Grapevine Events: Matthildur Fundraiser, Press Photography Awards, HAKK Opening, And More

The sun is shining, there’s a new issue of the Grapevine out — what could be better?

Tonight (April 10), at 17:00, artist Telma Har opens her exhibition Sjúkleg streita, or Traumatic tension, at SIND Gallery. Exploring her personal experiences of stress, especially the stress and burden that come from caregiving, the artist works with collage, digital media, and sculpture to create expressive, often colourful works. At 20:00, classically-trained pianist & indie musician Ásthildur Ákadóttir and guitarist & composer Brynjar Daðason play with their new project — ghostglitter — alongside Jdubs, the project of synth designer & producer Joshua Wilkinson, at Mengi. Later, at 21:00, dance music duo KUSK & Óviti play Stúdentakjallarinn with up-and-coming electronic artist Lára.

On Saturday, a few exhibition openings are happening about town — you can read all about those down below! But, as is the progression of life and art, there are also exhibition closings this weekend: from 13:00 to 17:00 is your last chance to see the exhibition H.f. Radio — The Day Radio Became Reality at Loftskeytastöðin. This March marked 100 years since the very first radio broadcast in Iceland, and this exhibition is in the very space from which the broadcast came. A retrospective on the history of radio broadcasting in Iceland, visitors can see vintage technology and learn about the early days of radio.

In the evening, grassroots festival Hátíðni hosts their first “Smátíðni” of the year at 19:30! Artists Einakróna, Andervel, & Chum n Bass will take the stage in the performance that will fundraise for the festival, which has been happening in Borðeyri since 2019. Later, Icelandic synth legend Hermigervill will be Straumur‘s guest this week at Kaffibarinn. The show starts at 21:30, and is free, as always!

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.

Group exhibition — Press Photographs of the Year

Opens April 11 — 15:00 — Reykjavík Museum of Photography — Free entry

To mark the achievement of press photographers this year, awards for six categories of photography will be handed out for the year 2025: news, daily life, sports, portrait, environment, editorial, and series. After the awards, the photographs will remain in an exhibition until May 17, allowing all to see and celebrate the skill of our industry’s press photographers. ISH

Studio Brynjar & Veronika — Constructed Landscape

Opens April 11 — 16:00 — H,A,K,K Gallery — Free entry

In this exhibition, the designers blur the lines between furniture and sculpture. Studio Brynjar & Veronika combine the versatile yet fast-spreading western balsam poplar with the centuries-old, environmentally friendly method of heat-treating the wood. Pulling inspiration and material from Icelandic nature, they present proof that artists and builders can use wood sourced in Iceland. ISH

Þórdís Erla Zoëga — Domestic Sci-fi

Opens April 11 — 17:00 — BERG Contemporary — Free entry

We all began our year with the artist Þórdís Erla Zoëga as she took over more than 500 billboards in town with her work Sólarhringur in this year’s Auglýsingahlé. Now, you can catch her work at BERG in her solo-show Domestic Sci-fi. As the artist explores the effects of technology on our natural world, she works with AI, processing AI images and predicted outcomes, alongside a work continuing her investigation of the effects of blue light on the circadian rhythm. ISH

Matthildur Fest Fundraiser

April 12 — 15:00 to 23:00 — Bíó Paradís  — Free to enter, but donate!

If you haven’t heard of Matthildur Skaðaminnkun, they’re a local harm-reduction organisation that sets up stations at raves and festivals, providing literally life-saving offerings, such as test strips and Narcan, alongside advocacy and education. To help the Matthildur volunteers keep doing what they’re doing, a fundraising event for them will take over Bíó Paradís with an art fair, performances, an auction, DJs, and more! To learn more about them, check out matthildurskadaminnkun.is. ISH