Reykjavík Grapevine - 06.08.2004, Qupperneq 25

AURORA BOREALIS IN THE BASEMENT
For those of you who are weary of the sunshine and are desperate for a reminder of the long, dark winter, you can
find splendid respite in the basement of the National Gallery of Iceland. The Aurora Borealis is reproduced in a win-
dowless room in the basement of the museum. The piece is an installation by Halldór Ásgeirsson, who has mounted
bottles filled with various colours of liquid on a rotating disk, backlit them with a spotlight, and titled the exhibit
“Aurora Borealis Bar.”
by Marcie Hume
The disco-like magic of the exhibit was lost when a museum
staff member unplugged the device, transforming the shim-
mering light into something resembling the late-night glow
of a stoplight, but this unpleasant experience is easily avoided
by arriving at the exhibit sometime before the museum closes.
The room accomplishes enough atmosphere to give any native
Icelander flashbacks to a winter disco wonderland.
The current exhibition, “Environment and Nature”, is an
eclectic collection of 20th century Icelandic art which is divided
into themed rooms, each containing a
combination of paintings, installation art
and photography. The curators have de-
cided not to arrange the art chronologically,
which has successfully enhanced the the-
matic impact on the viewers. The themes
are not at all unexpected or unusual, as they
spotlight subjects such as nature, language,
and the tension between urbanisation and
the upholding of environment.
The artists´ use of form is perhaps more in-
spiring, especially when standard media are
replaced by local resources. Although not a
terribly uncommon choice, Ásgeirsson´s use
of lava rock is both instinctively beautiful
and sharply evokes a common subject; his
use of a blow torch on the rock creates a
bubbling, melted quality, as though the artists has successfully
brought the rock back to its previous, more generative state.
The rock is transformed into cool glass-like strings which are
reminiscent both of a glassblower’s work and of the inborn
exquisiteness that arises in natural systems.
Although each room has a few stunning pieces, the upstairs
room, “Nature and Culture”, has a more contemporary feel and
is worth an extended visit. A piece by Hlynur Hallsson shows a
photograph of a man in a field, standing next to a record player
and shooting arrows into the sky. The text on the photo reads
“While I listened to music by Grieg I shot ten arrows into the
sky.” This photograph exemplifies the emotional creation of
art, the plain longing for the expression of something personal
yet universal. The picture portrays the seemingly desperate
processes an artist can undergo, and how those measures can
emerge to the viewer as basic or unsophisticated.
The English speaking visitor will be both relieved and amused
to know that room-by-room guides to the artwork are included
in the price of admission. The one-page introductions to each
room effectively expand the experience of the museum, and
also provide a few entertaining moments. When describing the
“Aurora Borealis Bar”, for instance, the introduction guides
the reader with sentences like, “In the present work, the dark-
ened space where it is installed”, and advises that experiencing
the rotating bottles is “…not unlike looking at the Northern
Lights and coming into contact with the universe.”
Whatever your experience of it, the Aurora Borealis Bar
is always open for a little reminder of the one of the many
relationships between Icelanders and their environment. It’s a
room for those in need of a little reminder of the sombre days
of dimness, a real pick-me-up from the summer sun.
Auglýsing Auglýsing
11:00-17:00 every day
This year’s summer exhibition will address the
theme Environment and nature in Icelandic 20th-
century art.
Handverk og Hönnun
Mon-Fri 09.00-16:00
Summer Exhibition of contemporary and traditional
Icelandic art and crafts.
Iðnó - Theatre
Summer Season of Light nights July 5th - August
27th. Every Monday and Friday at 8.30 p.m. (dura-
tion 2 hours). Light Nights is presented in English.
Volcano show: Red rock cinema
11:00-22:00 every day
If you don’t want to wait for the next volcanic erup-
tion, then just go watch a video of the last, it’s less
dangerous and much more reliable then nature.
Admission 750ISK
Gallery Kolbrún S. Kjarval
Uniquely designed, hand-made ceramics
Ásmundarsafn, Sculpture museum
10:00-16:00 every day
The Man and Material. A retrospective exhibition of
works by Asmundur Sveinsson.
Telecommunications Museum
Tue,Thu&Sun 11:00-17:00
Pictures and items related to the history of tele-
communications.
Reykjavík Zoo and Family Park
10:00-18:00 every day
Icelandic horse and sheep, along with local variet-
ies other animals in the zoo. Right beside it is
the Park, which has various activities for the whole
family.
Reykjavík Botanical Garden
10:00-22:00 every day
All kinds of plants and flowers on display.
Kjarvalsstaðir Art Museum
10:00-17:00 every day
Roni Horn: Her, her, her and her: Photographs
taken in the Reykjavik Swimming Hall.
Francesco Clemente: New Works. Exhibition of
new works by the famous Italian artist. Ends
August 15.
