Iceland Spain Latvia Wales Poland Ireland

City of Reykyavik and the Island Videy

“SENSE IN PLACE” VI Reykjavik, Iceland

Opening May 25th 2006 “Place of Power”

-To investigate “Energy” in Iceland in the broadest sense of the word.

-To raise public awareness of energy issues in relation to human needs.

Iceland is known for harnessing the natural powers both from hydroelectric and geothermal sources. ‘Reykjavik Energy’ is a leading company in this field and is on the forefront worldwide when it comes to geothermal energy. Reykjavík Energy is a cooperator and a major sponsor of the Icelandic Project.

Man’s struggle to use the natural resources to his own good is hard and never ending. Just outside of the harbour of Reykjavik is the island Videy. Although being a historic site and one of the corner stones in the formation of the city of Reykjavik the island is relatively untouched by modernity. Any one who visits the island experiences the harshness of Icelandic nature and human attempts to cope with it. Harnessing and using natural energy is a key factor in the Icelandic way of living and in the future prospects of the nation. We want artists to sense these characteristics and extremes of the site and the surrounding community in their own artistic terms. Each artist will be assigned a young art student to guide and assist him/her during the stay in Iceland.

This European project supports cooperation and networking between creative artists, the public, history and technology. Young people are active players in the project. A dialogue is established between different interested parties, scientists, historians and those living in the world of art. Citizens are addressed in an innovative way, with the help and combination of technology and creative art.

The project in Iceland will be in three parts:

1) The main exhibition will be on the island Videy, just outside of the harbour of Reykjavík. We also plan to use the headquarters of Reykjavik Energy where their exhibition spaces and conference room will be the “information bureau” for the project in Iceland. The international artist can create connection between these two places which are like symbols for modern times on the one hand and history on the other.

2) The second part is an education project where schoolchildren in Iceland and Spain will collaborate. They will learn about the use of geothermal energy in Iceland and about problems and solutions Spain is facing concerning water supplies. This will be lead by teachers and local artists. The results of this part of the project will be installed in the exhibition space of Reykjavik Energy.

3) Finally a curators workshop in Iceland in July 2006 will close “Sense in Place” Site Ations International 2005-2006, and will evaluate the overall project.

Location. The Island of Videy and The Headquarters of Reykjavik Energy,.

Objectives. To develop co-operation between artists and scientists and raise public awareness of energy issues in relation to human needs and the environment. To integrate Art, Science and History. To use Iceland as a location to experience the power of nature in different cultures.

Results: New connections between art, science and historic sites. Public awareness about the interaction between these fields. Development Workshops for Curators where they evaluate the outcomes of the Project and possible Future Plans.

Target Group: Students, the general public, artists and scholars.

Partners and sponsors: Association of Reykjavik Sculptors, Pokasjóður, Reykjavik Energy, Reykjavik Art Festival, The City of Reykjavik, CIA ( Center for Icelandic Art ), The Iceland Academy of the Arts, Elementary school Austurbæjarskóli.

Timetable: Artists workshops will begin on May 11th 2006. Education project takes place from February to May 2006. Both result in exhibitions that open on May 25th 2006. The public will be able to visit the working places and learn about the development of the project.

On east island looking south to Reykjavik
On east island looking south to Reykjavik

sponsors :
sponsors :