Icelandic statue Voyage at Kingston upon Hull
the recently erected (2006) IcelandicStatue ‘Voyage’, dedicated to the millennia of trade between the two countries. A replica statue stands at Vyk on the south coast of Iceland, similarly looking out to sea. Hull’s relationship with Iceland is particularly ofnote in that the distances and marine conditions for such trips in the medieval period were particularly hazardous with the available ships, but that did not deter merchants from Hull making the voyage. They formed part of a complex trading pattern which saw luxury goods such as wine shipped from France via Hull to Iceland who in return exported fish to us. The trade was so extensivethat the 15 th century in Iceland became known as ‘the English Age’. Hull City Council was supported by the British and Icelandic governments, private sector companies in Hull, and the British Embassy in Iceland to commission two artworks. The first, called Voyage, gazes across the Humber from Victoria Pier. Its eyes follow the direction Hull trawlers would take on their way to Iceland. The sculpture is made from brass on a basalt rock plinth, and was unveiled by Icelandic President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson. The second, called For, faces the wind and rain-buffeted Icelandic coastline, at a small community called Vik. It looks across the cold north Atlantic towards Hull. And the unveiling of the Vik monument, made from aluminium, was attended by Icelandic Foreign Minister Valgerour Sverrisdottir, with Lord Mayor Trevor Larsen leading a party of delegates from Hull. Sculptress Steinnun Thorarinsdottir said she was inspired by people who made their living on the sea, and the loved ones who waited on shore, longing for their return.
Size: 3423px × 5165px
Location: Victoria pier, Kingston upon Hull, East Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom
Photo credit: © David Jones / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: east, england, fish, hull, iceland, icelandic, kingston, sculpture, statue, steinnun, thorarinsdottir, trade, travel, voyage, vyk, wine, yorkshire
