Reykjavík Grapevine - okt. 2021, Blaðsíða 2

First 06: Election Mess
07: One-Eyed Ó!inn
07: Helm Of Terror
11: Pandemic Festival
18: Mr Peanut Butter
Spills His Beans
20: Another Cycle Of
Sequences
It has to be said. Iceland is a small country. Its population is
an approximate 370,000. Its location (although convenient for
military strategists) is rugged and remote. It’s part of Europe,
but not really. The weather is, well, the weather. And it’s not
good. But Iceland is known worldwide for two things. (Three,
if you count the infamous collapse of the entire banking
system in 2008.) First, its breathtaking nature. And second,
the culture.
Icelanders have an old tradition of literature and this
has translated into a small island with an impressive record
of producing art. For example, one in ten Icelanders has
published a book. The most common Christmas gift in Iceland
is not the newest iPhone, but a freshly printed novel. Our music
has also managed to impact the global stage. Björk became a
superstar in the 90s and Sigur Rós dominated the indie scene
in the 00s. Today we boast Of Monsters and Men, Kaleo and
Ólafur Arnalds, and when it comes to classical music, we have
superstars like Víkingur Hei!ar, Anna "orvaldsdóttir and
Daníel Bjarnason. And let’s not forget Hildur Gu!nadóttir.
It’s safe to say that Iceland, although a small country,
doesn't really behave like one when it comes to culture. In that
essence, we feel like an empire.
The world has noticed Iceland through our art, how it is
influenced by our nature. This is an important interplay, that
spurs a fascination with the country, encouraging people to
visit our island and strengthen the culture further. In a coun-
try with a language that so few speak, it would otherwise be
borderline impossible to maintain such a high cultural level.
New research conducted by the Icelandic Confederation of
University Graduates (BHM) strongly suggests that culture
is in serious trouble. In this paper, it’s unveiled that cultural
industry wages have decreased by 40% since 2008. That year,
7,000 people were working in the industry but that number
has since contracted to around 5,000. In total, the salaries in
the culture industry were 55 billion ISK; now, it’s closer to 33
billion.
The music industry is shrinking rapidly—a trend for which
there are numerous complex explanations. But they are not
the only ones. The cliché about the poor artist hasn’t been
so evident in Iceland for years. The average pay for an artist,
through the government stipend system, is around 463,000
ISK. General workers get 613,000 ISK. When we look at univer-
sity-educated people, average salaries are even higher. And
keep in mind most artists have university degrees.
What does this mean? It’s a dangerous path. Smart artistic
people will probably not be interested in trapping themselves
in poverty in the name of their craft, and therefore choose to
engage in other sectors in the economy.
Fewer books will be published, fewer bands will be formed.
And fewer people around the world will hear about the cultural
strength of Iceland. This is an obvious loss for the economy.
But it’s also a huge loss for Icelanders, who have built their
own self-image on this strong cultural foundation.
Iceland will never become the centre of the earth when it
comes to industry, whether that be our banking system or our
fishing sector. But we can feel close to the centre of the world
when it comes to our strong culture and heritage.
The new government (once it’s formed) has a complicated
issue in front of them. If they do nothing, culture, like anything
else, will dissipate into a shadow of itself. And politicians will
quickly find out that speeches in their cocktail parties will not
only be poorly written, but hollow with a lack of interest.

Valur Grettisson
Editor-in-chief
John Pearson is a
Reykjavík resident
who combines journa-
ism with profes-
sional backgrounds
in music, broadcast-
ing, scuba diving,
engineering and
underwater photogra-
phy. He loves puns,
alliteration and lists
that have three things
in them.
Art Bicnick, the
Grapevine's video
magician and pho-
tographer, is himself
unphotographable.
This is due to the
fact that he consists
mainly of stardust; a
handy characteristic
that enables him to
float smoothly across
rocky volcanic ter-
rain, and through
apparently solid
objects.
Poll! is a hard-work-
ing journalist by day
and an enthusiastic
ball-catcher by
night. A four-year-old
dachshund mix with
an IQ of a five-year-
old human, Poll! has
been the o"cial
Chief Of Morale at
the Grapevine for
eight months and is
a regular contribu-
tor to the Grape-
vine Newscast on
YouTube. Woof.
Desirai Thompson
is an American
graduate who made
her second home in
Sweden before pick-
ing up and moving
to Iceland. Having
studied psychology
and human rights,
she’s now flexing her
journalistic muscle
at the Grapevine. She
spends her spare
time secretly watch-
ing reality TV and
dreaming of getting
a dog.
Catharine Fulton is a
writer who has been
involved with the
Grapevine for many
years—possibly too
many—serving as
journalist, food edi-
tor and news editor
before settling on
copy editor. When not
wielding her red pen
she's o#en found
opining on Canadian
politics (profession-
ally), and bitching
about Icelandic
politics (for fun).
Shuruthi Basappa is
one of Iceland's most
knowledgeable food-
ies. She's covered
local restaurants for
years and has also
been involved in vari-
ous food competi-
tions in Iceland, such
as Food & Fun and
more. By day, she
works as an architect
at Sei Studio.
Andie Sophia Fontaine
has lived in Iceland
since 1999 and has
been reporting since
2003. They were the
first foreign-born
member of the
Icelandic Parliament,
an experience they
recommend for
anyone who wants
to experience a
workplace where
colleagues work tire-
lessly to undermine
each other.
Reetta Huhta is a
Finnish student who
moved to Iceland
to become an au
pair, and decided
to never fully leave
the country. She
aspires to become a
journalist, and what
would be a better
place to start than
Grapevine? You can
probably spot her at
Ka" Vest, where she
spends most of her
free time.
Valur Grettisson is
an award-winning
journalist, author
and playwright. He
has been writing for
Icelandic media since
2005. He was also a
theatre critic and
one of the hosts of
the cultural program,
'Djöflaeyjan' on RÚV.
Valur is not to be
confused with the
dreadful football club
that bears the same
name.
22: Lamb Review
23: Vertical Is The New
Horizontal
28: Selfoss Food Court
Claims The Throne
COVER ART:
Photo by Art Bicnick.
On the cover: Gu$rún %r
Eyfjör$ Jóhannesdóttir—
better known by her
slightly snappier stage
name GDRN—brings The
Grapevine up to speed.
EDITORIAL
The Poverty Trap
SEQUENCES.IS 15.10 - 24.10.21SEQUENCES X - REAL TIME ART FESTIVAL
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Time Has Come 15 October - 24 October 2021