Reykjavík Grapevine - aug 2022, Qupperneq 15
Valdís Steinarsdóttir
Valdís Steinarsdóttir is an experimen-
tal designer from Reykjavík. Winner of
the 2020 Formex Nova award—Nor-
dic Designer of the Year—Valdís is
best known for her projects repur-
posing organic materials. Among her
most acknowledged works are food
packaging made of animal skin and
bones, and jelly clothing made of
natural liquid material. Valdís loves
all things design, so it’s no wonder
her perfect day includes many of the
cultural and artistic delights Reykja-
vik has to offer.
Slow morning pancakes
I usually start my mornings by drink-
ing coffee in bed and answering
emails. On days where I have more
free time I love to treat myself by
making pancakes and baking Kry-
ddbrauð (a traditional spiced bread,
usually sweet) in the morning.
Time to work
After breakfast, I go to my studio
at Gasstöðin, which is at Hlemmur.
Gasstöðin has become a creative
space for a versatile mix of creatives.
My studio is on the top floor and on
the first floor there’s a kitchen where
we sometimes eat lunch together,
talk about design, gossip and drink
way too much coffee.
Exhibition break
I would go to Reykjavík Art Museum
Kjarvalsstaðir to have a nice lunch
and see the current exhibition Spor
og Þrærðir, or Stitches and Threads—a
display of embroidery works by con-
temporary Icelandic artists.
On a perfect afternoon, I would
have nothing else on my agenda than
to jump between different art and de-
sign exhibitions all day. I would, for ex-
ample, start by going to Hönnunarsaf-
nið to check out the Sund exhibition
on the Icelandic bathing culture, then
Ásmundarsalur (a tiny gallery paired
with one of the Reykjavík Roasters
coffee shops), and end downtown by
going to Hafnarhúsið and small urban
gallery, i8.
Dance-off and natural wine
I would love to go out to dinner with
all my friends to Matur og Drykkur. Af-
terwards, we would all go to Gamla Bíó
were Bjartar Sveiflur would be playing.
Half of the group would go on stage
to play and the other half would start
a dance battle on the floor. When the
boys are done playing we’d all go to
Mikki Refur for a winding down drink.
Hot tub relax
I’d like to end my perfect day in a
swimming pool, preferably Árbæjar-
laug—but not to swim. I just go to
relax in a hot tub to reflect on the
day’s events.
Perfect Day
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