The Unknown Bureaucrat

A bureaucrat from a completely different point of view - the sculpture by Magnús Tómasson from 1973 was originally carefully hidden in a backyard, because this location was intended to represent the hidden, unworldly existence of the bureaucrats who are in their small isolated corner of the Hide universe. It is now located directly on the Tjörnin town lake next to the town hall. The boulder is not only a metaphor for the burden of everyday life, but also throws a spotlight on the faceless officials, who for most people only appear as cogs in the gears, but never as human beings ...

The statue Óþekkti Embættismaðurinn, or the Unknown Official, is an iconic work of art in Reykjavik. It was created in 1994 by local sculptor Magnús Tómasson. The statue shows a man in a suit with a briefcase, whose upper body is covered with a large piece of Icelandic volcanic basalt. It is a satirical tribute to the country's numerous bureaucrats who serve their country and keep it running. The statue, originally placed in a backyard, has now been moved to a prominent location in front of the Iðnó and the City Hall.

A man with a huge boulder that stands in place of his head. A creation by the artist Magnús Tómasson from 1973: the Óþekkti Embættismaðurinn, the "unknown bureaucrat". The original location of this sculpture - hidden in a backyard - testifies to a subtle humor that addresses the often invisible and yet so present existence of bureaucracy. This game of hide-and-seek was ended when the unknown bureaucrat was given its current prominent place, where he silently observes the passers-by, his face hidden behind the massive rock. But this stone represents much more than a simple head replacement. It symbolizes the burdens that every bureaucrat carries with him every day: the pressure, the burden of decisions and the responsibility towards the citizens. At the same time, the sculpture challenges the viewer to ask themselves: Who is really hiding behind the stone? Who are these so-called 'bureaucrats'? Aren’t they also people with feelings, dreams and stories?