Outdoor artwork Pollar unveiled at Borgartún 41
The outdoor artwork Pollar by artist Elísabet Brynhildardóttir was formally unveiled during a ceremony at Borgartún 41, a new residential development on the former bus depot site in Reykjavík’s Laugarnes neighborhood.
Pollar was selected through a competition for an outdoor artwork in Borgartún. Three visual artists were invited to participate in a closed competition that emphasized artistic quality, the artwork’s relationship to the site and public engagement.
The artwork consists of three stainless steel sculptures resembling puddles standing upright on edge. Fragments of the neighborhood’s history float in the puddles as illustrations engraved on their surfaces. These include a lock of Hallgerður’s hair, wooden debris from the ghost ship Jamestown and a rag from the laundry basket of the unfortunate washerwoman who drowned in Fúlutjarnarlækur. The sculptures’ highly polished surfaces act as mirrors, reflecting sunlight to create ever-changing images as the seasons progress and the sun’s path shifts.
Elísabet Brynhildardóttir (born in 1983) lives and works in Reykjavík. Her practice spans a variety of media, primarily illustration and sculpture. Her work explores our relationship with the material world and its limits, with a strong focus on impermanence and time. Pollar is an engaging and accessible addition to the diverse collection of artwork on municipal land.
Pollar brings an inviting, accessible artwork to Reykjavík’s urban spaces, enhancing the site and encouraging people to gather, be curious and engage in conversation.
