In Klaksvík, the sculpture Fiskimenn á fiskastykkinum (“Fishermen on the Fish-Drying Grounds”) honours the generations who built the town through fishing and fish processing. For decades, coastal fishing shaped both daily life and local identity. Therefore, the monument stands not only as art but also as a reminder of hard work and resilience.
Renowned Faroese artist Archibald Black developed the concept for the sculpture. Craftsman Ólavur Samson led and completed the project. The town unveiled the statue in 2006, one year after installing Maður við línustampi (“Man with a Line Tub”) at Stongunum. According to Samson, the original vision included placing a second statue farther south. Although that plan remains unrealised, the idea still lives on.
The sculpture stands on one of the last remaining traditional fish-drying grounds (fiskastykki) in Klaksvík. In the past, workers laid fish on wooden racks under the open sky to dry. This process formed a central part of the local economy. Even as late as 1963, people still processed dried fish at this exact location, above the area known as Norðborg.
At the unveiling ceremony, speakers described the statue as more than a work of art. Instead, they called it a visual memory of the past. They recalled images of fishermen walking out in rubber boots with an empty fish basket (skjátta) in hand. Later, they returned with the same basket filled with their catch. In this way, the sculpture captures both effort and reward.
Fish-drying grounds once covered large parts of Klaksvík. Areas where Betesda Church and the present parking lot now stand once served as busy workspaces. Merchant Ziska owned some of these grounds. At the time, these spaces symbolised perseverance and survival. The community depended on the sea and followed the rhythms of fishing life.
Today, Fiskimenn á fiskastykkinum quietly preserves this memory. The figures stand firm against wind and weather, much like the fishermen they represent. As a result, the sculpture reminds visitors of the struggle, pride, and determination that shaped Klaksvík.
Ultimately, the monument honours those who came before. At the same time, it encourages future generations to remember the values that built the town.
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