The Reykjavík Arts Festival, held from May 30 to June 14, 2025, with events extending through fall, features a multisensory approach that includes specially created scents by Fischersund, a family enterprise led by Sigur Rós singer Jónsi and his artist sisters. Highlights include a greenhouse installation filled with hay and fog, a scent concert, and major exhibitions at the National Gallery of Iceland: one for Björk with installations based on three songs, and another for James Merry showcasing masks he made for Björk. A survey of German conceptualist Karin Sander is also on view at the Reykjavík Art Museum.
This matters because the festival exemplifies how contemporary art festivals are expanding beyond traditional visual and auditory experiences to engage other senses, like smell, creating immersive, poetic environments. It also underscores Iceland's unique cultural identity—ethereal and surreal—while drawing international attention through collaborations with globally recognized artists like Björk, and highlighting the work of both local and international figures such as Jónsi, James Merry, and Karin Sander.