Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Breaking Things and Pounding Nails at Reykjavik Art Museum


How often do you get the chance to go into an art museum and touch the artwork?
What about break the artword?
What about vandalizing the art with your graffiti?
What about pounding nails into a canvas?

In Reykjavik, this was all possible. 

When I last visited Reykjavik in 2011, I was deeply sad to be leaving after only four days with still lots of see and explore. One of my deepest regrets was passing by a gallery on our bus to the airport and thinking “I bet Reykjavik has an awesome art scene and I didn’t see a bit of it…” 
When I returned last winter, I had an ambitious itinerary which included an unexpected 3-day jaunt to the west fjords, meaning that I had even less time in the city than planned, so I didn’t get to go on my great art tour as expected, but I did manage to go to the Reykjavik Art Museum. 

With a few exceptions, I usually don’t blog about museums because I can’t take photographs and the experience is pretty standard but I was pleasantly surprised by an exhibit at the Reykjavik Art Museum which was much more interaction than I imagined. 

This exhibit was designed by Yoko Ono, and in her own unique style, it featured lots of curious weirdness. 


A canvas you can create

Visitors pasting broken ceramic back together


Hammering a nail into the canvas...it was very loud

Created by museum visitors

Messages from visitors

Map of the world, were you can stamp "peace" in the places that need it

Hello Yoko, is is me you're looking for?


Wall of testimonials from woman who experienced sexual assault


Wishing tree, write a wish and hang it on the branch



In addition to the Yoko Ono exhibit and another floor of artworks by Icelandic artists, the museum also featured a pretty cool art library. And we know how I feel about art libraries...





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