Reykjavík Grapevine - 25.10.2019, Blaðsíða 16

Reykjavík Grapevine - 25.10.2019, Blaðsíða 16
“The photographers gave their work for the exhibition because they [be- lieve it’s] an important exhibition about the dangers to the environment in Iceland,” says Ólafur Sveinsson of his first exhibition, ‘You don’t know what you have until it’s gone.’ “One tends to only see the landscape and not the animals that are living in Iceland. We are trying to bring it together to see it as one being.” The exhibition is co-presented by curator Ólafur Sveinsson, Landvernd, the Nordic House, and Framtí!arland- i! (Future Iceland) to mark the 50th anniversary of Landvernd. As an NGO, Landvernd has been instrumental in land protection strategies that have impacted policy-making, education, and land-use decisions for the dura- tion of its existence. The exhibition features 73 phot- graphs of Icelandic wildlife and land- scapes, an interactive information screen, and three films—two of which were created by Ólafur. The films have English subtitles, so that “foreigners can enjoy this exhibition just as much as Icelanders,” he says. “It's an inter- esting view on Icelandic nature that even Icelanders don't see everyday. It makes a difference in a positive way.” Caring for Kárahnjúkar The landscape photos included in the exhibition, Ólafur explains, “are either from places that have been destroyed or places that a new power plant could destroy.” Each photograph is accom- panied by a description indicating if it has disappeared or if it is currently under threat. One such photograph is of Hálslón, the reservoir from the Kárahnjúkar power plant erected in the east high- lands over a decade ago. “There was a big fight about the Kárahnjúkar power plant from 2002 until it [began op- erating] in 2007,” Ólafur recalls. “It's a strange thing. When I came to the highlands by Kárahnjúkar in 2006 to make a documentary about the area, I saw a hell of a lot of vegetation, dif- ferent than we see elsewhere in the country. I had been working as a tour guide for 13 summers but I had never been there. What surprised me the most was that almost no one knew that there was so much life there. It was not only desert and quietness. It was also teeming with life. One month later they started collecting water in Hálslón and destroyed the area. It was one of the biggest natural treasures we had in Iceland. People just didn’t real- ize because almost no one knew it.” The decision to focus the exhibi- tion on at-risk landscapes and wildlife offers visitors an opportunity to wit- ness nature that is otherwise difficult to access in person. “You really don't realise what has been lost if you haven't been there—like Hálslón before it was flooded,” Ólafur shares. “It was such an amazing place. In the three short films from the exhibition, you can see how it looked before it was destroyed. I am trying to do what I can as a way to get people to think about what has been lost.” Mapping power “People think that now Landsvirkjun are not building power plants any- where because of this fight,” says Óla- fur. One of the exhibition’s co-present- ers, Framtí!arlandi! (Future Iceland) has created an interactive information screen to dispel this myth. The screen features a map for proposed, under de- velopment, and complete power plant projects throughout the country. It also plots areas that have received pro- tection from power plant development. One such example is the proposed Hvalá power plant in the Westfjords. Culture Over The Hill Art advocates land and wildlife protection on Landvernd’s 50th anniversary Art Exhibition The exhibition ‘You don’t know what you have until it’s gone’ will run until November 17th at the Nordic House. 16The Reykjavík Grapevine Issue 19— 2019 That feeling when you forget your hat on the walk to work Words: a rawlings Photos: Art Bicnick Joy, Sustainability & Honesty Kaupvangur 17 - Egilsstadir tel: +354-471-2450 Happy Hour all days 15 - 19 Best selection of Icelandic Beers in the East Private rooms & dorms Homemade cakes & soups, vegan & friendly food I T ' S N O T T R U E S K A F T F E L L Elvar Már Kjartansson & L i tt e n Ny s t rOm : O p e n i n g 2 1 . 0 9 . 2 0 1 9 1 6 h - 1 8 h 2 1 . 0 9 - 2 8 . 1 0 2 0 1 9 Skaftfell - Center for Visual Art, Sey!isfjör!ur www.skaftfell . is · mail@skaftfell . info

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