Reykjavík Grapevine - sep. 2020, Síða 37

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Best Art Space
Kling & Bang
Grandagarður 20
The Marshall House serves up a number
of top galleries, but the artist-run Kling
& Bang is a true standout. No matter
what they have on the roster, expect
something ambitious and unique—from
makeshift karaoke rooms to gardens
covered in bees. Another amazing thing
about Kling & Bang is that they play host
to not only well-known internationals,
but also to up-and-coming talents. The
space never ceases to amaze with its
provocative, vibrant style.
Runners-Up
Ásmundarsalur
Freyjugata 41, 101 Reykjavík
Ásmundarsalur is hard to pinpoint—
their events and exhibitions are so
varied that its hard to distill into a few
words. Stop by to see young artists
creating in their workshops, grab a
macchiato at Reykjavík Roasters, and
don’t forget to stop by at Christmas
for their art market. It’s an exhilarating
venue, and we can’t wait to see what
they pull out of their hat in 2020.
Gallery Port
Laugavegur 23b
You could perhaps call Gallery Port the
dive bar of the Icelandic art scene—
and we mean that in the coolest, most
in-the-know and loving way. This art-
ist-run space, which is located smack
dab downtown on Laugavegur, serves
up gritty, unusual, and eclectic art by
people who will probably be famous
one day. Note: It’s also one of the few
venues where you can buy the brilliant
art you see on the walls.
Previous winners
2019: Gallery Port
2018: Listastofan (RIP)
Best Museum
The National Museum
Suðurgata 41
A treasure trove of the country’s history,
covering everything from early culture
to clothing, metalsmithing, religion,
and more, it’s well-curated and well
designed, even showcasing contempo-
rary displays that connect to modern
cultural waves like football and femi-
nism. Trust us, it’s an amazing feat of a
museum—somehow making silverware
interesting while also displaying a baby
skeleton. Creepy? Kind of, but we love it.
On another note, they also play host to
Kaffitár, one of the best cafés in town.
Runners-Up
The Culture House
Hverfisgata 15
The ‘Sjónarhorn’ (‘Perceptive’) exhibit
in Safnahúsið presents a notable
and original approach on the visual
heritage of Iceland by categorising it in
simple terms like ‘up,’ ‘down,’ and ‘again
and again.’ ‘Up’ for example describes
everything connected to power, such
as God and royalty. ‘Down’ is not about
the devil, but rather the earth itself,
showcasing volcanoes and plate
tectonics.
The Settlement Exhibition
Aðalstræti 16
Yearning to learn more about the first
101 hipsters of Reykjavík? Well, the Set-
tlement Exhibition has got you covered.
Based around the carefully excavated
remnants of a Viking farm, it’s a great
way to learn about how the early inhabi-
tants of Iceland lived, how they made
their first latté and what they called
Kaffibarinn in the year 900.
Previous winners
2019: Wonders Of Iceland
2018: National Museum of Iceland
2015-17: Árbæjarsafn
Best Tech Exhibition
Wonders of Iceland
Perlan
If stormy weather blows your glacier
trip off course, visit the Wonders of Ice-
land museum in the iconic Perlan. The
impressive displays includes a man-
made ice tunnel, complete with frigid
air temperatures and a selfie spot so
realistic it’ll fool your Instagram follow-
ers. In the main hall, projected glacial
vistas let you see the glaciers’ different
shapes and sizes, while stop-motion
videos of glacial retreat reveal how
fragile these majestic phenomena are.
There’s also an 8k aurora planetarium in
case the Northern Lights prove elusive.
Runner-Up
Whales Of Iceland
Fiskislóð 23-25
Whales Of Iceland consists of 23 life-
size models of the gentle giants, from
gargantuan blue whales to a 25-meter
long sperm whale. Meandering around
the hall will probably give you a new
appreciation for underwater life. To be
frank, it’s a whale of a time (sorry about
that).
Newcomer
Flyover Iceland
Fiskislóð 43, 101 Reykjavík
This VR experience took the city by
storm in 2019, with as many Icelanders
lining up for a bird’s eye view of the
country as tourists. On this virtual
ride, soar over glaciers, mountains,
lava fields and more—complete with
fresh mountain air and Iceland’s varied
scents—all from the comfort of an
amusement ride seat.
Previous winners
New category!
Best Cinema
Smárabíó
Smáralind, Kópavogur
The closure of Bíó Paradís means
Iceland no longer boasts an art-house
cinema, so we’ve had to pivot to cele-
brate the best of the more mainstream
cinematic experiences in the city. We’re
fans of Smárabíó for two reasons: it’s
easily accessible by bus and it offers
an unbeatable VIP luxury experience,
where you can recline on cushy chairs
with some room to groove while you
munch on your nachos. They also reg-
ularly rebroadcast some classic main-
stream cinema—at the time of writing
‘The Shining’ and ‘The Shawshank
Redemption’ are screening—so there’s
some opportunity to catch more than
just the latest Hollywood offerings.
Runners-Up
Háskólabíó
Hagatorg
Háskólabíó, located in the west of
Reykjavík, showcases worldwide block-
busters as well as local Icelandic films
(check online to confirm the availability
of English subtitles). It’s a cosy location
within walking distance from down-
town that’ll satiate your desire for the
whole popcorn-Avengers experience.
Kringlubíó
Kringlan
Kringlubíó has the lucky location of
being inside Iceland’s first shopping
mall, Kringlan. It showcases the newest
Hollywood flicks and has the notable
location of being close to Stjörnutorg,
the mall’s food court, where you can
find everything from greasy Dominos to
vegan maverick Jömm to the Icelandic
hot dog institution Bæjarins Bestu.
Previous winners
2016-9: Bíó Paradís
2015: VIP Theater
2014: Bíó Paradís