Grapevine Events: Exhibition Openings, Exhibition Closings, Nordic Film Days, HáRún

There’s been a sharp uptick in our use of the word “gluggaveður” inside Grapevine HQ — it feels like we’ve just dove headfirst into fall. But no matter the cold, we’ve got some recommendations for (mostly) indoor events that will make you feel warm inside.

On Saturday at 15:00, Kristín Gunnlaugsdóttir’s mid-career retrospective exhibition Ósagt opens at Kjarvalsstaðir. Then, at 17:00, Logi Bjarnason’s Black Spot opens at the MHR Sculpture Garden.

Faroese comedian David Valley’s History of the Faroe Islands (Please don’t laugh) sold out two nights at Reykjavík Fringe this year, so it’s back for another night and will take the Tjarnarbíó stage at 17:00. The comedian promises, simply, “Don’t worry—it’s more boring than it sounds.”

Later in the evening, saxophonist Tumi Árnason and drummer Magnús Trygvason Eliassen perform as a duo at Mengi at 20:00. The two promise works from their albums, in addition to some unreleased material.

Saturday will also mark VAKA Festival’s closing party, designed by artist Björn Loki Björnsson of Krot & Krass and FÚSK, with food provided by Hamraborg’s Krónikan. Afterwards, they promise a big party — complete with a folk music DJ set.

By the end of the weekend, we’ll see the closing of many art exhibitions. This weekend is your last chance to see: Elsa Jónsdóttir’s Lend an Ear (Hafnarhús), Ragnar Kjartansson’s World Light – The Life and Death of an Artist (Hafnarhús), Group exhibition Elements (Hafnarhús), Inuk Silis Høegh’s The Green Land (National Gallery of Iceland), Jelena Antic & Skúli Arason’s Scars of the Earth (SÍM Barn, Korpúlfsstaðir), Mala Iqbal & Angela Dufresne’s Where I End, We Begin (Gallery Underpass), and Lilja Birgisdóttir’s The Moment You Look Away (Þula).

Got an event? Add it to the calendar at events.grapevine.is, or check out what’s already happening around town.

Nordic Film Days

September 18-22 — Bíó Paradís — Individual tickets for sale

From September 18 to 22, Bíó Paradís will screen all nominees for the Nordic Council Film Prize. The nominations range in subject matter, style, and genre, from Runar Runarsson’s exploration of young-adult friendships and grief in Ljósbrot, to the serious accumulation of archival footage in Israel Palestine On Swedish Television 1958-1989. You can see this year’s best Nordic films, all at your favourite cinema. ISH

VITRUM — Johanna Seelemann

September 19 — 17:00 — H,A,K,K Gallery — Free

A collaborative project between designer Johanna Seelemann, glassblower Anders Vange, and Hildiberg Lighting studio, the designer has created unique sculptures of repurposed glass. In the creation process, the designer allowed for “atmospheric inclusions” of air bubbles and warping, which are usually regarded as imperfections, to develop the individuality of the pieces. ISH

RVKTÓBERFEST

September 19 — 16:00-20:00 — RVK Brúggfélagið Tónabíó — Buy some beer!

If you’re itching for a proper autumnal celebration of beer, look no further than Reykjavík Brewery’s RVKTÓBERFEST! From 16:00 to 20:00, they’ll be celebrating the release of three new beers, alongside performances from DJ Plötusnúður, Lúðrasveit Hafnarfjarðar, and LÁTÚN. There will be pretzels and currywurst! And, if you show up in costume, your first beer is free! But if you can’t make it tonight, don’t fret. They’ll celebrate RVKTÓBERFEST again next Friday. ISH

Straumur #47: HáRún

September 20 — 21:00 — Kaffibarinn — Free

Coming off the release of her recent single “Sigli með,” indie pop/folk musician HáRún is this week’s performer for Straumur’s ongoing concert series. Inspired by Icelandic nature, HáRún releases dreamy songs with sincere lyrics. If you’re ready for autumn, HáRún’s performance at Kaffibarinn is sure to be cosy. ISH

yuyu matcha Pop-Up

September 21 — 13:00 — Höfuðstöðin — Buy some matcha!

Recently, journalist Iryna Zubenko went on a quest to find the best matcha in town. Now, there’s a new contenter: yuyu matcha. Three friends, all with a connection to Japan, wanted to bring authentic Japanese matcha to Reykjavík. So they did! In their first pop-up, they will bring high-quality matcha to Höfuðstöðin. Stay tuned for future pop-ups and the launch of their matcha distribution here.