Kopavogur
The city of Kópavogur is situated on the North East of the island in the Atlantic ocean, its climate is influenced by the Atlantic Meridional Overturning, a series of currents that bring warm water to the North Atlantic and cool water to the equator, thereby impacts the global climate. The city as well as the capital area is welcoming artists of different domains. Considering Iceland’s dependence on the ocean, its acidification as a result of the carbon it absorbs from the atmosphere could be a long-term issue for the country. Acidification can affect the survival of smaller ocean organisms, in turn affecting the survival of fish and sea birds.
One of the
locations where the artwork will be installed is the city of Kópavogur. Thanks to Kópavogur Municipality (in position of subcontractor)
the project can be implemented also on the territory of Iceland. Two important
museums exist under the Kópavogur Municipality: Kópavogur Art Museum and
Natural History Museum.
Gerðarsafn – Kópavogur Art Museum established under the Kópavogur Municipality is a progressive museum with an emphasis on modern and contemporary art, located in the heart of Kópavogur. Gerðarsafn is founded in honour of sculptor Gerður Helgadóttir (1928-1975), making it the only Icelandic museum built in honour of a female artist. The museum has had a focus on sculpture within contemporary art through the exhibition series Sculpture/Sculpture that offers up and coming artists to explore contemporary sculpture and the development within three-dimensional art. The Art Museum cooperates closely with the Natural History Museum of Kopavogur also being established under Kópavogur Municipality. The two museums are situated next to one another and have experience in collaborating on testing the boarders of natural science and visual art with a focus on environmental issues and sustainability.
Kopavogur town’s history is marked by ambitious plans and epitomises the speed at which the urban spaces were created. The urban development was so fast that apartment blocks were being built at the same time as local sheep farming reached its peak. Hamraborg is an area that is going through an extensive change during the next decade where industrial areas are turning into residential areas and a new city centre is being formed.
Cooperating entities:
