresses: a couture gown
is not complete until it is worn by the
right woman. On display until 15.06
Mrs. Magnea Þorkelsdóttir’s
•needlework
Mrs. Magnea Þorkelsdóttir was a great
and well-known seamstress. She
made a number of national costumes
for both herself and her family. On display are selected costumes from the
collection of the family. On display until
15.06
• Reykjavík Museum of Photography Hlynur Pálmason - White Blindness.
Reykjavík Art Museum – Ásmundarsafn (F-3)
Exhibition
Magnús Árnason - Homage
Magnús Árnason´s installation Homage, in the dome of the
Ásmundarsafn art museum, refers to
Louis Pasteur´s (1822-1895) experiment who´s findings conflicted with
the theory of spontaneous generation.
Magnus’s work, whether in his soundpieces, sculptures or performances
stand on a vague line between the
real and unreal, fiction and facts. In
his recent work, he has worked with
nature and natural history; moving
away from the mythological references
seen in his earlier work. Researching
the realm of science and its history,
questioning any one true method of its
field and rather backing up in order to
rediscover ‘truths’ or aesthetic qualities otherwise hidden from us. On display until 15.04
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The National Museum of Iceland (B-3)
Exhibition
The Making of a Nation - Heritage
and History in Iceland
The nature film the Nation and Nature
by filmmaker Páll Steingrímsson is
screened continuously during opening
hours. In addition to man, the characters in the film are the animals around
us; the Icelandic dog, horse, puffin,
eider, goose and seal. Steingrímsson
captures the contact between man
and nature in a sensitive way where
respect for the subject matter comes
first. The film is 30 minutes long and
one can sit down to enjoy it at any
time. On display for an unspecified
period of time.
Hjálmar R. Bárðarson
in black and white
Hjálmar R. Bárðarson was a productiv
amateur photographer and published a
number of books with photographs of
Iceland and the Icelandic people. This
exhibition shows a variation of black
and white photos from his collection,
both landscape and artistic pieces. On
display until 08.04
It‘s all equally bad for you
The history of tobacco and the battle
against it in Iceland. On display until
19.02
The Culture House (C-2)
Exhibition
The Nation and Nature
The nature film the Nation and Nature
by filmmaker Páll Steingrímsson is
screened continuously during opening
hours. In addition to man, the characters in the film are the animals around
us; the Icelandic dog, horse, puffin,
eider, goose and seal. Steingrímsson
captures the contact between man
and nature in a sensitive way where
respect for the subject matter comes
first. The film is 30 minutes long and
one can sit down to enjoy it at any
time. On display for an unspecified
period of time.
Cinema No2 (C-2)
Film show
Birth of an Island – the making of
Iceland
In The Cinema at Old Harbour Village
No2, downtown Reykjavík, one can
experience nature´s ferocious and
devastating powers through the films
BIRTH OF AN ISLAND – the making of
Iceland, The Eruption! and Hekla. The
films are about the volcanic eruption
event calendar
what // where // when
in Eyjafjallajökull volcano in the spring
of 2010, eruptions in Hekla from 19472000 and a film produced 2011 that
shows how Iceland was made in volcanic eruptions, explains why it is still
so volcanically active showing many
volcanic eruptions, such as Grimsvötn
2011, Surtsey and Vestman Islands. It
also explains how the Icelanders have
harnessed the power of the hot water
in the ground and how the natural forces are still sculpturing the island. Over
the winter months there are shows
daily at 17:30 (Eyjafjallajökull and
Hekla) and 18:00 (The Eruption! and
Birth of an Island). More info at: www.
lifsmynd.is/cinemano2
body, focusing on themes as childhood,
maternity, mentality, and sexuality. On
display until 08.01.2012 admission free
Gerduberg Cultural Centre
Exhibitions
Stone – scissors - paper and the
keys to heaven
The general tone of the exhibition is
warm and old-fashioned, the ‘star
chamber’ background of deep blue
with gold stars (like the ceilings of
some Icelandic country churches)
making a pleasant setting for the
exhibits. This is a display that will
appeal to people of all ages; it is
always interesting to have a glimpse
into the world of the dedicated collector. Collectors’ corner is a special
permanent area in Gerðuberg for
interesting small exhibitions drawing
on private collections, and Gerðuberg
has for many years been a collectors’ venue. Collectors: Auður Ava
Ólafsdóttir, Guðrún Guðmundsdóttir,
Helga Hansdóttir, Herdís Helgadóttir
og Sigurdís Björk Baldursdóttir.
