The Sun Voyager, Steel sculpture at Sæbraut waterfront, Reykjavik, Iceland
The Sun Voyager is a steel sculpture at the Sæbraut waterfront in Reykjavík, Iceland. The piece consists of curved and welded ribs that lean toward the water and resemble the skeleton structure of a ship hull.
Jón Gunnar Árnason designed this sculpture for the city's bicentennial celebration in 1986, but installation took place in 1990. The artist died shortly after winning the competition, so others carried out the construction.
The name refers to a vessel of light from an old legend about adventure and longing for distant horizons. Visitors use the surrounding area to walk along the coast and connect the form with the mountains and open water behind it.
The piece stands freely accessible along the coastal path and can be viewed in any weather. The ground is paved and fairly level, making it easier to approach with a wheelchair or stroller.
At low sun angles the ribs cast narrow shadows on the ground and shift their lines with each season. On clear winter nights the surface reflects the northern lights in faint green or violet tones.
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