Reykjavík Grapevine - 27.06.2003, Blaðsíða 22

- the reykjavík grapevine -22 june 27th - july 10th, 2003 - the reykjavík grapevine - 23june 27th - july 10th, 2003
The darkness is smothering the
last rays of the sun, and the air is
still grey and damp after the day’s
rain. The scent of food from the
neighbour’s house tickles my nose
as I sneak out and carefully close
the door behind me. Cautiously I
look around and hope, no doubt in
vain, that no one has noticed. For
here, the walls have ears.
On a bench in a nearby park I sit
down and pick up a book that I casually
leaf through. I discern a soft thump as
someone sits down next to me. Slowly
and deliberately I put the book down
before I look up. Next to me sits Jón,
schoolmate and latest flame, but no
one can know of the latter, at least not
yet. This is the first time we’ve been
out together since we met at a club
13 hours ago. He gets up, and I walk
exactly 9 paces behind him until we are
in what seems a fairly secure area. We
then embrace and stare lovingly into
each others eyes as the sun slides into
the sea.
But this ridiculously romantic
moment is disturbed by a desperate
cry. We turn around, and see that there
stands Gunna.
She is my niece’s best friend and Jóns
ex, whom he broke up with 14 hours
earlier. She is also the neighbour of my
former boyfriend Siggi, whom I broke
up with two days after I discovered
that he slept with my best friend Dísa´s
stepmother on my birthday. Dísa, as it
happens, is also Jón´s half sister.
This is episode 1.129 of the soap
opera The Icelandic and the Beautiful,
which I, and all other Icelanders, are
starring in.
The Icelandic and the Beautiful is a
Reality TV program of sorts that I found
myself cast into without remembering
having ever auditioned and have, without
so far realising it, been participating
in since birth. The theme is typical
of the genre. The place, in this case,
is Iceland, a small community where
everyone knows each other. On the
face of it everything is as it should be,
and everyone is a friend to each other.
But underneath the surface there are
shady goings-on just as in the foreign
prototypes, and just as in the prototypes,
friendships don’t always run deep.
Here, everyone knows one another and
everyone is famous. To become a
celebrity in Iceland it is enough to work in
a fashionable nightclub or clothes store,
or better yet, become a petty criminal
or a bum always seen in the same spot,
which is the surest way to become a
Reykjavík Personality.
The reason is simple, it is a small
community and we’re all one big family
after having married our cousins for
hundreds of years. The first thing an
Icelander will ask another when making
initial contact is who the other’s parents
are or which school he went too, so he
can be accurately placed in the part he’s
playing on the set of the Opera. You can
always find some connection between
two people, even if they’ve never met
before; for example they may have both
gotten drunk with the same person on
different occasions, or they both went to
the same kindergarten together. In all
probability, one will be the father of the
child of the others wife, or at least the
best friend of the man who is.
In Iceland, the fact that everyone
has slept with everyone else
might be more a reflection
of a small population rather
than promiscuity, although
alcohol consumption
does play a part. It is not
uncommon to see girls
limping home on broken
heels or guys sneaking
back in their rumpled suits
the morning after the night
before. These individuals
often look despondent
rather than proud of
the previous evening’s
conquests, knowing that
within half an hour their
secret will no longer be a
secret. This is the greatest
downside of the Reykjavík
nightlife. If, due to despair,
inebriation or temporary
insanity, you happen to
bed someone you wish you
hadn’t, you can’t just sit back and hope
you’ll never meet them again. You know
you will, be it at the mall, on a bus, in
a bar or, perhaps inevitably, at a family
gathering. In any case, whoever the
person in question, it’s bound to be a
cousin, nephew, niece, brother, sister,
mom, dad, or even grandparent of one
of your friends. And as long as you’re a
player in the soap, the stories will keep
on accumulating, until your only way out
is to leave the country and send your
loved or not so loved ones a postcard
from Bolivia or wherever it is you had to
go to find the comfort of obscurity.
The actors in the show are at present
288.471 (last counted on December
31st), and the size of each ones role
varies, although most people get to
take centre stage at some point. The
leading actress in recent episodes has
been the charming Ingibjörg Sólrun,
former Mayor and recent contender for
the post of Prime Minister, who plays a
mysterious woman driven perhaps by
idealism, or perhaps just raw ambition.
Opposite her is the manly and somewhat
despotic Davið Oddson, current Prime
Minister. Can he still be redeemed, or
is he hopelessly corrupted by power?
Their love/hate relationship has been
watched closely, and people can’t wait
to see how things develop, whether
they will continue to be competitors or
whether other emotions will spring to
the surface and a tearstained ending will
be in store. In other leading roles you
will find the businessmen who carry the
whole country bulging out of their back
pockets, and who have played the bad
guy parts quite convincingly. Every now
and then, one of them is exposed and
moved from centre stage to keep the
crowd content, their role instantly being
filled by a new face but similar character.