Curator: Þórunn Elísabet Sveinsdóttir.
On display until 22.06
Reykjavík Museum of Photography (C-2)
Exhibitions
Echo - Charlotta Hauksdóttir &
Sonja Thomsen
In Echo, a two woman exhibition by
Charlotta María Hauksdóttir and Sonja
Thomsen, the theme is time and recurrence of the past which they work
with each in her own personal way.
Hauksdóttir´s photographs in the exhibition can be seen as a kind of a grief
process of a condition which hasn´t
fully been adjusted to. Charlotta works
with different aspects of the memory,
the conscious and the subconscious.
In her work, Sonja Thomsen also
gives us fragments of life which at first
seems to be rooted in the subconscious but gains a new meaning in the
eyes of the viewer. Thus, she brings
the focus on subconscious memories,
offers them as if they were gifts and
asks the viewer to give them a new
value. By doing this she transforms
subconscious memories to conscious
memories. Seen from this viewpoint it
can be said that the exhibition´s title
Echo not only refers to how the past
reflects in the present but also of the
works in the exhibition. On display until
06.05
Pearls - Gymnastics for women
should be feminine
Magdalena Margrét Kjartansdóttir
exhibits woodcuts, linocuts and printing
on Japanese paper. The subject matter is a mélange of poetry and reality:
the female body from childhood to the
last moments. Magdalena’s exhibition
is about women. Her works reveals the
women’s body in different stages, from
childhood to death. The name of the
exhibition came from the book Pearls,
published in 1930 and in that book is
the following knowledge; “Gymnastics
for women should always be feminine.”
Magdalena, born in Reykjavík 1944, has
spent most of her life in Iceland believing in the magic of art and interested
in the whole and parts of the feminine
Proverbs in Focus
Focus, an amateur photographers’
society, exhibits photos that are based
on Icelandic proverbs. On display until
08.01.2012 admission free
Óbid
Bjarnheidur Bjarnadóttir og Óli Róbert
Hediddeche exhibit acrylics and oil
paintings in the cafeteria. Two artists take part; some of the works are
joint productions. On display until
15.01.2012 admission free
•
Hlynur Pálmason
- White Blindness
The exhibition is about distances
and information in image and sound
and how they interconnect. The gap
between being something and being
nothing. The gap between being music
and being sound. The gap between
being black and being white. The idea
behind Hlynur Pálmason´s exhibition is
connecting sound and image and thus
seeking to create a powerful atmosphere in the exhibition. The sound
• The National Museum of Iceland
Mrs. Magnea Þorkelsdóttir’s
needlework
works are by Ásgeir Aðalsteinsson. The
photographs are taken in Iceland in
2008 – 2011 and are taken on film. On
display until 07.02
Pieces from the Diary of Christian
Schierbeck 1901 – 1902
Christian Schierbeck (1872 – 1917) was
born in Elsinore, Denmark. He finished
the first part of medical examination
at the University of Copenhagen in
1894 and the final part at the Reykjavík
School of Medicine in 1900. He was a
doctor in Reykjavík from 1901 – 1902.
Besides from practicing medicine,
Schierbeck photographed extensively
and kept some sort of a diary where
he wrote down various information and
personal remarks for each photo. In
some cases the text is obviously written to his mother-in-law. Thus, it can
be presumed that he systematically
photographed to show her how they
lived and the surroundings in Reykjavík.
Schierbeck manages to capture
moments in the lives of the people of
Reykjavík quite excellently, as he photographs them going about their daily
lives. On display until 06.05
Hafnarborg, Hafnarfjordur Centre of Culture
and Fine Art
Exhibitions
Still Life
The exhibition focuses on still life paintings by Icelandic artists of different
generations, some better known for
other types of work. Artworks from the
Hafnarborg collection will be on display
as well as works from other public and
private collections. This is an opportunity to see works by some of the country’s most important 20th century artists
such as Louisa Matthíasdóttir, Kjarval,
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17
event
calendar
what // where // when
Kópavogur Art Museum – Gerdarsafn
Exhibitions
Strange creatures and creations
The „Cyborg“ exhibition is based on
the synonymous book by Úlfhildur
Dagsdóttir which explores man‘s fearful fascination with machines and technology. Open Tue. – Sun. from 11:00 –
17:00. Admission 500kr, free admission
on Wednesdays.