Works from the Kjarval Collection. An overview of
Kjarval’s work which shows how he developed as
an artist.
Einar Jónsson Sculpture Museum
Tue-Sun 14:00-17:00
Works of Einar Jónsson, Iceland´s first sculptor.
Hafnarhúsið, Reykjavík Art Museum
10:00-17:00 every day
I Didn’t Do It. Private exhibition of Thorvaldur
Thorsteinsson - the museum’s summer exhibition.
And part of the Erró Collection on show. Ends
August 15
Sigurjón Ólafsson Sculpture Museum
Tue-Sun 14:00-17:00
Sigurjón Ólafsson’s Works in public Space: Poster
exhibition and sculptures related to Ólafsson’s
monuments and public sculptures.
Reykjavík Museum of Photography
Mon-Fri 12:00-19:00, Sat&Sun 13:00-
17:00.
A collection of Finnish contemporary photographs.
Museum of Medical History
Sun,Tue,Thu,Sat 13:00-17:00
Artefacts, tools, instruments and pictures on the
subject.
Icelandic Institute of Natural History
Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun 13:00-17:00
Geological, botanical and zoological exhibits, dis-
playing the nature of Iceland.
Saga Museum
10:00-16:00 every day.
The Saga museum intimately recreates key mo-
ments in Icelandic history and gives a compelling
view into how Icelanders have lived and thought for
more than a millenium through the use of life size
likenesses
Reykjavík Electricity Museum
Tue-Sun 13:00-17:00
A historical survey of the uses of electricity in the
city of Reykjavik, from the time of the first hydro-
electric station at Elliðaár, in operation from 1921
onwards.
Reykjavík City Library
Mon-Fri 10:00-16:00
Books and periodicals in Icelandic as well as Eng-
lish, Scandinavian and other languages. Also has a
childrens and a comic book section.
Gallery Fold
Mon-Fri 10:00-18:00 Sat 11:00-17:00 Sun
14:00-17:00
One of the largest Galleries in Iceland, works by
many know artists.
Handverk og Hönnun
Mon-Fri 09.00-16:00
Craft and design. Craftspeople transfer – in mod-
ern and dynamic ways – nature’s shapes, colours
and materials to their work.
Gallery Meistari Jakob
Mon-Fri 11:00-18:00, Sat 11:00-14:00
The gallery is run by eleven artists who work in ce-
ramics, textiles, printmaking and paintings and you
will always find one of them at the gallery.
Gallery Tukt
Mon-Thu 13:00-18:00, Fri 13:00 - 17:00
Various artists.
Teddi - Workshop
10:00-18:00 every day
Open workshop of tree sculptures of Teddi
Nýlistasafnið, The Living Art Museum
New exhibition, see more details in picks. Starts
August 14th.
Hafnarborg Art Gallery
Wed-Sun 11:00-17:00
Paintings: New paintings by Þorbjörg Höskuldsdót-
tir. A also exhibition Rendezvous contemporary art
from Düsseldorf and Hafnarfjörður. Whice includes
paintings, drawings, objects and installations made
by Zipora Rafaelov, Ansgar Skipa, Jón Thor Gísla-
son, Joachim Stallecker and Kristbergur Pétursson.
Gallery Ófeigur
Mon-Fri 10:00-18:00, Sat 10:00-16:00
Photoexhibition “Reykjavík with eyes of Gunnar
Hannesson” b. 1915 d. 1976. Starts August 14
FRIDAY
AUGUST 6
Austurbær
The musical Hair: Is known world over for its catchy
music and hippie ambiance. Some of Iceland´s
most popular entertainers are involved in the show.
SATURDAY
AUGUST 7
Hallgrímskirkja Church
Lunch time Organ Concert: Stephen Tharp, Organ
Icelandic opera
Reykajvik Summer Opera premier: Happy End is an
opera by Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht. See more
on page 19.
SUNDAY
AUGUST 8
Hallgrímskirkja Church
Summer Evening at the Organ with Stephen Tharp.
Klink og bank artist workplace
Poetry night at Klink and Bank, see more details
in picks
TUESDAY
AUGUST 10
Viðey Island
Guides walk with geologist Ásta Þorleifsdóttir. On
this walk she will focus on the erosion of Viðey by
the sea.
Sigurjón Ólafsson Sculpture Museum
Summerconcert: Kristjana Helgadóttir, flute, Ingól-
fur Vilhjálmsson, clarinet and Gunnhildur Einarsdót-
tir, harp. Compositions by Edison Denissow, Guilo
Castagnoli, Giacinto Scelsi, Karlheinz Stockhausen
and Toru Takemitsu.