The audience, of course, roots for the
poor, frustrated artist who, however, as
this is an ongoing series, never seems
to win. Instead he spends his days at
a coffeeshop, tormented and broken
by the state of the world and his own
despair. He shakes his head hopelessly
while sipping his change out of a coffee
cup, and remains in place as long as the
pretty waitress, unaware of his angst,
keeps giving him free refills.
Much work has been put into the
costumes of The Icelandic and the
Beautiful and high praise should be
reserved for the costume designers.
Most actors, in large and small
roles alike, are very tastefully, not to
mention expensively dressed. Great
care has been made to select the
appropriate uniform for each personality
type, whether they wear Armani or
trenchcoats, usually available in the
same shops and at similar prices.
Those who do not dress appropriately
are unlikely to get the bigger roles,
or indeed speaking parts at all. Even
international viewers comment on the
attention paid to dress regardless of
natural obstacles, and this is a source of
considerable pride to cast members, as
this proves it is indeed the greatest show
on Earth (per head, of course).
The Icelandic and the Beautiful looks
set to run for quite a few seasons still,
despite some people’s claims of lack
of variety. It has gone from modest
beginnings as word-of-mouth stories
and gossip, to books from calf skin
to print, and finally on to that greatest
media of them all, television. Today,
hardly anything happens that isn’t
photographed, printed, published or
televised. There are no secrets here,
where everyone is friends with each
other (or at least cousins), here, where
the walls have ears.
Bergþóra Snæbjörnsdóttir
ICELAND:
THE SOAP OPERA LISTINGS
N I G H T L I F E
Hafnarborg Art Gallery, Anniversary exhibition
from the museum collection.
Handverk og Hönnun, -13:00 to 17:00-
Exhibition of contemporary and traditional Icelandic
art and crafts.
National and University Library, Exhibition of
Lárus Sigurbjörnsson, the founder of the citys
documentation.
National Gallery of Iceland, Exhibition of
selected works by Icelandic artists from the
National Gallery’s collection.
Norræna Húsið, Nordic House, -12:00 to 17:
00- Exhibition; photos of people, culture and nature
from Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands
Saga Museum, -10:00 to 18:00- History face
to face, historical figures and major events in
Icelandic history from the settlers up to the
Reformation presented in a unique way. Admission
800 krónur.
Árbæjarsafn, Folk Museum, History of Reykjavik
Culture House, Images of Iceland - milestones in
cartography
Hafnarhúsið, Reykjavík Art Museum, Insight
into international contemporary art in Iceland
Hallgrímskirkja Church, -12:00- Lunch time
concert, Marteinn H. Friðriksson organ.
Kjarvalsstaðir Art Museum, Some of the works
of painter Jóhannes Kjarval.
Norræna húsið, Nordic House, The Big Nordic
Elephant Show. Children dressed up as elephants
especially welcome.
Reykjavik Museum of Photography, The Five
Elements. Photographs and etchings from French-
Vietnamese artist Claire Xuan.
Ásmundarsafn, Sculpture museum, The
Modern Man, works of popular sculptor Ásmundar
Sveinsson, who believed sculpture should be part
of the urban environment.
Einar Jónsson Sculpture Museum, The works
of Iceland´s first modern sculptor, whose works
are partly based on Icelandic folklore.
Night
Leikhúskjallarinn, Dj’s Gullfoss & Geysir.
Celtic Cross, Band Spilafíklar and Troubadour
Garðar Garðarsson play.
Coffee shop 11, DJ Andri Karate.
Hverfisbar, DJ Benni.
Café 22, DJ Bjössi.
Kaffibarinn, DJ KGB.
Prikið, DJ Þórhallur.
Café Sólon, DJ Þröstur 3000. Not to be missed.
Thorvaldsen bar, DJ’s Hlynur & Daddi Diskó.
Café Victor, DJ’s of the house, 80’s and 90’s
music.
Amsterdam, Stóri Björn (Big Bear) Cover band
Gaukur á Stöng, The pop group Írafár, Iceland´s
eurovision contest contribution, performes.
Grand Rokk, The rock band Ensími plays.
Kráin 73, Troubadour Ingi Valur
Sunday, July 6
Both Day and Night
Austurvöllur out door exhibition, Earth from
Above. Aerial Photographs by Yann Arthus-
Bertrand.
Café Sólon, Exhibiton - Mosaic mirrors by Rósa.
Day
Reðursafnið, Phallological Museum, A fine
penis and penis related selection from various
mammals. First human specimen still awaited.
Hafnarborg Art Gallery, Anniversary exhibition
from the museum collection.
Hallgrímskirkja Church, -20:00- Classical organ
concerts.
Handverk og Hönnun, -13:00 to 17:00-
Exhibition of contemporary and traditional Icelandic
art and crafts.
