The artwork "Rif" by Anna Júlía Friðbjörnsdóttir has been selected in a competition for an outdoor artwork in Vesturvin.
Last fall, artists were invited to participate in a preliminary selection for a closed competition for public artwork in Vesturvin at Héðinsreitur in the Vesturbær district of Reykjavík. A preliminary selection committee comprised of representatives from property owners, Festir ehf, Reykjavík Art Museum and SÍM selected three artists from submitted applications to participate in the final phase of the competition. Anna Júlía Friðbjörnsdóttir, Elín Hansdóttir and Finnur Arnar Arnarson developed proposals for the artwork. Selection criteria included how the artwork would enrich community life in Vesturvin, beautify or activate underutilized spaces, and create an engaging environment.
The selection committee stated in their decision: "...Rif is a sculpture standing on a circular base, featuring a bronze cast of a whale rib on a poured terrazzo disc. The artwork also functions as an interactive compass with cardinal directions engraved into the disc, allowing the bone to rotate as it's mounted on a bearing. The piece reflects its surroundings through references to marine biota, navigation and shipbuilding. The artwork is also participatory, allowing visitors and passersby in the Vesturvin courtyard to rotate the bone and interact with the piece.
The quality of the work lies in its simplicity while simultaneously offering profound references to the environment and nature. The whale bone used in the piece comes from a North Atlantic right whale, an endangered species. The artwork will be visible to everyone passing through the garden, which is a public space, and may inspire contemplation while becoming a landmark and interesting focal point in the Vesturvin environment. The colors of the terrazzo base will also add character to the area and be visually striking when viewed from surrounding homes. The artwork is also characteristic of Anna Júlía's career and represents an interesting step in the evolution of her artistic expression."
Installation of the "Rif" artwork in Vesturvin will begin this spring.