• ASI Art Museum - Sistory
Kristín Jónsdóttir, Jón Stefánsson
and Gunnlaugur Blöndal. Curated by
Ólöf K. Sigurðardóttir and Þorbjörg Br.
Gunnarsdóttir. On display until 26.02
Harpa Björnsdóttir
An exhibition of a new and recent
works by Harpa Björnsdóttir will be
open in Sverrissal. Her subjects are
varied but one of her main subject is
the role of the artist and the cultural
concepts and symbols that artists are
inspired by. On display until 12.02
ASI Art Museum (D-3)
Exhibitions
Anna Lindal
Her work has been exhibited in
solo exhibitions in Iceland, Sweden,
Germany, Italy, Switzerland and
Denmark and she has taken part in
group exhibitions in Europe, Canada
and Iceland. Her work is to be found in
galleries and museums in Iceland and
abroad. From the year 2000 to 2009
she was a professor at the department
of fine art at the Icelandic Academy of
the Arts. The works of Anna Lindal are
built in several layers and therefore call
for different approaches. The outcome
is a pattern of the artist’s life and surroundings. On display until 05.02
•TheSistory
sisters
Sara and Svanhildur
Vilbergsdottir combine forces in painting. They have different approaches
to the subject but together they come
to a result that is often a wonderland
where unexpected things happen.
Characters from the fairy tales of the
brothers Grimm and gossip from the
newspapers communicate with the sisters dressed in colourful costumes. On
display until 04.03
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The Nordic House (B-4)
Exhibitions
Pilot Whale Killing – a photography
exhibition
An exhibition with photographs taken
during a pilot whale killing which
took place on the beach of Tórshavn
23 July 2010. The exhibition has
already been open in Tórshavn and in
Copenhagen, and now the turn has
come to Reykjavík. The photographs
are taken by Regin W. Dalsgaard in a
few minutes and illustrate the intense
struggle between whales and man during a whale killing. The main theme of
the photographs is not the whale killing itself but rather the participants
whose expressions tell us about the
deep emotions involved in this act.
Nowadays, it is rare to see such strong
emotions expressed elsewhere but
on the screen, watching a Hollywood
production. However, these photographs show Faroese people taking a
break from daily life to participate in the
age-old tradition of whale killing, says
photographer Regin W. Dalsgaard. On
display until 12.02
My sister, the little monster
A theatre experience for children of
highest quality where children participate and experience the magic of
theatre, music and visual art. My sister,
the little monster is an artistic performance for children where the actress
uses paper, music and light to tell them
a story. The story is about how one
can learn to love, even a monster. The
actress invites the children into a white
world of paper. The paper turns to life
and eventually creates the characters
of the story. The main character is a
little boy who recently had a little sister.
He realizes soon that she is not an ordinary child but a monster which is going
to eat his mother and the whole world.
For further information on performing
dates visit nordice.is Ticket sale on
midi.is.
Walls - City landscape in the Nordic
House
A group exhibition of nine street artists in cooperation with the net gallery
Muses.is. The artists have moved their
creation from street walls into the traditional exhibition space. The works are
under strong influence from street art
and come in many forms. The exhibition links together two generations of
street artists in Reykjavík along with
one street artist from Denmark. The
aim of the exhibition is to reflect the
development of last years and to show
how street art has gone into traditional
exhibition space with appropriate
adjustments. On display until 26.02
The Living Art Museum (D-2)
Exhibition
Teikn
Works by Myriam Bat-Yosef and
Jóhanna Kristbjörg Sigurðardóttir. In
this exhibition, Miriam’s and Johanna’s
work are brought together because of
the similar tread that can be detected
in their practice despite of the age difference between the two artists. Both
use painting, video and performance
to mediate the interrelations of what
cannot be expressed with words. They
have both developed an artistic language that in form and colour outline a
strong symbolism with a religious, even
supernatural appearance. A central
element of both their work is emphasis
on a flow of ideas without restraint that
can be traced back to symbolism and
surrealism. On display until 11.03
Volcano House (C-2)
Film show
Cinema on Fire
The small island Vestmannaeyjar,
watch the awesome power of red-hot
lava, seemingly irresistible as it moves
in slow motion, swallowing and crushing everything in its path. Like a sci-fi
monster, you see it start to engulf a
thriving community and the impending disaster as it edges to the harbour
to destroy the only safe haven for the
fishing fleet. Every boat is pressed
into service to ferry the inhabitants to
safety as they watch more of their lives
disappear. Then, the 2010 eruption in
Eyjafjallajökull that covered farms and
villages in a deep layer of ash and an
almost impenetrable fog, threatening,
once again, the livelihoods of hardworking communities. A massive flood
event calendar
what // where // when
sweeps down the mountain, putting
bridges along the main road linking
the southern towns and villages at risk.
