Priceless art work by the Catalonian artist Antoni Tàpies are on display at Kjarvalsstaðir, a local Reykjavík museum dedicated to Iceland’s renowned artist Jóhannes S. Kjarval, after a long journey across the Atlantic.

Tàpies passed away in February this year and was one of Spain’s most prestigious artists. The conditions he gave for the works of art to be exhibited in Iceland included that the works be transported in a moving van as they must be treated with great care.

Due to poor weather, the journey to Iceland proved to be longer than had been expected. The Smyril Line ferry, which travels  between Denmark the Faroe Islands and Iceland, was temporarily stuck in the Faroe Islands due to bad weather. After finally arriving in Seyðisfjörður in East Iceland, the van drove all the way to Reykjavík on the other side of the country.

The works arrived in Iceland a week late.

“Tàpies is in the same league with the greatest artists of the twentieth century. He has left a legacy that influences artists and the art of painting in the twentieth century,” Soffía Karlsdóttir, a PR officer for the National Gallery of Iceland, told Rúv.is.

He developed his own methods by mixing different materials together, such as sand, varnish, dirt and even blood.

The preparation period for the exhibition was a long one and included personal communication with the artist who has since passed away. He leaves behind him a legacy now available to Icelandic art lovers.

JB