Icelanders will celebrate 100 years of sovereignty on December 1st, 2018. Perlan is happy to announce that this special occasion will also be the opening day of a new exhibition at Perlan; Water in Icelandic nature.
Perlan & the Icelandic Museum of Natural History
Perlan works closely with the Icelandic Museum of Natural History, founded in 2007. Water in Icelandic nature will be the first exhibition they design and set up. Perlan is one of Reykjavík’s most iconic buildings and holds a special place in the minds of most citizens. It already houses a state-of-the-art exhibition called Wonders of Iceland It includes an indoor ice cave, a real-size cliff, and more spectacles. On December 1st, 2018, it will also be home to a first-class exhibition called Water in Icelandic Nature, as befits both the spectacular building and the exhibition itself.
1918 – a big year for Icelanders’ independence movement
The occasion is also opportune; Iceland’s centenary of sovereignty on December 1st, 2018. On that day in 1918, Iceland became a sovereign and free nation. Denmark then recognized Iceland as an independent nation, decades into Icelanders’ independence movement. Icelanders also got their own coat of arms and a national flag though they were still in a personal union with the Danish King until 1944.
The exhibition – Water in Icelandic Nature
When it came to choosing a theme for the Museum’s exhibition, water was a perfect fit. Water is the foundation of life on Earth. Furthermore, Iceland is exceptionally rich of water. The nation has in many ways, greatly depended on it ever since settlement. A few months into the development process, many ideas crystallized into a definite plan for a remarkable exhibition called Water in Icelandic Nature. There, you will learn to understand the role of water in our nature, both comprehensively and exploring its unique features and qualities. That way, you explore everything from molecules to lakes; from a single drop to weather phenomena; from microorganisms to the largest aquatic animals known. Interesting texts, live plants and animals, cutting-edge technology, interactive displays, and more spectacles will bring the magic of water alive in Perlan. This August 30th, Perlan and the Icelandic Museum of Natural History signed a contract regarding the opening of the exhibition on Perlan‘s second floor – December 1st, 2018.
From the left: Lilja Alfreðsdóttir, minister of education and culture; Hilmar J. Malmquist, curator of the Icelandic Museum of Natural History; and Gunnar Gunnarsson, director of Perlan. Photographer: Ragnar Th. Sigurðsson.
All photos: Ragnar Th. Sigurðsson