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Gender Equality Is Plan A
Picture this: conversations about women’s frustrations, aspirations, and hesitations flowing across kitchen tables all over the Arctic. Considering Arctic regions are often cut off from one another socially, geographically, and even linguistically, how can these stories be gathered to spark meaningful dialogue?…
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Akranes: The Great Unknown Across The Bay From Reykjavík
Sitting in the office on a rainy afternoon after several days reeking of the mundane, Hrefna and I take a solemn oath. We will take hold of our heartstrings, seek adventure, and head into the uncharted territory of the west. We will…
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Take A Moment: There’s More To Borgarnes Than Bónus And N1
Borganes is perhaps best known as the last‐chance gas and Bónus stop before the long drive onward to the remote Westfjords or the north of Iceland. Passing through, this diminutive town appears to have been dramatically sliced off just past the local…
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Glacier Lightbulbs & Art Carpets: DesignMarch Hits Seltjarnarnes
The sixth annual DesignMarch has stormed into town, drawing local and foreign artists to the capital city to show their creations. The festival, organised by the Icelandic Design Centre, is now in its sixth year and runs until March 13. If you…
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The Westman Islands Are Alive (Even In The Wintertime)
Hrefna and I stumble onto Strætó’s 53 bus at precisely 5:43 in the morning. Behind us, the Mjódd bus station looks as if it belongs in a ‘CSI’ murder scene. The bus driver breaks the morning silence with a booming exclamation: “Where…
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Getting In With The Whales: The Politics Of Research
Panellists from the Lífríki foundation conclude their presentation at the 2015 Arctic Circle conference. Hands start to shoot up, even before the rest of the audience finishes its polite clapping. Despite the numerous upcoming questions, no panellist looks fazed. Not only do…
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Opening Today: Dark Music Days Festival
It’s time to wipe away your (proverbial) emo-kid bangs, even if it’s still dim and dreary outside—because the Dark Music Days festival is here. Since 1980, this cosy festival has been providing much-needed light and inspiration during the darkest winter days, also…
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Give Trash Another Chance
Everyone wants to recycle. Especially in 2016. It was your New Year’s resolution, remember? Sure you do. But, it can get confusing. “Where do the jam jars go?” “Is there a special thing for cork?” “What do I do with all these…
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Opening Today: The First Exhibition Of Icelandic Art In Copenhagen
In 1920, over 160 works by five Icelandic artists reached the shores of Denmark. The occasion? The first joint exhibition of Icelandic art, held by the Danish-Icelandic Society, entitled ‘Fem islandske malere’ (“Five Icelandic Artists”). These works made such waves that seven…
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Happening Today: TEDxReykjavík On Feminism
In conjunction with Reykjavík City’s celebration of the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage, TEDxReykjavík presents talks by TEDxWomen, in addition to TED and TEDx talks by female speakers. Activist and queer feminist Ugla Stefanía Kristjönudóttir Jónsdóttir hosts the event—and she is well-suited…
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Between Xmas And NYE: Melt For Hot Yoga
While working as an artist in Iceland in 2009, yoga expert Lana Vogestad realized two things were missing in Reykjavík: hot yoga and stuff to do in the days between Christmas and New Year’s. Thus, an annual holiday hot yoga retreat tradition…
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Gifts Worth Giving: Aid With Unicef
The scene is familiar: fire crackling, Christmas music humming, Aunt Millie peeling wrapping paper off a garden gnome with an unnaturally coquettish expression. This year, why not put an end to this depressing Christmas tradition with UNICEF’s Inspired Gifts and donate supplies…
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Ongoing Now: ‘Where The Land Rises’ By Peter Holliday
The ground in the Reykjavík Museum of Photography is generally pretty steady, but don’t be surprised if it shakes a bit in the coming months. It’s probably just Scottish photographer Peter Holliday’s ‘Where the Land Rises’ exhibit, which explores the landscapes and…
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Happening Tonight: Anti-Christian Festival 2015
Iceland’s longest running metal festival, the Anti-Christian Festival, traces its roots all the way back to 2000 AD, when it was held to stick it to a nearby Christianity festival at Þingvellir—now it’s just sticking it to overly bland musical performances. This…
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Happening Tonight: Singapore Sling Album Release Show
Singapore Sling makes music that’s trippy, gritty and heroic all at once, the sort of tunes you could envision soundtracking sex scenes in David Lynch films—but better. Songs from their new album ‘PSYCH FUCK’ run from acid rock to heavy psych funk,…
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At Bæjarins Bestu, Hometown Hot Dog Heroes Brave The Storm
If you don’t know about this afternoon’s storm by now, then you’re in for an unwelcome weather surprise. We’re supposed to get some crazy winds here in Reykjavík (between 35m/s and 50m/s), to the point that folks are strongly encouraged to stay…
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Wintern Diaries #2: ‘Tis The Season
Winter is kind of scary, especially on this ungodly, windy, hella random rock in the middle of the ocean. Even moreso when even the sun hides its sweet face for months at a time. So after hearing horror stories about three-hour days,…
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Happening Tonight: Rokkjötnar
The semi-annual Rokkjötnar festival has had a tough time of 2015. Earlier in the year, the festival booked a line-up of badass bands and announced a much-talked-about show for September 5. Unfortunately, they had to cancel the whole shebang when headliners Mastodon…
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Ongoing Now: ‘Yearning For Space’
This exhibition features works by the late sculptors Ásmundur Sveinsson (1893-1982), Gerður Helgadóttir (1928-1975), Jón Gunnar Árnason (1931-1989), and Sigurjón Ólafsson (1908-1982), and posits modernist art as a reflection of technological and scientific explorations during the Space Race of the 1950s and…
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Ongoing Now: ‘Marginalia’
This exhibit turns our heads towards the oft-overlooked edges of pages, specifically to the marginalia surrounding Iceland’s most revered artist, twentieth-century Icelandic painter Jóhannes Sveinsson Kjarval (or: Kjarval) and his works. The chaos, variety, and sheer number of the marginal works on…
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Happening Tonight: Kött Grá Pjé & Forgotten Lores
Icelandic rapper Kött Grá Pje’s shows are just as good as his photos. And believe me, his photos are good (see above: he’s the one wearing pearls). Slide fucking legendary old-skool hip-hop group Forgotten Lores into the line-up (their first show in…
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Ongoing Now: ‘A Journalist And Her Camera: The Photography Of Vilborg Harðardóttir’
This photography exhibit showcases the work of the indefatigable Vilborg Harðardóttir (1935-2002). Known for her work as a photographer for the newspaper Þjóðviljinn, her role in Iceland’s Rauðsokkur (“Red Stockings”) feminist movement, and her time as an MP, Vilborg played a key…
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Some Iceland Things That Scare Americans
Letters that don’t look like our letters Maybe ‘ð’ and ‘þ’ both make sounds we can easily pronounce, but those symbols still look weird and alien, almost Lovecraftian. And make us uncomfortable. Like public nudity. The lack of Fritos Doritos are a…
