The Record Player

The Icelandic Museum of Rock ‘n’ Roll has, since 2014, portrayed the history of Icelandic pop and rock music from 1830 to the present. Guests can dive deep into the history of artists and listen to their music as well as try out some instruments themselves. In order to make the Museum of Rock ‘n’ Roll more immersive and engaging the Museum’s curators asked Gagarin to design a new interactive installation.

The Gagarin team — many of whom are great music lovers and instrumentalists — welcomed this assignment warm-heartedly and developed a new installation ‘The Record Player’ in close collaboration with the Museum’s curators.

The new installation takes over the largest wall of the rock exhibition spanning over 12 meters in width and has become a centerpiece in the Museum. Three interactive stands are placed in front of the large projection enabling the visitor to control the information they see and hear.

These Record Players allow visitors to develop numerous timelines with information about individual musicians who have made their mark on Iceland’s music history. They can dive deep into the history of each artist and/or band by placing an LP record onto the player. In doing so an audio/visual timeline emerges from the wall with texts, photographs, videos and music-making the installation a multilayered, immersive experience.

Many people know Icelandic artists such as The Sugarcubes, Björk, Sigur Rós and Of Monsters and Men. What’s their story? What’s their background? And how did these bands become so successful coming from the tiny population of Iceland? At the Icelandic Museum of Rock ‘n’ Roll visitors can walk through the history of Icelandic pop and rock music throughout the years. Guests can dive deeper into the history of each artist and listen to their music with the help of the Record Player.

Project Area

80 sqm