At the Culture House, the exhibition Points of View – a journey through the visual world of Iceland is on permanent view. The exhibition gives visitors a unique opportunity to view the collections of six major Icelandic cultural institutions. Artworks of various styles and mediums are presented thematically alongside museum objects and archival materials such as books and maps. 

The exhibition is based on research done by Steinunn Kristjánsdóttir, professor of archaeology at the University of Iceland and the National Museum of Iceland

Jón was Iceland’s leader in its struggle for an independent union with the Danish king and an exemplar for the independence struggle of later eras. The home, often lively and crowded, was the site of Icelanders’ most important political meetings in Copenhagen.

Óravíddir – orðaforðinn í nýju ljósi er innsetning á myndrænni birtingu íslensks orðaforða í þrívídd sem unnin er upp úr Íslensku orðaneti eftir Jón Hilmar Jónsson.

The sculpture Ganymede is by the Icelandic/Danish artist Bertel Torvaldsen (1770-1844) and is from the collection of the National Gallery. Thorvaldsen made the original in Rome in 1804, which makes this marble sculpture among the oldest works in the National Gallery's collection. It is on view in the Treasure space at the Culture House.

At Hofstaðir in the district of Lake Mývatn, north Iceland, extensive archaeological excavations have been carried out over the past three decades. The site includes remains from the Viking Age to the 20th century. A huge Viking-Age structure was excavated: a hall or longhouse where people gathered on social occasions, with other smaller buildings around it. The hall is one of the largest structures ever excavated in Iceland. In addition, a churchyard was excavated at Hofstaðir, which is one of the oldest churchyards unearthed in Iceland. Whole families were laid to rest in the cemetery, and their bones yield evidence about their lives. The face of one of the women buried at Hofstaðir has been reconstructed using DNA technology, and a drawing of her is included in the exhibition.

Artist Halldór Pétursson (1916-1977) drew his way into the heart of the Icelandic nation in a unique way. During his heyday, which lasted many decades, his works were omnipresent in Icelandic society.

The ambiance of the cultural scene in Iceland is powerfully portrayed in a selection of images by photographer Vigfús Sigurgeirsson (1900 - 1984), taken during World War II. Subjects include dancing girls and musicians, as well as remarkable photos of a fashion show at Hotel Borg. Glamour and sophistication are everywhere.

Back yards, sheds, clothes-lines, and now and then a cat. Photographer Kristján Magnússon trains his lens exclusively on a narrow, enclosed swath of the urban environment: the back-lots of residential areas in the older parts of Reykjavik. He captures images of almost-deserted spaces that seem well thought-out despite the cluttered surroundings. This photo series strongly conveys the stylistic traits of this veteran ad photographer.

The contemporary photographer Spessi – Sigurþór Hallbjörnsson – has forged a unique style within the field of fine-art photography. His work presents cold hard reality, unvarnished and uncensored, whether the subject is a person or a setting. Hidden pockets of society are prominent in his work, interspersed with cultural life. His choice and handling of material is provocative, yet also imbued with humanity and humour.