Sólfar (Sun Voyager), Reykjavik

Sólfar (Sun Voyager), Reykjavik (must see)

Sun Voyager is a sculpture crafted by the artist Jón Gunnar Árnason (1931-1989) and is situated alongside the Sæbraut road in Reykjavík. This artistic creation is often characterized as a representation of either a dreamboat or an homage to the sun. Jón Gunnar Árnason's intention behind this sculpture was to convey a sense of promise associated with uncharted territories, a dream symbolizing hope, progress, and freedom.

In 1986, the west district association of Reykjavík decided to sponsor a competition to commission a new outdoor sculpture in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the city. Jón Gunnar's Sun Voyager emerged as the winning design in the competition, leading to the creation of a scaled-up aluminum model, which was later presented to the city for enlargement. The full-sized Sun Voyager was officially unveiled on Sæbraut, coinciding with the birthday of Reykjavík on August 18, 1990.

The sculpture is crafted from high-quality stainless steel and is positioned upon a circle formed by granite slabs, encircled by a material known as "town-hall concrete." Its construction meticulously followed Jón Gunnar Árnason's detailed full-scale drawing of the Sun Voyager and was supervised by the artist Kristinn E. Hrafnsson, who served as Jón Gunnar's assistant.

Why You Should Visit:
Great subject for photographs as it provides a nice vantage point to look out into the waters and think of very deep things.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Reykjavik. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Sólfar (Sun Voyager) on Map

Sight Name: Sólfar (Sun Voyager)
Sight Location: Reykjavik, Iceland (See walking tours in Reykjavik)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark

Walking Tours in Reykjavik, Iceland

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