Iceland review - 2016, Page 131

ICELAND REVIEW 129
SPECIAL PROMOTION MUSEUMS
Location: Hverfisgata 15, Reykjavík
Tel: +354 530-2200
Website: culturehouse.is
Opening hours: 10:00-17:00 daily

The Culture House (Safnahúsið), is a white, stately building in cen-
tral Reykjavík, demanding your attention. The museum features
an exhibition called Points of View—a collaboration between six
of Iceland’s major cultural institutions, presenting a snapshot of
Iceland’s culture and history across four floors. From taxidermy
and crystals to priceless paintings and irreplaceable manuscripts,
as well as modern design classics and more, Points of View is the
confluence of art, science and showbiz. The exhibition presents
all artifacts together as equal and significant—and the result is
surprising and undeniably interesting.
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THE CULTURE HOUSE
Location: see website
Tel: + 354 411-6300
Website: reykjavikcitymuseum.is
Opening hours: see website
This combination of top museums lets you explore what makes
Reykjavík such a dynamic and inspiring city. For archaeology
buffs, look no further than The Settlement Exhibition. To explore
Reykjavík life, present and past, visit the Reykjavík Museum of
Photography and for creative exhibitions devoted to the ocean’s
role in transforming Iceland over the ages, visit the Reykjavík
Maritime Museum. Árbær Open Air Museum takes you back in
time with a charming collection of original houses. For those who
love nature and outdoor art, the island of Viðey, a mere ten-minute
boat trip from Reykjavík, is a paradise.
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REYKJAVÍK CITY MUSEUM
Location: see website
Tel: +354 411-6400 Website: artmuseum.is
Opening hours: see website

Housed in three unique buildings across the capital, Reykjavík
Art Museum maintains some of the most distinguished works of
Iceland’s artistic heritage. Hafnarhús houses the permanent col-
lection of the works of Erró (b. 1932), one of Europe’s most notable
pop artists. Kjarvalsstaðir holds the works of one of Iceland’s
most influential and recognized artists, Jóhannes S. Kjarval (1885-
1972), while the Ásmundur Sveinsson Sculpture Museum dis-
plays the work of artist Ásmundur Sveinsson (1893-1982), one of
Iceland’s pioneering sculptors. Each museum also hosts a range of
other exciting and diverse exhibitions, year-round.
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REYKJAVÍK ART MUSEUM
Location: Fríkirkjuvegur 7, 101 Reykjavík
Tel: +354 515-9600
Website: listasafn.is
Opening hours: May 15-Sept 15: 10:00-17:00 daily
Sept 16-May 14: 11:00-17:00. Closed Mondays
Iceland’s leading art museum, established in 1884, possesses a
representative collection of Icelandic works and a fine array of
international art, mainly from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. The
collection includes close to 11,000 items.
An exciting ongoing exhibition, Berlinde de Bruyckere, runs May
21-September 4. De Bruyckere’s powerful, contorted figures,
human and equine, made of wax, animal skin and hair, evoke
contemporary narratives and personal experiences.
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NATIONAL GALLERY
OF ICELAND