Iceland review - 2016, Page 135

ICELAND REVIEW 133
SPECIAL PROMOTION BITS & PIECES
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
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
The Perfect Card
The Reykjavík City Card gives you free access to the best Reykjavík has to offer.
For a reasonable fee, you can explore museum after museum of history, paint-
ings, sculptures and photography. Enjoy a free bus ride to them all.
Take the ferry to Viðey island, the ideal place for a refreshing walk, enabling
you to quickly recover from any accidental cultural overdose. Take the ferry
back and enjoy a hearty meal in Reykjavík at a discount.
After dinner, we recommend a free trip to one
of Reykjavík’s cure-all thermal pools. Here,
you can forget your worries, soothe your
muscles and work out enough to secure a
good night’s sleep.
Available at the downtown Tourist Infor-
mation Center at Aðalstræti 2 and at many
other locations. citycard.is