Videy - Peace Tower

Viðey

Viðey Island is only few minutes away from the capital Reykjavík and the largest island of the Kollafjörður bay. It´s 1.7 km2 large with the highest point rising 32 meters above sea-level. Viðey is well vegetated and about 160 species of higher plants have been found on the island, the avifauna is highly interesting and over 30 species of breeding birds have been counted on this small island.

It has been proved by archaeological excavations that Viðey was inhabited in the 10th century and that in the 12th a church was built on the island. An Augustine monastery was established in 1225 and abolished in 1539 when the reformations had started in Iceland.

The first house or construction in Iceland made of stone and cement was built in Viðey the year 1755, called Viðeyjarstofa. The second oldest one still standing is the church, which was consecrated in 1774. Viðeys last inhabitant left in the year 1943.

Imagine – Peace Tower

The beacon of world peace, legendary artist, musician and peace advocate Yoko Ono and her son Sean Lennon inaugurated the “Imagine Peace Tower” in Viðey on John Lennon’s birthday the 9th of October 2007.

The Peace tower is composed of numbers of individual lights that join together and form a single beam. The strength, intensity and brilliance of the light tower continually changes as the air fluctuate with the prevailing weather and atmospheric conditions unique to Iceland.

The idea is that the tower is in the form of a wishing well. The word “Imagine Peace” are inscribed on the well in 24 world languages.

This artwork is dedicated to the memory of John Lennon. The Peace Tower is lit every year from October the 9th, John’s birthday till December 8th, the day he died.

“I hope the Imagine Peace Tower will give light to the strong wishes of World Peace from all corners of the planet and give encouragement, inspiration and a sense of solidarity in a world now filled with fear and confusion. Let us come together to realize a peaceful world.” Y.O.