Sólfara

One of the most iconic pictures from Reyykjavik has to be Sólfara, Sun Voyager, and I wonder how many millions of photos have been taken of it? This sculpture by Jón Gunnar Árnason who was born in 1931, and died young of leukaemia in 1989, is on the path round Faxafói Bay, looking across the water to Mount Esja. The sculpture which recalls the Viking long-ships which brought the first permanent settlers t the island, whether that was the original concept of the artist or not, that is what the unknowing eye will see.

Jón Gunnar may have believed there was a historical link between Mongolia and Iceland, but whether that was a fantasy, a dream on his part, or whether there is some truth in it I haven’t be able to find out; however there does seem to be a genetic link between the horses of the Mongolian steppes and Icelandic horses.

If you visit Iceland and stand looking at Sólfar, you will have your won thoughts… that is the thing about art of any kind, whatever the intention of the artist/writer/painter/sculptor, the audience will understand the product and interpret it in their own way.