Flatus Lifir

Local Legend

At the foot of Esja along Vesturlandsvegur, bold roadside letters spell Flatus Lífir—a playful twist on a famous Latin phrase that surprises travelers leaving Reykjavík and has become one of the capital area's most unexpected and memorable roadside artworks.

Placed beside one of the main routes leading out of Reykjavík, Flatus Lífir transforms an ordinary stretch of road into a moment of curiosity and humor. The artwork reinterprets the classical Latin phrase Ars longa, vita brevis by replacing ars (“art”) with flatus, creating a surprising and playful message that reflects Iceland’s tradition of combining language, landscape, and wit in public art. As travelers pass the installation on their way toward West Iceland and Þingvellir, the piece becomes part of the journey itself rather than something experienced only in a museum setting.