The Musician (Erling Blöndal Bengtsson), first exhibited in plaster at Den Nordiske in Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, in 1974.
The City of Reykjavík purchased the work, which they had cast in bronze. The bronze originally stood in Hagatorg square, from 1977. At that time, Háskólabíó was Iceland’s main concert hall and home to the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra. When the Symphony changed venues, it could be said they took The Musician with them, and as of September 4, 2014 the work stands outside Reykjavik’s new Harpa Concert Hall.
The cellist Erling Blöndal Bengtsson (1932-2012) posed for the statue. While Erling sat, the two artists agreed he would play while Ólöf sculpted. Ólöf said that she especially enjoyed working with him, as not all sitters are able to give so much in return.
The color images below are stills from an 8mm film shot to document the creative process of The Musician in Copenhagen in 1974.
