Located on the seafront in Reykjavik, Iceland, The Sun Voyager sculpture by Jón Gunnar Árnason is an ode to the sun and undiscovered territory. It was created by the artist to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Reykjavik and unveiled on the city’s birthday in 1990. The aluminum ship seems to float on air as it reaches out to the sea. Many observers mistake the piece as a representation of a Viking ship, however the artist made it very clear before he died that this impression is incorrect. In an interview published in 1988, just prior to his death, Gunnar explained his concept. “The pattern is a magical symbol of healing…the trident is an international symbol for the sun, and the symbol of the sun is present in all magic.