Open daily from 09:00-23:00
Saturday, 04.02
Reykjavík City Theatre (F-5)
Iceland Dance Company
Minus 16
By Ohad Naharin - the rock star of
the dance world. Minus 16 by Ohad
Naharin has been an audience favourite all over the world. This clever and
humorous piece breaks down the barrier between audience and the performers. Set to music ranging from
Dean Martin to cha-cha, mambo, techno and traditional Israeli music.
•
Großstadtsafari
By Jo Strömgren will be presented
the same evening. This piece has
received great reviews in Iceland and
abroad since it was first premiered
by the company in March 2011.
Großstadtsafari is a powerful and
catching performance with intensive
movements. The piece really demonstrates the physical abilities of the
dancers. Other performances: 08/02 19/02 - 22/02 - 26/02 Tickets available
at 568 8000 or at www.id.is
Thursday, 09.02
• Reykjavík City Theatre Iceland Dance Company - Minus 16
Sunday, 12.02
Museum Night in Reykjavík
The museums in the greater Reykjavík
area stay open until midnight and surprise guests with special events.
Sigurjón Ólafsson Museum (F-1)
Exhibition - Milestones
Exhibition with some of Sigurjón
Ólafsson's key works from different
periods of his prolific career as a sculptor. The earliest work on the exhibition
is a newly acquired relief of two sisters
which he made at his first year at the
Royal Academy of Art in Copenhagen.
This relief has not been exhibited in
Iceland before. At 19:00. Guided tour
at 20:00 and 22:00. Museum is open
until midnight.
Winter Lights Festival - February
9-12
The Winter Lights Festival is designed
to be an annual event to stimulate and
enliven city life in the midwinter. The
Festival celebrates both the winter and
the growing light after a long period of
darkness. The program is a mixture
of art and industry, environment and
history, sports and culture; the events
will provide entertainment for both the
inhabitants and visitors to Reykjavík.
The Reykjavík Winter Lights Festival
is an event to be enjoyed by all. The
program reflects the many faces of
Reykjavík and its inhabitants. All the
major cultural and educational institutions participate in the Festival and
sports clubs, galleries, artists, shops,
restaurants and many more join in the
fun. The entire city is alive during the
festival, both the centre with all its cultural institutions as well as the many
parks and sport centre in Reykjavík.
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onGoinG exhibitions
Reykjavík Art Museum
Ásmundur Sveinsson Sculpture Museum (F-3)
Sigurjón Ólafsson Museum
(F-1)
Exhibition
Sculptures by Sigurjón Ólafsson
Sigurjón Ólafsson (1908 – 1982) was born in
Eyrarbakki, a village on the south coast of
Iceland. Trained as a house painter, in 1928
he entered the Danish Royal Academy of Fine
Arts, from which he graduated in 1935, having
supplemented his studies with a year in Rome.
In 1930 he was awarded the Gold Medal
of the Academy for a portrait of his mother.
From early on Ólafsson worked in abstract
forms, but he also developed the realistic style
that characterizes his portrait busts and statues.
He has been named one of his century’s most
important portrait sculptors. In 1939 he made
his first completely abstract sculpture, Man
and Woman, which caused great controversy,
but is now considered a sculptural landmark in
Denmark. Ólafsson returned to Iceland in 1945.
As one of the leading artists of the country,
he was entrusted with numerous challenging
commissions, among them a 90 m long relief
at the Búrfell Hydroelectric Station. He leaves
eighteen public monuments in Reykjavík alone,
Throne Pillars by the Höfdi House and Emblem of
Iceland being the best known.
