Iceland review - 2004, Qupperneq 58

Snap Shot
The Reykjavík Museum of Photography
is a national specialist museum that
exhibits a wide range of works by lead-
ing Icelandic photographers of past and
present. It also organises and presents
exhibitions by world-renowned photog-
raphers, and prides itself on previous
exhibitions by August Sander, Henri-
Cartier Bresson and Mary Ellen Mark.
The museum holds a number of photo-
graphic exhibitions each year, both indi-
vidually and in collaboration with other
museums. It’s located on the sixth floor
at Grófarhús, in the city centre, where it
has three fixed exhibition periods each
year in its exhibition gallery. This sum-
mer’s exhibitions include “New Realities”,
an overview of contemporary Finnish
photographers that have been widely
acclaimed internationally, which is being
set up in conjunction with the Reykjavík
Arts Festival.
The Reykjavík City Library
Tryggvagata 15, 101 Reykjavík,
tel. (+354) 563-1717,
www.borgarbokasafn.is
Photos (from top to bottom):
“Suites Françaises” by Elina Brotherus.
“Pilgrimage” by Heli Rekula.
The Reykjavík Museum of Photography
Grófarhús
Tryggvagata 15, 6th floor
101 Reykjavík
tel. (354) 563 1790
www.ljosmyndasafnreykjavikur.is
Open Mon to Fri, 10.00-16.00.
Book Worm
For a quiet break, stop by the City Library for a relaxing moment in Reykjavík.
The main library is located in an old downtown warehouse by the harbour. The
building, which is next door to the Reykjavík Art Museum, also houses The
Reykjavík Archives and The Reykjavík Museum of Photography. Sip on coffee
while you immerse yourself in a wealth of information, write e-mails or chill out
on the big sofas. The new and modern library has a wide selection of books and
periodicals in Icelandic and eight foreign languages, as well as music, videos and
multimedia CDs. Encyclopaedias, dictionaries and other reference works may be
consulted at the libraries, free of charge. After leafing through the newspapers,
visitors can get information about the community and what is on in Reykjavík at
the “Reykjavík Square” on the first floor of the main library.
The library has several branches, one of which is situated in Kringlan, Reykjavík’s
largest shopping mall, and operates a mobile library service calling at some 40
places all over the city.
In July and August, the library introduces Icelandic literature in English once a
week. Guests can join a guided tour of downtown Reykjavík where sites from
Icelandic fiction from the Saga period to this day are visited. The walks last for
approximately 90 minutes.
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