Wall art by Juan in Hafnarfjörður
Enjoying culture and arts can have a good physical and mental effect
The artist Juan has painted a mural on the wall at Strandgata 4. The piece is a collage of selected public art located in Hafnarfjörður. The mural is therefore not only a new temporary wall of art in a public space, which has a positive effect on the environment and enlivens it, but it also draws attention to other works of art in public space in town. On the wall there is a QR code that is linked to an information page about public artworks that are located in many parts of Hafnarfjörður. The idea is that this beautiful wall will spark the interest of people and bypassers in art in the local area of Hafnarfjörður, but research shows that enjoying culture and art can have a good physical and mental effect.
Juan has attracted deserved attention for his murals
At the end of 2021, the artist Juan ( Juan Pictures Art ) contacted the municipality about whether the town had a building on which a beautiful mural could be placed. In recent years, Juan has attracted attention for his murals, both indoors and in public spaces, all over the country. The Hafnarfjörður Culture and Tourism Committee welcomed the initiative and asked Juan to come up with an idea for a mural on the wall at Strandgata 4, on which various murals have previously been painted.
Hafnarfjörður is the town of numerous public artworks
Because Hafnarfjörður is a town full of public art, which can be viewed at utilistaverk.hafnarborg.is, Juan submitted a sketch for a collage with selected sculptures in town. All artists of the original works of art or their descendants were contacted and all gave their kind permission to use pictures of their works on the mural and receive heartfelt thanks for their part. The mural shows a QR code linked to the Hafnarborg Culture and Art Center's website for public art under their supervision or ownership so that people who visit the center of Hafnarfjörður can access information and the map directly on the web and enjoy walking around town and seeing the many public artworks around the town. Residents are encouraged to take a walk in search for artworks, stop by and allow the art to enrich the spirit.
The mural shows the following works of art and monuments:
- Dýrkun (Worship) by Ásmundur Sveinsson
- Skjól fyrir vinda (Shelter for Winds) by Barbara Tieaho
- Gullna hliðið (The Golden Gate) by Eliza Thoenen-Steinle
- Memorial to the First Lutheran Church by Hartmut Wolf or Lupus
- Tröll (Troll) by Páll of Húsafell
- Hafnarfjarðartilbrigði (Hafnarfjörður Variations) by Sebastian
- Slæmt samband (Bad Connection) by Sonja Renard
- Untitled by Sólveig Baldursdóttir
- Hundrað ára einsemd (Hundred Years of Solitude) and untitled by Sverrir Ólafsson
- Vaktin (The Watch) by Timo Solis
The mural was unveiled by Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir, mayor, last week, but the mural has already attracted deserved attention while Juan worked on it. Juan will likely continue to decorate the walls in Hafnarfjörður, as the culture and tourism committee has already suggested that the wall on the Hafnarfjörður Library will be decorated next.
The artist Juan with the mayor, the project manager of culture and marketing, the staff of Hafnarborg, and representatives of the culture and tourism committee. From left Hólmar Hólm, Andri Ómarsson, Juan, Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir, Aldís Arnardóttir, Guðbjörg Oddný Jónasdóttir and Sigurður Þ. Ragnarsson.