National and University Library, Exhibition of
Lárus Sigurbjörnsson, the founder of the citys
documentation.
National Gallery of Iceland, Exhibition of
selected works by Icelandic artists from the
National Gallery’s collection.
Norræna Húsið, Nordic House, -12:00 to 17:
00- Exhibition; photos of people, culture and nature
from Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands
Saga Museum, -10:00 to 18:00- History face
to face, historical figures and major events in
Icelandic history from the settlers up to the
Reformation presented in a unique way. Admission
800 krónur.
Árbæjarsafn, Folk Museum, History of Reykjavik
Culture House, Images of Iceland - milestones in
cartography
Hafnarhúsið, Reykjavík Art Museum, Insight
into international contemporary art in Iceland
Kjarvalsstaðir Art Museum, Some of the works
of painter Jóhannes Kjarval.
Norræna húsið, Nordic House, The Big Nordic
Elephant Show. Children dressed up as elephants
especially welcome.
Reykjavik Museum of Photography, The Five
Elements. Photographs and etchings from French-
Vietnamese artist Claire Xuan.
Ásmundarsafn, Sculpture museum, The
Modern Man, works of popular sculptor Ásmundar
Sveinsson, who believed sculpture should be part
of the urban environment.
Einar Jónsson Sculpture Museum, The works
of Iceland´s first modern sculptor, whose works
are partly based on Icelandic folklore.
Monday, July 7
Both Da y and Night
Austurvöllur out door exhibition, Earth from
Above. Aerial Photographs by Yann Arthus-
Bertrand.
Café Sólon, Exhibiton - Mosaic mirrors by Rósa.
Day
Reðursafnið, Phallological Museum, A fine
penis and penis related selection from various
mammals. First human specimen still awaited.
Hafnarborg Art Gallery, Anniversary exhibition
from the museum collection.
Handverk og Hönnun, -13:00 to 17:00-
Exhibition of contemporary and traditional Icelandic
art and crafts.
National and University Library, Exhibition of
Lárus Sigurbjörnsson, the founder of the citys
documentation.
National Gallery of Iceland, Exhibition of
selected works by Icelandic artists from the
National Gallery’s collection.
Norræna Húsið, Nordic House, -12:00 to 17:
00- Exhibition; photos of people, culture and nature
Will Davíð and Solla finally express their true feel-
ings for one another, or will they keep bickering?
To become a celebrity in Iceland it is enough to work in
a fashionable nightclub or clothes store, or better yet,
become a petty criminal or a bum always seen in the
same spot,
Grandrokk, Ensími.
Saturday night July 5th
Ensimi was formed in 1996 by Jon
Orn Arnarson and Hrafn Thoroddsen.
The debut album “Kafbatamusik” was
released in October 1998 by Dennis
Records. The following year Ensimi
was voted Best Newcomer and “Atari”
the Song of the Year at the Icelandic
Music Awards. In 1999 Steve Albini,
who’s best known for his work with
Nirvana and The Pixies, expressed his
interest in working with the band. As a
result Albini came to Iceland and engi-
neered and recorded half of Ensimi’s
second album “BMX” which came out
in the fall of 1999.
Ensimi recently signed a new deal with
Hitt Records and released a new album
titled “Ensimi” in the fall of 2002. The
album was produced and recorded
by the band in the newly built Ensimi
studio. Ensimi has been performing in
Iceland, Scandinavia and the U.S and
has played with bands such as: Jon
Spencer Blues Explosion, Sparta and
Ian Brown. The band has been on a full-
scale tour since its 2002 release.
Reykjavík art mu-
seum, Kjarvalsstaðir,
New times in Icelan-
dic Photography
June 20th - August 17th
Last year, a joint project of the Reykja-
vik Art Museum, The National Museum
of Iceland and the Moscow House of
Photography resulted in an exhibition
entitled Icelandic Photography - Retro-
spective that was presented in Mos-
cow in November 2002. The exhibition
showed on the one hand, life in Iceland
around 1900 through a selection of
the most treasured photographs of the
Department of Photography and Prints
in the National Museum in Iceland, and
on the other it presented an overview
of what is happening in Icelandic pho-
tography today. A selection of some
of the best contemporary Icelandic
photography was chosen for this and
in all, works by 28 photographers
and artists were selected for this
presentation, showing almost 130
photographs. It was decided that this
selection should also be made avail-
able to a museum audience in Iceland;
thus, these works form the core of this
exhibition at Kjarvalsstadir.
It is the objective of this exhibition
not to limit the medium but to show
works that are extremely different
in both style and perspective. here
you find works of photographers that
have renewed the old imagery of the
landscape tradition, reflectiong the
land and light with a knowledgeable
sensitivity, but there are also others
that handle nature in a more sombre
and poetic way.
Scenes from next episode of Iceland: The Soap Opera