Reykjavík Grapevine - 24.08.2012, Síða 58

A R T
in August and September
The Fallout From Hiroshima
Reaches Reykjavík
The Hiroshima-Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Exhibition
August 9- October 13
Reykjavík City Library, University of Iceland and Hof, Akureyri
Free

The bombing of Hiroshima is commemorated in Reykjavík every year on August 6 by
the floating of peace candles on the city pond. Not far from where the poet Tómas
Guðmundsson sits immobile on his bench, looking out over the pond (he’s a statue),
there’s also a more permanent reminder: a brick bent out of shape in the nuclear
blast, which the city of Hiroshima gave to Reykjavík in 1991. Adding to this, we now
have “The Hiroshima-Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Exhibition,” which has been making
its way around the world since 2005—starting at the Peace Museum in Chicago and
moving on through Western Europe, Malaysia, Turkey and Russia before arriving on
our shores.
Located in the foyer of the City Library at Tryggvagata 15, the exhibit features
artefacts from the two nuclear attacks in 1945, including melted tiles, warped
bottles and burnt clothes. Even more chilling are the paintings made by survivors of
the blasts, showing writhing bodies as in a medieval depiction of hell, but here serv-
ing as historical document. Information about the proliferation of Atomic weapons
is provided on boards, and visitors are invited to write messages on pieces of paper
that will be displayed at the Peace Memorial Hall in Nagasaki.
One of the most memorable stories presented is that of a man who survived the
nuclear blast at Hiroshima and fled to Nagasaki, only to have another atom bomb
dropped on him there. And he survived that one too! It’s a tale of beating the odds
in a story that otherwise shows some of the worst that human beings can do to one
another—and hopefully will never do again. VG
Cocktail pleasures and
Visual stimulation
How to use the listings: Venues are
listed alphabetically by day. For complete
listings and detailed information on
venues visit www.grapevine.is
Send us your listings: listings@grapevine.is

» |OPEnInGS
anD EVEnTS
Hafnarborg
August 31 Shadow2012
Gudni Tomasson's 'Shadow'
exhibition headlines this autumn´s
set-piece showcase, looking at
Icelandic art through a historical
lens to present a culturally relevant
exhibit.
Runs until October 28
Háskólabíó
I am not Such a Beautiful Land-
scape
After premiering at Festival Dei
Popoli in Italy last year, and hitting
the Icelandic film festival circuit,
Emiliano Monaco's documentary
"I Am Not Such A Beautiful
Landscape" will be playing
atHáskólabío for at least a week
after it opens August 22. The film
follows two men, lifelong friends
who, after years of retirement,
return to their former jobs as
fisherman.
Everyday at 20:00.
Runs until August 29th
Reykjavík Art Museum - Hafnar-
hús
September 1 Erró - Graphic art,
1949-2009
For the first time the general public
are able to view Erró´s graphic
art spanning half a century. The
exhibition is the result of three
years´ work researching and
collating the artist´s entire collection
of graphic pieces undertaken by
curator Danielle Kvaran.
Runs until August 25, 2013
Reykjavík Art Museum - Kjar-
valsstaðir
September 1 The Lyric Vision
- abstract-Expressionism in
Icelandic art, 1957-1970
As the first retrospective exhibition
of icelandic abstract expressionism,
this exhibition marks a watershed
in the history of exhibitions of
Icelandic artists in this country.
Runs until November 4

» |OnGOInG
ASÍ Art Museum
Helgi Þorgils Friðjónsson, Lars
Ravn, Holger Bunk
An exhibit of paintings, drawings
and installations from these
Icelandic, Danish and German
artists.
Runs until September 2
The Culture House
Medieval Manuscripts Eddas
and Sagas
It includes principal medieval manu-
scripts, such as Codices Regii of the
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, law codices
and Christian works, not forgetting the
Icelandic Sagas.
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
Millennium - phase one
A selection of pieces from the collec-
tion 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 day. Works
include the oldest published versions
of the Sagas, Edda Poems and more.
On permanent view
The Einar Jónsson Museum
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
Gallerí Agúst
Transfiguration
This unusual exhibition celebrates the
gallery´s 5th anniversary, presenting
three artists creating unique artwork
directly onto the gallery´s walls.
Runs until September 23
Gallerí Fold
The Middle Space
French artist and graduate of New
York´s School of Visual Arts Valerie
Boyce exhibits her landscapes which
weave narrative together with environ-
ment.
Runs until September 2
Gallerí Kling & Bang
40 Years of the Reykjavík as-
sociation of Sculptors
Ice fresh seafood
– to satisfy your senses
OPEN FROM
11:30 - 14:00
LUNCH
Mon. - Fri.
OPEN EVERY DAY FROM
17:30
DINNER
www.rub23.is
RUB23 | Aðalstræti 2 | 101 Reykjavík
Phone: +354 553 5323 | reykjavik@rub23.is
RUB23 | Kaupvangsstræti 6 | 600 Akureyri
Phone: +354 462 2223 | rub23@rub23.is
Suðurgata 41 · 101 Reykjavík · Tel. +354 530-2200 · www.natmus.is
The country’s largest
museum of cultural
history featuring a
permanent exhibition on
Iceland’s extraordinary
history from settlement
to present day.
Opening hours:
Summer
(May 1st – September 15th)
Daily 10–17
Winter
(September 16th – April 30th)
Daily except Mondays 11–17
National Museum of Iceland