Reykjavík Grapevine - 06.05.2016, Page 62

ArtisAn BAkery
& Coffee House
Open everyday 6.30 - 21.00
Laugavegur 36 · 101 reykjavik
LÓABRATORIUM BY LÓA HJÁLMTÝSDÓTTIR
SMJÖRFLUGA
Don't Ask Nanna
About Puffins
By NANNA DÍS ÁRNADÓTTIR
Dear Nanna,
Are there eagles in Iceland?
What types of birds are common?
Birder
Dear Birder,
I've got no fucking clue about eagles.
I've seen some swans, a few ducks. Probably
seagulls though none that really stand out.
And puffins of course, though I have never
seen an honest to God real-life puffin.
Like I know they exist in the way that I
imagine English people know badgers exist,
but I have never actually seen any. So for
all I know it's all puffin propaganda
propped up by the tourism industry. -Nanna
Hey Nanna,
Is it true that Icelanders eat the
hearts of puffins raw when they catch them?
I saw Gordon Ramsey do it on TV but I'm
curious whether it's really a thing?
Power Puffin Girl
Hey Power Puffin Girl,
If it was on TV then it must be true. -Nanna
Dear Nanna,
Why do Icelanders eat puffin?
They are innocent and beautiful!
Save Puffin!
Dear Save Puffin,
Why do we eat anything? My baby ate a rock
today. Why? Who knows.
Perhaps Icelanders eat puffins because they
are innocent and beautiful and people want to
consume the puffins’ souls and life essences?
Perhaps they just think it makes for a mar-
vellous stew? Whatever the reason you must
contend with your lack of control of other
people's lives and accept how little you and
your opinions matter. -Nanna
MORE NANNA: gpv.is/NANNA
DON'T ASK NANNA
The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 5 — 2016
62
Elves are the noblest and most
distinguished of all earthly crea-
tures. Their similarity to us hu-
mans is such that when one hears
of light-elves—that most gentle
breed of elves—one can not help
but think that they are our long-
dead kinsmen and forefathers,
reborn in this world on a higher
plane of existence. Such is their
resemblance to men, yet they are
more perfect. According to Snor-
ri Sturluson's ‘Prose Edda’, the
elves live in an abode in heaven
called Álfheim: "There dwell the
folk that are called light-elves;
but the dark-elves dwell down
in the earth, and they are unlike
the light-elves in appearance, but
much more so in deeds. The light-
elves are fairer than the sun to
look upon, but the dark-elves are
blacker than pitch."
Sigfús Sigfússon, Íslenzkar
þjóðsögur og sagnir IV, bls 9
Ljósálfur
Light Elf
"Monster of the
Month" is a spin off
of 'The Museum of
Hidden Beings', by artist Arngrímur Sigurðsson. He
delved into Iceland´s mythological history, taking
creature encounters from across the centuries and
bringing them to life through painting in an act of
creative cryptozoology. Find the book at book-
stores, or order it online at arngrimur.com.