The Sequences Art Festival
“We’re putting emphasis on time-based art in unconventional places,” says Andrea Maack, project manager for the Sequences “real-time art festival” taking place between Oc
Of Men and Mongeese
When the Grettir Kabaret sponsored show at Organ began, the lineup was still a complete mystery to me. I had managed to pick up a couple of names from rumours […]
Ganging Up
The new live venue, Organ has been a pleasant surprise for regular concertgoers in Reykjavík. The place runs an ambitious program, and it is pretty much a given that you […
Singing Painting at Nylo
Can you start by explaining what this exhibition is all about? Ragnar: The exhibition is named ‘God’. The walls inside Nylo are going to be covered with pink satin and [&hellip
Awakening the Couch Potatoes
In retrospect Iceland has never lacked activism, and many prideful moments of Icelandic history are examples of social disobedience. In medieval times it was the “heathen folk”
Across the Country in 40 Days
Let’s clear up one thing straightaway: hitchhiking in Iceland no longer is the bonanza it used to be. Or, at least, this is what my current experience seems to suggest. […
Reykjavík 871±2
In 2001, an archaeological excavation in Aðalstræti led to the discovery of an ancient longhouse dating from around 871 AD (plus or minus two years.) This longhouse is believed t
A Buffet of Quality Icelandic Designs
The interior design exhibition and trade show ‘Home and Design’ takes place for the second time at the new Laugardalshöll Hall, October 19 – 21. As part of the three-day
101 Bar/Restaurant
The first thing you notice when you sit down for a meal at the 101 Bar is the books. Every table has a stack of coffee table books on art, […]
Fjalakötturinn
In a historical building in the city centre, restaurant Fjalakötturinn opened a little over a year ago and has quickly made a name for itself in the downtown dining scene. [&helli
Mínus – Reinventing the Formula
Following the release of their fourth album last spring, rock outfit Mínus came close to breaking up as the band chemistry turned sour. After much speculation about the band’s f
Airwaves Special: Bloodgroup
What started out as a one-man project in the eastfjord town Egilsstaðir some two years back has quickly transformed into the more engrossing acts of the Icelandic music scene. Rag
Elves in Cultural Vocabulary
Terry Gunnel is a professor of Folkloristics at the Unicersity of Iceland. He recently initiated a survey to explore how Icelands’ attitude towards elves and other supernatural p
I am Going For a Cup of Coffee
The sun doesn’t knock on the door of this old barbershop, it rushes its way in here through several windows. All I see from my desk, regardless of what I […]
The Grapevine Guide to the Airwaves Personalities
The Agent The most obvious telltale sign of the agent is the mobile phone. He is always in a hurry between places, usually bars, with a phone attached to his […]
Vegan Iceland?
As regular Grapevine readers will know, Iceland is not the best place for vegetarians. But newcomers and old Reykjavík hangabouts alike may be interested to know just what challen
Can We Do This Indefinitely?
You are a teacher, and a civil engineer, and an artist, and a designer… How did you come to think about sustainability issues? I think I came across the term […]
Airwaves Special: Mr. Silla & Mongoose
Fated by neighbouring cubicles their freshman years at the Academy of the Arts, Mr. Silla & Mongoose knew they were destined to be creative partners. After conjoining workspace
Airwaves Special: Þórir
“Sometimes, I think it might be fun to be in just one band, and focus on that,” says young musician Þórir. “But the reason I am in so many bands […]
Airwaves Special: Ben Frost
Ben Frost originally studied music in Melbourne, Australia, and began making a career as a sound artist in the great down under. Of course with a name like that Iceland […]