Reykjavík Grapevine - 12.08.2011, Blaðsíða 25

25
The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 12 — 2011
Tel: +354 411 5000 • www.itr.is • www.spacity.is
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Take a dip!
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of health, relaxation and pureness. 94% of foreign
guests that visited thermal pools and baths in Reykjavik
said it had a positive effect on their health and well-being.
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thRee notewoRthy
Reykjavík statUes
I appreciate a good statue more than most people. This may be because
of my background as a stonemason. I have more than a rudimentary
understanding of what it takes to reveal the form that resides within a
block of stone, or to transform a shapeless piece of metal into something
recognisable. And while I do not claim any expertise on the aesthetics, I
believe my statue fetish makes me fully qualified to give you a reasoned
list of three noteworthy statues in Reykjavík.
20 LOGAR
by Hagatorg
Artist: Hulda Hákon
While this is strictly not a statue, but
rather a sculpture, 20 Logar is an art-
work worth pointing out. The name
translates to 20 Flames, with each
f lame representing a member state of
NATO. The sculpture was commis-
sioned to artist Hulda Hákon and re-
vealed in 2002 to commemorate the
meeting of the 20 foreign ministers of
the NATO states. Since its unveiling, it
has repeatedly been targeted to protest
NATO's military efforts around the
world. It has been covered in red paint
on more than one occasion, and cur-
rently consists of a mere 18 f lames, as
two have gone missing over the years,
most likely at the hands of anti-NATO
enthusiasts, or possibly Communists.
While other countries have many me-
morials dedicated to various war ef-
forts, Icelanders have shown little tol-
erance for this little reminder of our
involvement in NATO.
ALBERT GUðMUNDSSON
by Laugardalshöll
Artist: Helgi Gíslason
Dedicated to Iceland's first and most
successful professional football player,
Albert Guðmundsson, who played with
powerhouses such as Arsenal, Glasgow
Rangers and AC Milan, to name but a
few, during a particularly industrious
career. Albert would later move on to
politics, but that’s probably another
statue waiting to happen. This is a note-
worthy statue for the simple fact that it
may be the most ugly statue in Reyk-
javík. Statues of athletes often strike
a posing figure. Manchester United's
"Holy Trinity" of Sir Bobby Charlton,
George Best and Denis Law, outside
their stadium is a good example. Or
the graceful rendition of Michael Jor-
dan outside Chicago Stadium. Albert
Guðmundsson, however, strikes an
awkward pose, as if leaning into the bar
counter in an effort to swoon a bypass-
ing lady of notice. The overall effect is
less than gracious, and does little to do
justice to this former great player.
óÞEKKTI EMBæTTISMAðURINN
Lækjargata, port
Artist Magnús Tómasson
The Unknown Bureaucrat is a popular
favourite, as it manages to be both hu-
morous and provocative, while truth-
fully depicting something that most
everyone can relate to, the trivial exis-
tence of the working bee. The block of
rock is a perfect metaphor for how ev-
eryday life crushes down on us, while
at the same time depicting the narra-
tive of the faceless official who is only
a cog in the wheel, and never a person
to most of us. Even the location is a
thoughtful comment on the trivial exis-
tence of the Unknown Bureaucrat, in a
closed off back alley. You really have to
make an effort to find him, sealed off
from any relevance, and the rest of the
world in his isolated little corner of the
universe.
Words
Sveinn Birkir Björnsson
Photography
Natsha Nandabhiwat