Reykjavík Grapevine - Sep 2020, Page 36

The Reykjavík Grapevine
Best of Reykjavík 2020
36
So, you’ve shopped in the shops, drank the drinks, and eaten all the
foods. And whilst those things are all super fun, culture and the out-
doors are the missing pieces of the puzzle for a perfect trip. Whether
it's a gleaming museum or a grimy artist-run gallery, a springtime
hike or a trip to try and glimpse the aurora, here's where to do it.
Best Pool
Vesturbæjarlaug
Hofsvallagata 107
Vesturbær is one of Reykjavik’s most bustling areas, and probably
the only locale where you could bump into Prime Minister Katrín
Jakobsdóttir, renowned artist Ragnar Kjartansson, and a member of
Sigur rós in the same day. Vesturbæjarlaug is smack in the middle
of the hubbub and serves up a wonderful selection of hot tubs chock
full of chattering artists, students, and other 107 locals. The pool
is unique in the sense that it offers up pretty much anything you’d
need—a shiny outdoor pool, big hotpots, a large steam room, and a
particularly lovely outdoor changing area, which you should take ad-
vantage of in the summer. And remember, don’t hesitate to converse
about the state of things in the hot water—Icelanders love to debate
politics, philosophise about art, and make fun of, well, everything.
Runners-Up
Árbæjarlaug
Fylkisvegur 9
The main reason the panel chose Árbæ-
jarlaug was for its stunning view of the
city. It’s an impressive view of the east
of Reykjavík, showcasing a huge forest,
Elliðarárdalur, and below that you have
an extraordinary view of the city’s
skyline. Also—you have to give it up for
the pool’s fun 90s architecture.
Laugardalslaug
Sundlaugavegur 105
Although Laugardalslaug is the largest
pool in Reykjavík, it’s often crowded by
tourists. “It has become the tourist pool,”
said the panel. “They all get sent there
while the locals enjoy the other pools of
Reykjavík.” It does, however, have a huge
range of hot pots and facilities, also used
by the post-workout crowd from the
World Class gym.
Previous winners
2019: Vesturbæjarlaug
2018: Sundhöllin
2017: Lágafellslaug
2016: Neslaug
Best Gallery
i8
Tryggvagata 16
i8 is once again the best gallery in Iceland.
Over the years, it’s given us works from
internationally lauded art superstars like
Ragnar Kjartansson, Elín Hansdóttir and
Ólafur Elíasson, putting Icelandic art on
the worldwide map and helping it stay
there. Although it’s a commercial gallery,
it’s not a hoity-toity stuffy spot—expect to
see conceptual cutting-edge muse-
um-sized displays, rather than conserva-
tive and conventionally appealing wall-
based work. Best of all, there’s a sharp wit
and a sense of fun running through the
gallery’s roster, in sharp contrast to the
often academic or po-faced offerings of
the contemporary art scene.
Runners-Up
BERG Contemporary
Klapparstígur 16
For the past few years, Berg Contempo-
rary has concretely established itself
as the go-to spot for contemporary
art in Reykjavík. Their large, beautifully
renovated space is known for blurring
the lines between the conceptual, the
abstract, the art, and the functional
with their installations and exhibitions.
That may sound complicated, but what
we’re trying to say is simple: Stop by.
Hverfisgallerí
Hverfisgata 4
Hverfisgallerí consistently impressed
our panel in 2019 with a roster of bril-
liant exhibitions by young artists like Loji
Höskuldsson and the incredible talented
Davíð Örn Halldórsson, among others.
This gallery is (and we cannot emphasise
this enough) ambitious. Stop by for the
best and brightest of the scene.
Previous winners
2015-19: i8
2014: Kling og Bang
2011-13: National Gallery
BEST OF REYKJAVÍK 2020
Activities
Get off the internet already!
Best Art Museum
Kjarvalsstaðir
Flókagata 24
Kjarvalsstaðir was the first art museum
in Iceland built specifically as a visual art
showroom. The house is an homage to
the iconic Icelandic artist, Jóhannes S.
Kjarval—hence the name—and in fact,
one can still find his art adorning the
walls. This year, the museum showcased
itself in standout fashion, with a hot
streak of historical explorations of
creative stalwarts like Ólöf Nordal and
William Morris. One must also applaud
their iconic architecture. On top of that,
it’s also home to one of Reykjavík’s finest
and most underrated coffeehouses.
Runners-Up
Nýló / Living Art Museum
Grandagarður 20, 101 Reykjavík
Since 1978, over 2,000 artists have
been connected to Nýló in one way or
the other. Founded by the legendary
Icelandic 70s art group SÚM, the sole
purpose of the museums is to open
up discussions on experimental and
progressive art. Basically, if you want
to experience the radical art scene in
Iceland, whet your palette at NÝLÓ.
Gerðarsafn - Kópavogur Art Museum
Hamraborg 4
Gerðarsafn is one of those hidden
gems outside of Reykjavík. Located in
Kópavogur, the museum offers a fresh
take on Icelandic art, and also gives
people an opportunity to meet and
listen to their artists in their fantastic
artist talks. It also has a coffee shop
and a delightful garden.
Previous winners
2019: Reykjavík Art Museum
2018: The Marshall House
2016-7: Hafnarhúsið