Sun Voyager

"Reykjavík's most famous sculpture, the Sun Traveler, was designed in the mid-1980s to commemorate the bicentenary of the city's constitution. Its author, Jón Gunnar Árnason, created an elegant steel sculpture that resembles a Viking ship, honoring the history of Iceland and its maritime tradition. The sculptor also intended that every person who arrived in Reykjavík, seeing this metal ship, would imagine where they could travel with it. Currently, the Sun Traveler (also called Sólfar), is located north of Reykjavík, on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. However, the original location designed by the Icelandic artist was very different: west of the city, on a hill near Lake Tjörnin, to represent the journey that the king star makes daily from east to west. However, as this location was much further from the center of Reykjavík, authorities asked Jón Gunnar to change the location of the sculpture to its current location, on the seafront and with the mountains as a backdrop. The artist accepted the request without hesitation and, thanks to him, today the Sun Traveler is one of the most photographed places in Reykjavík, both for the structure itself and the landscape in its background: on clear days you can even see the Reykjavík Peninsula. Snaefellnes."

"Sun Voyager is a sculpture located in Reykjavik, Iceland. It was created by Icelandic artist Jon Gunnar Arnason and was unveiled in 1990. The sculpture is made of stainless steel and resembles a Viking ship, but with a more abstract and modern design. Sun Voyager is located on the waterfront in Reykjavik, facing the ocean. It is intended to represent the promise of undiscovered territory, a dream of hope and progress, and an ode to the sun. The sculpture has become a popular tourist attraction and a symbol of the city of Reykjavik. Despite its name, Sun Voyager has no functional purpose as a ship and was not designed to be sailed. Instead, it is a purely artistic creation, meant to inspire contemplation and reflection. The sculpture has been used as a backdrop in many films and music videos, and it is also a popular spot for photographers and tourists."

"This gleaming steel sculpture on Reykjavík‘s splendid waterfront resembles a Viking long-ship is the ‘Sólfarið’ or ‘The Sun Voyager.’ The artist Jón Gunnar Arnason created the striking landmark. It is a common misunderstanding that Sun Voyager is a Viking ship. It is quite understandable that many tourists think this when travelling in Iceland. This was not the original intention. It is a dream boat and an ode to the sun. It represents the promise of undiscovered territory and a dream of hope, progress and freedom. In 1986, the district association funded a competition for an outdoor sculpture to celebrate Reykjavík‘s 200 year anniversary. The Sun Voyager was the winning piece."