Reykjavík Grapevine - 01.06.2012, Blaðsíða 45

Cocktail pleasures and
Visual stimulation
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» |oPENINGS
Hafnarborg (Hafnarfjörður)
15:00 “The Last Abstraction”
The exhibition of abstract paintings
celebrates the wide-ranging work of
one of Iceland's earliest modernists,
Eiríkur Smith.
Runs until August 19
Museum of Design – Hönnunar-
safn Íslands
17.00: "Something To Write Home
About"
The emerging changes in Icelandic
design are on display to highlight
how product designers are using
more collaboration.
Runs until October 14

» |oNGoING
The Culture House
Medieval Manuscripts Eddas and
Sagas
It includes principal medieval manu-
scripts, such as Codices Regii of the
Poetic Edda and Prose Edda, and law
codices and Christian works, not to
forget the Sagas of Icelanders.
On permanent view
Child of Hope - Youth and Jón
Sigurósson
Exploring the life of Icelandic national
hero Jón Sigurjónsson, made espe-
cially accessible to children, families,
and school groups.
On permanent view
Medieval Manuscripts - Eddas and
Sagas
Some of Iceland's medieval manu-
scripts on display. Guided tour in
English on Mondays & Fridays at 15:00.
On permanent view
Millennium - phase one
Selection of pieces from the collection
of the National Gallery displaying a
variety of works by Icelandic artists in
the last two centuries.
On permanent view
The Library Room
The old reading room of the National
Library displays books of Icelandic
cultural history dating from the 16th
century to the present. Works include
oldest published versions of the Sagas,
Eddic Poems, and more.
On permanent view
The Einar Jónsson Museum
Einar Jónsson
The museum contains close to 300
art works spanning a 60 year career:
carvings from the artist's youth,
sculptures, paintings and drawings. A
beautiful tree-clad garden adorned
with 26 bronze casts of the artist's
works is located behind the museum.
On permanent view
A R T
in June
Space: The Final
Frontier
Gallery i8
Runs until June 30
Free
While the days of NASA—both the
club and the American space agency—
are dwindling, exploring space outside
the atmosphere is becoming more
and more difficult. For an artistic take
on the concept of space, however, be
sure to check out “Open; Wait”, the
newest show at gallery i8 featuring the
sculptures of Margrét H. Blöndal and
drawings of Silvia Bächli.
Minimalist aspects of both art-
ists merge to express a distinct
visual canon which exists as more of
a visceral meditation on space than a
material installation. The combined ef-
fort confronts the space around us and
personal polity in a manner all its own.
Native Icelander Margrét works for
the first time with Silvia, who is based
in Paris, France, and Basel, Switzerland.
London-based critic and writer Chris
Fite-Wassilak curates the event. BW
To INFINITY AND BEYoND Artists explore concepts of space in "Open; Wait."
Ever had one of those Sundays when
you feel wiped out and you’re not sure
whether to go to an AA meeting or
take in a movie? Well, thanks to Bíó
Paradís, which hosted a SÁÁ (kind of
like AA, but without the religious con-
notations) film festival last week, you
didn’t have to choose. There was no
need to get up and declare your name
and preferred addiction; it was just
about kicking back with some pop-
corn and letting the recovery begin.
You could take your pick of drunk Swedes
(who turn out to be Finns) or a double dose
of drunk Danes or Brits on the piss. As
with all drunks, the films are full of worldly
wisdom. To wit: never assault a telephone
booth (might lead to loss of hand), never
urinate on a sleeping girlfriend (might lead
to loss of life) and if you intend to take a
hatchet to your neighbour’s dog, do it
sooner rather than later (before the beast
starts attacking local children).
ENGLISH ANGER, DANISH RoT
The films are of high quality, although one
needs a strong stomach to take the inces-
sant wife-beatings, wasted childhoods
and general misery that comes with rou-
tine overconsumption of the nectar of the
Gods. Perhaps the most acclaimed is the
Danish ‘Submarino’ by ‘Festen’ Director
Thomas Vinterberg, starring Jakob Ceder-
gren (I got drunk with him once), which
deals with the addictions of working class
Copenhageners.
For those who prefer upscale alcohol-
ics, there was ‘Applause,’ featuring the
spicy Paprika Steen as a famous actress
caught in a downward spiral. Even more
depressing, predictably, was the British
‘Tyrannosaur,’ although it seems to deal
more with anger management issues than
alcoholism (everyone gets theirs in the
end, both abusive spouses and annoying
dogs).
MEN WHo HATE WoMEN EVEN MoRE
Taking the cake was the Swedish ‘Svino-
langorna’ (“Pigsty”), starring ‘Män som
hatar kvinnor’s’ Noomi Rapace, about
Finns who moved to Stockholm in the
1960s to look for a better life, with some of
them winding up beating their wives and
drinking themselves to death instead. Inci-
dentally, at the same time, large numbers
of Icelanders went to Gothenburg to check
out the famed Swedish welfare system,
sometimes with similar results.
The SÁÁ festival might be over, but Bíó
Paradís is still worth a visit. It is Reykjavík’s
only arthouse cinema and, incidentally, the
only one with an alcohol license. Currently
on offer are, among others, ‘Tyrannosaur’
(from the festival), Ralph Fiennes Shake-
speare epic ‘Coriolanus,’ the Finnish space
Nazi extravaganza ‘Iron Sky’ and Iceland’s
very own crime epic, ‘Black’s Game’ (with
English subtitles). Enjoy.
Sunday Morning
Coming Down
A different kind of alcohol rehab at Bíó Paradís
Film | Alcohol
VALuR GuNNARSSoN
At the seashore the giant lobster makes
appointments with mermaids and landlubbers.
He waves his large claws, attracting those desiring
to be in the company of starfish and lumpfish.
> Only 45 minutes drive from Reykjavík
Eyrarbraut 3, 825 Stokkseyri, Iceland · Tel. +354 483 1550
Fax. +354 483 1545 · info@fjorubordid.is · www.fjorubordid.is
by the sea
and a delicious lobster
at Fjörubordid in Stokkseyri
Reykjavík
Stokkseyri
Eyrarbakki - The Seashore restaurant
Sp
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hf
.
Summer opening hours: Mon - Sun 12:00 to 22:00
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Take away