New sculpture coming to Urðartorg this summer
Sculptor Matthías Rúnar Sigurðsson is spending the summer working on a new piece that will take shape at Urðartorg in Úlfarsárdalur. Residents and visitors to the neighborhood can watch the artist create a piece that will become a defining feature of the neighborhood for years to come. The project is overseen by Reykjavík Art Museum, which manages public art for Reykjavík City and aligns with the city's policy of making art an accessible part of residents' daily lives.
Drawing from the world of legends
Matthías is known for distinctive sculptures that draw from the magical world of legends and often mythological themes. It will be exciting to see what magical world or creatures he carves from the gray basalt boulder that has been placed at Urðartorg.
"The square is called Urðartorg, so it might be natural to look to Urðr – the fate goddess who represents the [past] in Urðr, Verðandi and Skuld, but you could also imagine rock ptarmigan. It will be exciting for people to see what is hidden within the stone," Matthías says about the project. Residents and visitors will have the chance to watch the artist at work, following the process as the sculpture emerges and meeting Matthías on-site several days a week.
Part of shaping the neighborhood
“This is a rare opportunity to see an artist creating in public, with the work, the ideas, and the artist himself all open to discovery,” says Ólöf Kristín Sigurðardóttir, director of the Reykjavík Art Museum.
Urðartorg is intended to be a gathering place in a neighborhood that is taking shape in close proximity to nature and recreation areas in Úlfarsárdalur. The work is part of shaping the new neighborhood and helps strengthen culture and art in the city's public spaces.