It’s been a busy week at Grapevine HQ, but we just printed our latest issue, which you can find all over Reykjavík! Now, we can let loose and go see some interesting stuff. Here’s what caught our eyes this week:
Today (March 6), at 17:00, the legendary Ryoji Ikeda opens the exhibition data-verse at BERG Contemporary. The Japanese visual and sound artist is known for complex, detailed presentations of data, based in his desire to understand the science of the natural world, sourcing information from institutions such as NASA and The Human Genome Project, then processing it using self-made mathematical equations and presenting his extensive findings alongside self-composed music.
Afterwards, for the concert hungry, you can take your pick from the three concerts happening at Harpa tonight, which seem to suit vastly different crowds: HAM + Apparat Organ Quartet’s HAMPARAT return to Harpa after a successful showing last year, a full tribute performance of Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours, or the visiting American bass-baritone singer Christopher Grundy.
Other than these, chamber music group Cauda Collective hosts a release concert at Mengi, beginning at 20:00. At 21:00, OPEN (Ánanaust 11) celebrates the work of 10 artists in their “Örugg eyðing vídjóverka,” or “Safe description of video work.” They will take this title literally, as all works will only be shown once, then (safely) deleted. Also at 21:00, musicians Spacestation, LiteFun, and Lucas Joshua will take the Stúdentakjallarinn stage.
Tomorrow (Saturday, March 7), artist Finnur Arnar’s exhibition Dómur opens at Ásmundarsafn, culminating his 10-week stay at the museum for the ongoing series Wonderland. Stay is meant literally here, by the way — the artist has lived at the museum for 10 weeks, painting the domed ceiling, and working on other projects. Is your curiosity piqued? You can read Iryna Zubenko’s interview with the artist here.
In the evening, Mengi hosts a video release for Skátar’s “Dauðadjús og skyggni ágætt” at 20:00, their first new work since 2009. Playing live afterwards will be Cacksakkah, glupsk, and Guðir hins nýja tíma. At Kaffibarinn, In3dee is this week’s Straumur performance, at 21:00.
Looking for something else? Just scroll down. Got an event? Add it to the calendar at events.grapevine.is, or go there to check out what’s already happening around town.
Ongoing Exhibition: Marzieh Amiri — Life as Disobedience
Runs until March 28 — SIND Gallery — Free entry
The Iceland-based, Iranian visual artist Marzieh Amiri is currently in the second year of a Master of Fine Arts at the Iceland University of Arts, creating works that render intricate patterns alongside exploration of the female body. Marzieh informs her art through her lived experience, explaining in her artist’s statement: “The narrative of what we women have endured, expressed through a series of connected and disconnected images, is part of my revolution — a revolution I began in my homeland and now carry with me here, inviting you to join me.” ISH
Exhibition Opening: Weronika Balcerak & Lukas Bury — Some Honest Persons
March 7 — 15:00 — Hafnarborg — Free entry
Artists Weronika Balcerak & Lukas Bury found their exhibition title in a classified ad from 1991, which read: “Some honest persons from Poland seeks a seasonal work in summer 91, maybe in a forestry.” The two form the artist duo Austur-Íslendingar, a twist on the term Vestur-Íslendingar, used to describe Icelanders who immigrated to North America. In their multimedia show, they explore Poland and Iceland’s history, especially showing how trade formed a bond between the two earlier than many believe. ISH
Runs until March 14 — Reykjavik City Library (Grófin) — Free entry
“How to future?” reads the defining question for 2026’s Future Festival. Exploring the technology and the environment of the present, alongside future generations and our dreams for them, this festival is a time to be together and imagine possibilities. Five installations will be up for the duration of the festival, along with workshops throughout the two weeks. This weekend, you can make a “sleeping bag” for your phone to help you put it away, participate in a discussion about society without ageism, and attend a seed planting and singing workshop. Don’t miss it! ISH
Upprásin: Lindy Lin, Splitting Tongues, and Jelena Ćirić
March 10 — 20:00 — Harpa (Kaldalón) — 2.000 ISK
The monthly grassroots music celebration continues to present some of the best in music. This Tuesday, you can see Lindy Lin, Splitting Tongues, and Jelena Ćirić. Curious about Lindy Lin? Good thing journalist Jóhannes Bjarki Bjarkason spoke to her ahead of this week’s performance. Curious about Jelena Ćirić? Good thing journalist Ish Sveinsson Houle spoke to her this past October. Curious about Splitting Tongues? We are too — guess we’ll all have to go to Upprásin to find out more. ISH
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