the art of weather

Library of Water (Vatnasafn) is an art installation in the town of Stykkisholmur on the western coast of Iceland. It is an observatory style room in the former library where constellations of glacial water from Iceland's glaciers fill glass columns. Natural light refracts through the columns to create a kind of lighthouse where the light plays with words inscribed on the floor that describe the state of the weather or the mood of the viewer. Through the columns watery visions of the town outside can be seen. It is a brilliant fusion of environment, art and community; both an art installation and a space for community reflection and activity from writers' readings to yoga classes.

The installation's catchphrase 'You are the weather' is more alarmingly true than it first seems. It was reported in the media recently that it really does rain more at weekends, because all the pollution builds up during the week and brings a downpour on Sunday. Our polluting lifestyles that cause the bad weather. And Our Lady of Knock is reported to have told the Irish, among other things, that if they prayed more the weather would improve.