The North: a children’s exhibition
The North is an exhibition at the Nordic House Children’s Library that invites visitors into a creative and imaginative space inspired by northern nature, glaciers, and fairytale worlds. The North opens at the same time as the art exhibition Ripples: Shifting Realities in the Arctic, in the Hvelfing exhibition space, and the artists’ works can also be found on the walls in the children’s exhibition. The emphasis is on children and families being able to stay, create, and work artistically under the influence of the works in the exhibition.
The North is an exhibition at the Nordic House Children’s Library that invites young visitors into a creative and imaginative space, inspired by northern nature, glaciers and fairy-tale worlds. The North opens at the same time as the art exhibition Gárur: Transformations in the Arctic opens in the Hvelfinga exhibition space, and the artists’ works can also be found inside the children’s exhibition. The emphasis is on children and families being able to stay, create and work artistically under the influence of the works in the exhibition.
Works by children from Höfn in Hornarfjörður and Snæfellsbær, who live in the vicinity of glaciers, create the basic atmosphere of the exhibition and evoke connections with ice, light, silence, and the power of nature. Students at Hagaskóli have designed a fairytale world where visitors can step into another reality, including having a cozy time inside a tent in the spirit of the Sami nomads, where ideas about travel, shelter, and togetherness are allowed to flourish.
An ice cap and glacier atmosphere shapes the space and encourages guests to experience the north with all their senses: to play, imagine, create, and connect with both nature and art on their own terms.
Children, accompanied by adults, are invited to begin their visit in the Hvelfing exhibition space. At the reception, you can get a fun brochure that guides visitors through the exhibition. The brochure contains short educational texts along with questions and reflections that can be pondered together during the journey through the exhibition. The expedition ends in the children’s library, where the exhibition extends.
The walls of the space are partially covered with paper and visitors are encouraged to create their own fairy tale world and thereby have a hand in creating the exhibition. The children’s library becomes a living space where art and education about nature come together, and the exhibition grows during the exhibition. A cloud wall that encourages children to create their own clouds and hang them in the exhibition is also present, along with various creative games.
Guided tours for groups.
Free guided tours are offered for groups of children from preschool age to high school age. Guided tours can be adapted to the needs of the groups and connected to education about the Nordic countries. You can book the tours on our page nordichouse.is or by sending an email to hrafnhildur@nordichouse.is. All guided tours are free and can be offered in different languages.
Access to the children’s library is via stairs from the library or with the elevator from the atrium and through the Hvelfing exhibition space. More information on accessibility in The Nordic House can be found by clicking here.
Cover photo: “Ripples, Dreaming of Beach” by artist Ivínguak Stork Høegh