THURSDAY
AUGUST 12
Hallgrímskirkja Church
Lunch time Organ Concert: Guðný Einarsdóttir,
Organ
Icelandic opera
Reykjavik Summer Opera: Happy End
SATURDAY
AUGUST 14
Nýlistasafnið, The Living Art Museum
Opening of a exhibition ALDREI – NIE – NEVER
Hallgrímskirkja Church
Lunch time Organ Concert: Matti Hannula, Organ
Icelandic opera
Reykjavik Summer Opera: Happy End
Austurbær
The musical Hair: Is known world over for its catchy
music and hippie ambiance. Some of Iceland´s
most popular entertainers are involved in the show.
SUNDAY
AUGUST 15
Árbæjarsafn, Folk Museum
Handcrafts Day: demonstrations of old handcraft
techniques. Church service at 2 pm.
Hallgrímskirkja Church
Summer Evening at the Organ: With Matti Hannula
who is among the most respected organists of
present-day Finland.
TUESDAY
AUGUST 17
Viðey Island
Guided walk with Örlygur Hálfdanarson, who will
tell visitors about the history of the island, with the
focus on the village, where Örlygur was born and
brought up.
Sigurjón Ólafsson Sculpture Museum
Summerconcert: Olivier Manoury bandoneon plays
his own compositions as well as works by others.
THURSDAY
AUGUST 19
Klink og bank artist workplace
The Amazing Design Kids open their exhibiton
Icelandic opera
Reykjavik Summer Opera: Happy End
LISTINGS : august 6 - august 19
Want to be seen in the listings? Send us a mail
to listings@grapevine.is and your event will be
announced in the next issue, and the best thing
is that being in the listings is free!
ONGOING
ASÍ museum
Tue-Sun 14:00-18:00
Exhibition by the artist Hafstein Austmann, the
name of the show is Colours of the water Ends
August 15
Gallery Sævar Karl
Mon-Fri 10:00-17:00
Exhibition by Sigríður Bachman Ends August 6.
Exhibition by Kristín Reynisdóttir. Starts August 6.
Safn
Wed-Fri 14:00-18:00. Sat&Sun 14:00-
17:00
The works were the artists’ most current works at
the time of the museums purchase. Also exhibi-
tion by The German painter Katharina Grosse and
also exhibition by Eggert Pétursson.
Gallery Sævar Karl
Mon-Fri 10:00-17:00
Exhibition by Kristín Reynisdóttir
Hafnarhúsið, Reykjavík Art Museum
10:00-17:00 every day
Private exhibition of Thorvaldur Thorsteinsson
and the summer exhibition at the Reykjavik Art
Museum-Hafnarhus. Ends August 8
Gallery of the Icelandic printmakers as-
sociation
Tue-Sun 14:00-18:00
Exhibition by ólafur Þórðarson Ends August 8.
Exhibition “Culture Night”, danish grafik. Starts
August 14.
Culture House
11:00-17:00 every day
A summer exhibition entitled The Poetic Edda.
The exhibition is intended to provide visitors with
some insights into these ancient poems. Many
of Iceland’s national treasures are on display in
the Culture House’s featured exhibition Medieval
Manuscripts – Eddas and Sagas. Exhibition Home
Rule 1904.
Gerðarsafn, Kóparvogur Art Gallery
Tue-Sun 11:00-17:00.
RECENT AQUISITIONS:
Upstairs two world faumous danish designers,
Börge Mogensen and Hans Wegner. Downstairs
many icelandic househould designers. Starts
August 14.
Nordic House
Mon-Fri 8:00-17:00, Sat&Sun 12:00-17:00
7-A View from the North: Travelling exhibition - 7
artists from the Nordic Countrie. The artists in
this group have exhibited extensively and received
awards and recognition for their work on an
international level. Admission: Icel. kr. 300.-
Kling og Bang Gallery
Thu-Sun 14:00-18:00
Exhibition by world famous american artists Paul
McCarthy and Jason Rhoades
Árbæjarsafn, Folk Museum
Tue-Fri 10:00-17:00, Sat&Sun 10:00-
18:00
Árbæjarsafn, Folk Museum is Reykjavík City´s folk
museum and the largest open air museum in Ice-
land. It is composed of around 30 buildings from
different periods, most of which have been moved
from downtown Reykjavík.
Austurvöllur out door exhibition
Icelanders: Photography Exhibition in Austurvellir,
A Meeting with the Icelanders over a period of two
years, photographer Sigurgeir Sigurjónsson and
author Unnur Jökulsdóttir travelled the length and
breadth of Iceland and visited people from all over
the country.
Passion Gallery
12:30-18:00 Mon-Fridays, 12:00-15:00
Saturdays
Contemporary art gallery
Gallery i8
Thu&Fri 11:00-18:00
Exhibition by Jeanine Cohen. Cohen has never
been to Iceland, however. Her work is the result of
a more general kind of intense observation.
National Gallery of Iceland
CULTUREARTS and
H
.S
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