Reykjavík Grapevine - 26.08.2016, Síða 62

LÓABORATORIUM HAS GONE ROGUE. MEANWHILE, A PICTURE OF SIR CAPITALISM IN A HIGH-SPEED CHASE
SMJÖRFLUGA REGALES US WITH TALES OF THE MOROSE
Don't Ask
Nanna About
Icelanic Rap
By Nanna Dís Árnadóttir
Hey Nanna,
I get the impression Icelanders are
atheists, is there a reason for this?
Why have so many turned away from
the Christian faith?
- The Light
Hey The Light,
Who gave you the impression that Ice-
landers are a bunch of atheists? I’ll have
you know we have a very healthy attitude
to “doing” religion in exchange for expen-
sive gifts at confirmation time, having a
house to get married in and a reason to
force our infants into ridiculous fifty year
old white knit dresses then eating bread
rolls stuffed with asparagus, shrimp and
a metric ton of mayonnaise.
Not me though, because I actually am
an atheist. I can’t tell you why anyone
else is an atheist in Iceland because we
can’t speak telepathically to one another
and I am no representation of the popu-
lous. My own reasons are pretty typical,
you know, logic, science, the rejection of
misogyny and prejudice. But by Thor’s
Heavy Hammer I can’t quit Christmas.
Take away the God stuff it’s straight up
the dopest time of year. Quality Streets
and National Lampoon’s? Laufabrauð
and Christmas Carols? Books and nasty
Yule Lads?
Wait what was the question?
- Nanna
––»»π««––
Hi Nanna,
I love the energetic, passionate musi-
cal style of feminist rap group Reyk-
javíkurdætur. What are your thoughts
on the group? I am not sure if they are
still recruiting, but would you ever
consider rapping on stage with them at
one of their live shows?
– RVKDTR Fan
Hey RVKDTR Fan,
Yeah whatevs like, those girls can’t rec-
ognise talent, I auditioned for them but
they had no time for greatness and that’s
on them.
Do you want to ask Nanna a question? Go ahead, but continue at your peril.
Shoot her an email on nanna.arnadottir(at)gmail.com or tweet her using
@NannaArnadottir
DON'T ASK
NANNA
MONSTER OF
THE MONTH
The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 13 — 2016
62
Finngálkn is a creature mentioned
in numerous ancient tales and leg-
ends, including the Saga of Örvar-
Oddr, the Saga of Hjalmther, Njal’s
Saga and many more. The descrip-
tions therein depict them as large
animals that are extremely vicious
and dangerous, sometimes carry-
ing a sword in their claws. Occa-
sionally they seem to be envisioned
as coming from the sea. They are
described as having the upper
body of a human and the lower
body of an animal. [...] More recent
tales tell of their origin and claim
a considerably less formidable size
for them. (A finngálkn is, on occa-
sion, said to be a sphinx.) Accord-
ing to later tales, the creature has
a fox for a mother and a cat for a
father. Others say that roosters
Finngálkn
Sphinx
will sometimes lay eggs and that
a finngálkn emerges when such an
egg is hatched.
A finngálkn is wary of humans
but dangerous to livestock. Some
say that a fox is its father and a cat
its mother. A finngálkn is faster
than any other animal, and no
firearms can do it harm unless the
sign of the cross is first made over
the barrel and a silver button used
for a bullet. A finngálkn is worse
than any other creature sent to
haunt men. Icelandic annals tell of
an incident in 1383 where a rooster
laid an egg. In order to prevent the
creature known as finngálkn from
hatching from the egg, the rooster
and its egg were burned. But when
the egg burst open in the flames,
observers noted that the hatch-
ling seemed to be worm-shaped. A
finngálkn has a deadly, fatal gaze.
Source: Sigfús Sigfússon, Íslenskar
þjóðsögur og sagnir VI, p. 60-61.
"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”