Reykjavík Grapevine - 06.05.2011, Page 1

THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO LIFE, TRAVEL & ENTERTAINMENT IN ICELAND
www.grapevine.is
CONTROVERSY
Koddu! Koddu!
Koddu!
Remember those?
AK-X returns!
MUSIC
Harpa!
Lots of Harpa!
ART
More Harpa! and
hair sculptures!
TRAVEL
Horsies!
Wonderful horsies!
EXTREME SPORTS
IN THE ISSUE Issue 5 • 2011 • May 6 - May 19 2011 COMPLETE CITY LISTINGS - INSIDE!+
Can we play now?
Ólafur Elíasson
discusses HARPA
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Harpa, Reykjavík Concert Hall and Conference Centre, finally opened for business this week with a grand concert featuring
Iceland's Symphony Orchestra. The event was by all accounts a huge success, and Icelanders seem thrilled with the build-
ing, even though the project has been heavily debated and criticised throughout the construction process. "BUT IT'S NOT
YET FINISHED!" says the artist behind Harpa's grand facade, Ólafur Elíasson. In our exclusive interview, Ólafur discusses
Harpa, the creative process, compromise, commerce and ambition. Page 16.