Museum Night at National Museum of Iceland
The National Museum of Iceland welcomes guest to Museum Night on February 7th 2020. The National Museum and the Culture House are open from 18:00 - 23:00 and admission is free.
Program:
18.00 - 23.00: Invasion of the Present in the Permanent Exhibition
On the occasion of Museum Night the present has made a fresh and surprising appearance amongst the artefacts of centuries past in the National Museum of Iceland's permanent exhibition; Making of a Nation - Heritage and History in Iceland. Let the visit to the National Museum take you by surprise! See the past in a new light!
18.15 - 19.00: A guided tour of the photo exhibition In the Light
Linda Ásdísardóttir, specialist in the National Museum's Photographic Collection, gives a casual tour of the avant-garde photographs of Gunnar Pétursson (1928-2012). The guided tour is in Icelandic.
19.00 - 19.30: Crime and Punishment – law and order through the ages. In Icelandic
This short, guided tour in Icelandic is centred on the governance of Iceland from the settlement to the mid-20th century, when Icelanders declared independence. The changes in power, law courts and punishment are observed through objects on display in the National Museum's permanent exhibition.
20.00 - 20.30: “Black sun, high flame” – Famine, pestilence and natural disaster. In English.
This guided tour aims to present a discourse on the origins of the Icelanders and the impacts that trade and migration have made on human health and society across history in Iceland. Drawing upon scientific evidence, the connection between health and the environment, as well as Iceland's relationship with the world, will be illustrated using examples from the museum's permanent exhibition. The guided tour is in English.
18.00 - 23.00: Take your Picture in a Photo-Booth
The theme of Museum Night in the National Museum is the invasion of the present into the permanent exhibition. On that occasion a Photo-Booth is situated at the costume try-on. Try on some clothing in Viking style or traditional style and add odd accessories that skew the picture! Then send yourself the photo to your email address or phone.
Exhibitions:
Making of a Nation. Heritage and History in Iceland
The National Museum of Iceland's permanent exhibition, Making of a Nation - Heritage and History in Iceland, is intended to provide insight into the history of the Icelandic nation from the Settlement to the present day. The aim is to cast light on the Icelanders' past by placing the cultural heritage preserved by the National Museum in a historical context, guided by the question: What makes a nation? The exhibition includes about 2,000 objects, dating from the Settlement Age to the present, as well as about 1,000 photographs from the 20th century. The exhibition is conceived as a journey through time: it begins with the ship in which medieval settlers crossed the ocean to their new home, it ends in a modern airport, the Icelanders' gateway to the world.
Discovering Iceland's Monasteries
The exhibition is based on research done by Steinunn Kristjánsdóttir, professor of archaeology at the University of Iceland and the National Museum of Iceland The research aimed at finding clues on monastic activities in Iceland from the foundation of the earliest one in 1030 to the dissolution of the last in 1554.
In the Light
Gunnar Pétursson, an amateur photographer from Reykjavík, had a long and remarkable career. Whether he photographed nature, the city or its people, all his work was characterised by his subjective view of his surroundings. He saw surfaces, shapes and textures, and strove to capture light and motion in his pictures. He was an active participant in the wave of amateur photography in Iceland in the years after World War II, when new perspectives and trends arrived, and photographic art came into being.
Looking North
Jessica Auer sets out to explore Iceland's sightseeing destinations, and records tourists' surroundings through her photographic lens. In her pictures, travellers and their material world blend together with the natural surroundings. Tourism is manifested as a transformative force within the Icelandic landscape, and is depicted with visual clarity. Jessica Auer stands apart from her subject, observing from afar like a visitor in an unfamiliar world. Altered landscapes have been addressed through contemporary photography for quite some time, and here, the tourism sector plays a significant role.
Viewing photos a little closer
Viewing photos a little closer is a booklet in Icelandic with speculations about photos. Look up a suggestion for inspiration as you enjoy the current exhibition at the Photo Gallery in the National Museum of Iceland.