Iceland review - 2016, Side 119

ICELAND REVIEW 117 116 ICELAND REVIEW
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A Salute to Iceland’s Master Artists
Housed in three unique buildings across the capital, Reykjavík Art Museum
maintains some of the most distinguished works of Iceland’s artistic heritage.
Hafnarhús, downtown by the old harbor, houses the permanent collection of
the works of Erró (1932-), one of Europe’s most notable pop artists. Its tempo-
rary shows tend toward the progressive and experimental, emphasizing works
from established contemporary, local and international artists. The exhibitions
at Kjarvalsstaðir focus primarily on paintings and sculptures of the established
masters of modern art, holding the works of one of Iceland’s most influen-
tial and recognized artists, Jóhannes S. Kjarval (1885-1972). The Ásmundur
Sveinsson Sculpture Museum is the former home and workshop of artist
Ásmundur Sveinsson (1893-1982), one of Iceland’s pioneering sculptors. The
museum displays the largest collection of his sculptures, both inside and outside
the building. Reykjavík Art Museum is open daily and the entrance ticket is
valid for all three museums on the same day. artmuseum.is
Icelandic Art on the World Stage
The early 20th century was a time of great intellectual, creative and political pro-
gress in Iceland. The era’s independent spirit was fueled by the groundbreaking
work of an emerging generation of painters; artists who forged a sense of
national identity through their representations of Icelandic nature. In 1927, the
first comprehensive exhibition of Icelandic art to be staged abroad was held in
Copenhagen. This exhibition featured nearly 250 paintings by 12 Icelandic art-
ists—including Jóhannes Kjarval, Guðmundur Thorsteinsson (Muggur), Júlíana
Sveinsdóttir and Kristín Jónsdóttir—and not only connected Iceland with the
greater Western art tradition, but also demonstrated Iceland’s own approach
to visual art.
The National Gallery of Iceland’s Udstilling af islandsk kunst, the first exhibi-
tion of Icelandic art in Copenhagen, revisits this pioneering show and presents
a selection of the original works displayed. It runs until September 2016 and
visitors are invited to learn more by taking the English-language tour offered
every Friday at 12:10. listasafn.is
Explore the Origins of Icelandic Culture
At The Settlement Exhibition, visitors can experience the settlement of Iceland
in the late 9th century through two remarkable exhibitions. The first is based on
archaeological findings from the days of the settlement and the other on man-
uscripts documenting the same period, offering an unprecedented view into
the origins of Icelandic culture. The exhibition centers on an excavated site, the
actual remains of a Viking Age longhouse that have been preserved in situ. The
second exhibition comprises some of the nation’s most renowned documents,
many of them written in the 12th century, but relating to events that go back
as far as 874 AD, when the first settlers came to Iceland. The manuscripts are
recognized by UNESCO as having outstanding cultural value. Open 9 am to 9
pm. reykjavikcitymuseum.is