Iceland review - 2016, Qupperneq 136

134 ICELAND REVIEW
BITS & PIECES SPECIAL PROMOTION
The Recipe for a Glorious Day
Reykjavík Excursions offers a range of exciting day tours, many of which
include the ever popular Golden Circle. Travelers get to visit the erupting hot
spring Strokkur at the Geysir geothermal area, the mighty waterfall Gullfoss,
which tumbles 32 meters down a crevice, and the historically and geologically
significant Þingvellir National Park. In addition to the classic stops, Reykjavík
Excursions now takes visitors to the greenhouses at Friðheimar where they can
learn how tomatoes and cucumbers are grown in a sub-Arctic climate and taste
its products.
Also, travelers can go snorkeling in the crystal-clear Silfra lake at Þingvellir, in
a rift between the American and Eurasian tectonic plates; relax in the hot tubs
and natural steam bath of Laugarvatn Fontana Geothermal Baths, where locals
have enjoyed the healing powers of the steam coming straight from the ground
for almost a century; explore nature from the back of an Icelandic horse; or feel
the thrill of snowmobiling on Langjökull glacier. For those with little time to
spare, Reykjavík Excursions also offers express afternoon and evening tours. re.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
Culture’s Home
On Hverfisgata in central Reykjavík you can’t miss the large white Culture House
(Safnahúsið). Looking like part castle, part gingerbread house, its purpose is not
immediately apparent—but its importance is clear from first sight.
Go inside and you’ll be treated to an exhibition called Points of View—a unique
collaboration between six of Iceland’s most important cultural institutions, pre-
senting a thoughtful snapshot of Iceland’s entire culture and history across four
floors. Still, it does not claim to be exhaustive!
From taxidermy and crystals to priceless paintings and irreplaceable manu-
scripts, as well as modern design classics and more, Points of View is the conflu-
ence of art, science and showbiz. The exhibition presents all artifacts together
as equal and significant—and the result is surprising and undeniably interesting.
Located at Hverfisgata 15. Open 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday-Sunday. culturehouse.is