Reykjavík Grapevine - 12.08.2016, Qupperneq 72

LÓABORATORIUM
Don't Ask
Nanna About
Icelandic
Lullabies
By NANNA DÍS ÁRNADÓTTIR
Hey Nanna,
What’s up with these Icelandic lul-
labies? They are creepy as fuck, my
mother-in-law translated one that
she was singing for my baby the other
day and honestly it does not seem
child-appropriate. Something about a
mother drowning a baby before elop-
ing? Can I get my mother-in-law to
stop or should I just let it slide?
- Helicopter Mom?
Hey Helicopter Mom?
It’s important for a child to develop a
healthy sense of fear of their parents and
the power they hold over their life, as
well as a wariness of the devastatingly
cruel world they’ve been born into.
I think you should thank your mother-
in-law for teaching your loinfruit about
how the world works, and anyway, you
can use it as a weapon later.
See your kid about to do something
you don’t approve of? Just hum a few
notes, raise your brow, allow their minds
to wander to the image of a mother mur-
dering her own child before jetting off
to make sweet sweet renegade love. It’s
good that they know they are a burden
and that they live at your mercy.
- Nanna
Hi Nanna,
My son BROKE my Iceland souvenir
mug! It was my favourite and it had
an Eyjafjallajökull pun on it, anyway,
I’m so sad! Do you know if I can get an-
other one? How should I punish him?
- Broken Mug
Hi Broken Mug,
THROW THE CHILD INTO EYJAFJAL-
LAJÖKULL AND SING “SOFÐU UNGA
ÁSTIN MÍN” AS HIS LIMP BODY LAYS
IN THE MOLTEN CRATER!
- Nanna
DON'T ASK
NANNA
MONSTER OF
THE MONTH
NEWS
The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 10 — 2016
70
A nissi is a dwarf elf, according
to foreign folklore. They are wise,
good-looking, somewhat reminis-
cent of light elves and unlike com-
mon ghosts. They are benevolent,
but playful and mischievous. They
are short in stature, with particular-
ly short legs, as is usual with dwarfs.
Seafarers generally believe in the
existence of the nissi and tell tales
of them. Icelandic seamen usually
describe them as being the size of
fully-grown men, which is under-
standable as they tend not to dis-
tinguish between them and ship
ghosts. Some describe these Icelan-
dic nissi as being protectors of ves-
sels and men, as is most often the
Hugleikur Dagson's drawings re-
flect the dark underbelly of the Ice-
landic character. It's not necesarily
his intention, but his vast popular-
ity proves that his work resonates
deeply with the population. Next
month he'll be making an addition
to his large and growing catalog of
books, with a compendium of his
Pop Hits frames. Here are a couple
of examples.
Nissi
Dwarf Elf
New Book
From
Iceland's Fav
Cartoonist
case, despite their occasional mis-
chievousness. Their protectiveness
can also be construed as concern
for their own wellbeing. They fear
risking their life at sea and abandon
doomed ships, as they can foretell
their fate. [...] Regardless of whether
the nissi are kin to fairies, elves or
ghosts, they are usually benevolent
and joyful and friends to seafarers.
They guide them in their fishing,
warn them of impending dangers
and predict changes in the weather.
Their merriment and laughter is
a sign of an impending storm, its
force in proportion to the intensity
of their laughter. If they appear sol-
emn and mournful, they predict
misfortune or death on board. Their
abandoning a ship, however, is a
sure sign of the ship being doomed
to destruction. Sigfús Sigfússon, Íslen-
zkar þjóðsögur og sagnir III, p. 294.
"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 cre-
ative cryptozoology. Find the book at bookstores, or order it online
at arngrimur.com.
TVEIR HRAFNAR listhús, Art Gallery
Baldursgata 12 101 Reykjavík (at the corner of Baldursgata and Nönnugata, facing Þrír Frakkar Restaurant)
Phone: +354 552 8822 +354 863 6860 +354 863 6885 art@tveirhrafnar.is www.tveirhrafnar.is
Opening hours: Thu-Fri 12pm - 5pm, Sat 1pm - 4pm and by appointment +354 863 6860
TVEIR HRAFNAR
listhús, Art Gallery
offers a range of artwork by
contemporary Icelandic artists
represented by the gallery, se-
lected works by acclaimed artists
and past Icelandic masters.
Represented artists:
GUÐBJÖRG LIND JÓNSDÓTTIR
HALLGRÍMUR HELGASON
HÚBERT NÓI JÓHANNESSON
JÓN ÓSKAR
ÓLI G. JÓHANNSSON
STEINUNN THÓRARINSDÓTTIR
Also works by:
HADDA FJÓLA REYKDAL
HULDA HÁKON
NÍNA TRYGGVADÓTTIR
KRISTJÁN DAVÍÐSSON
– among others
“Awesome experience”