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Exhibition
From Sketch to Sculpture Drawings by Ásmundur Sveinsson
The exhibition From Sketch to Sculpture –
Drawings by Ásmundur Sveinsson presents
a small insight into the rich collection of
drawings by the sculptor Ásmundur Sveinsson. A selection has been made among the
works based on subjects, which can be identified throughout the collection. Also included at the exhibition are a number of drawings
that can be tied to known sculptures by the
artist, especially from his earlier years. The digital registration of all the
drawings in the collection of Reykjavík Art Museum – Ásmundarsafn
has recently been completed, and it is a great advantage finally to have
good access to this part of the artistic creativity of the sculptor Ásmundur Sveinsson. The drawings number almost 2.000 and cover a wide
range of subjects; devotional drawings, landscape, form studies, portraits, model studies and a variety of other things – among them quite
a number of drawings that can be related to specific sculptures, that
Ásmundur Sveinsson created during his long and prolific career. The
drawings of Ásmundur Sveinsson have not been exhibited extensively,
and the selection here is bound to capture the attention of all those
that are interested in getting to know this new chapter in the history
of art in Iceland and in the oeuvre of this great artist. Curator is Eiríkur
Thorláksson, art historian.
On display until 15.04.2012
The Culture House (C-2)
Exhibitions reflecting varied aspects of
Icelandic history and culture:
The Medieval Manuscripts – Eddas and Sagas
On view are the ancient vellum manuscripts that preserve the
Northern classical heritage: unique sagas, poems and narratives which are often our sole written sources of information on the society, religion and world view of the people of
Northern Europe.
onGoinG exhibitions
Flora Islandica
The publication Flora Islandica, with 271 real-size drawings by Eggert
Pétursson of flowers in Icelandic nature, has been put on view in the
Culture House. The book is published in 500 numbered and signed copies. The Culture House displays the book as it is a grand appendage to
the nation’s heritage regarding books and publications. Its display also
regards the history of the Natural History Museum and its operation here
in the Culture House for decades in the last century. Eggert Pétursson
has gained a reputation for his paintings of Icelandic Flora, especially his
oil paintings of flowers,
which have positioned
him among Iceland’s
best known contemporary artists. Eggert Pétursson originally drew the pictures for the book Icelandic Flora
with colour drawings by Ágúst H. Bjarnason, issued in 1983. The
drawings were diminished in that publication and have not been
printed in their original size until now in Flora Islandica. The book is
designed by graphic designers Snæfríd Þorsteins and Hildigunnur
Gunnarsdóttir and they have been granted prices for the design
here in Iceland and abroad. The desk the book is displayed on was
Child of Hope
designed by artist Daníel Magnússon who has become renowned
- Youth and Jón Sigurdsson
for his artwork as well as his furniture design. On display for an
The exhibition Child of Hope marks the
unspecified period of time.
bicentenary of the birth of Icelandic national hero Jón Sigurdsson (1811-79). It
explores his childhood and youth in Arnarfjördur and Reykjavík, and his later life
in Copenhagen, where he was engaged
in scholarly and political work. Jón and
his wife Ingibjörg were childless, but
brought up Jón’s nephew Sigurdur from
the age of eight.
This is a colourful portrayal of the life of
a country lad from the West Fjords who
went on to work in a shop in Reykjavík,
before pursuing his education and becoming one of Iceland’s great political
leaders, accompanied by his loyal wife
who had waited so many years to marry
The Library Room
him, and their little foster-son. Their perThe old reading room of the National Library features an exhibit
sonal story is recounted in the context
selected and arranged by the National and University Library.
of the Icelanders’ campaign for indeOn display are many of the landmark books of Icelandic cultural
pendence from Danish rule in the 19th
history, dating from the introduction of printing in the sixteenth
century, and the broader European pocentury to the present day. These include the oldest published
litical movements of the time. The title
versions of the Sagas of Icelanders, Sagas of the Kings of Norway
Child of Hope conjures up the praise
and Eddic poems, Hallgrímur Pétursson’s Psalms of Christ’s Pasand adulation that was heaped upon Jón
sion and much more. A number of changing themed exhibitions
Sigurdsson, in such terms as Iceland’s
run throughout the year in the Library Room. It serves as a bright
longed-for child, its honour, sword and
and elegant setting for concerts, meetings, lectures and other
shield, and highlights his iconic status in
events held at the Culture House. On permanent view
Icelandic history for his role in Iceland’s
journey to autonomy.
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