Reykjavík Grapevine - Aug 2022, Page 20

i8 Grandi
Marshallhúsið
Grandagarður 20
101 Reykjavík
Iceland
info@i8.is
+354 551 3666
www.i8.is
Alicja Kwade
In Relation to the Sun,
to Sequences of Events,
i8 Grandi — 22.01.22–22.12.22
09.06.–18.09.2022
Open daily
10h00–17h00
artmuseum.is
#reykjavikartmuseum
Kjarvalsstaðir
Flókagata 24
105 Reykjavík
+354 411 6400
Stitches
and
Threads
Agnes Ársælsdóttir, Anna Líndal, Anna Andrea Winther,
Eirún Sigurðardóttir, Erla Þórarinsdóttir, Guðrún Bergsdóttir,
G.Erla – Guðrún Erla Geirsdóttir, Guðný Rósa Ingimarsdóttir,
James Merry, Kristinn G. Harðarson, Kristín Gunnlaugsdóttir,
Loji Höskuldsson, Petra Hjartardóttir, Rósa Sigrún Jónsdóttir
Weaving
Through Time
‘A Rainbow Thread’ serves to remind us
that queer people have always played a
role in history
Words: Josie Anne Gaitens Photos: Emma Ledbetter
“Who belongs to the Icelan-
dic nation?” the opening page
of ‘A Rainbow Thread’ asks. The
pamphlet is the physical version
of a guide created by the National
Museum of Iceland in collaboration
with Samtökin '78, The National
Queer Organisation of Iceland. In
seeking to answer that first ques-
tion, it offers a queer reading of the
museum’s permenant exhibition,
‘Making of a Nation—Heritage and
History in Iceland.’
“It opened in 2018, for the forti-
eth anniversary of Samtökin '78,”
Anna Leif Auðar Elídóttir, who is
in charge of the
museum’s educa-
tion programme,
explains. “It was
an idea that came
from the grass-
roots of the organ-
isation.”
Strong
language
‘A R a i n b o w
T h r e a d ,’ w h i c h
in addition to the
booklet is available as a free down-
loadable audio guide, seeks to chal-
lenge the incorrect assumption that
queer identities are only a feature
of modern life. With thoughtful
and questioning text, the guide
encourages visitors to re-examine
the artefacts and exhibits in front of
them from a post-heteronormative
perspective.
“It’s interesting because the
National Museum is an institu-
tion—it’s part of the establish-
ment,” Anna says. “But the guide
uses very courageous words.”
“It uses the F-word,” her
col league, Communications
M a n a g e r S t e i n d ó r G u n n a r
Steindórsson, adds. “It struck me
a little bit because I wasn’t expect-
ing it. But I thought, ‘wow, this is
great.’ This is progress.”
“I’m quite proud of it.” Anna says
with a smile. “It’s a conversation
starter.”
“Silence”
The guide traces Icelandic
queer history from the beginning
of settlement, right up to present
day. However, there
are significant and
notable absences,
and unlike other
readings of the
past, ‘A Rainbow
Thread’ confronts
them head on.
A section of the
guide is simply
called “Silence,” and it discusses
how a lack of research and repre-
sentation mean that little is known
about queer lives and identities
between the middle ages and the
19th century.
“There were centuries where the
creators of the guide didn’t have
anything to talk about,” Anna says.
“But they didn’t want to leave a
gap, they wanted to acknowledge
the silence. It also speaks to the
absence of queerness as a decision
of governments in some countries.”
A gay national hero?
Also mentioned in the guide is
the fact that some evidence suggests
that one of the first curators of the
museum, Sigurður Guðmundsson,
was himself queer. Sigurður was a
hugely influential figure in Icelan-
dic culture, and is responsible for
designing the Icelandic national
costume. Despite his respected
position in society, there were
always rumours that he was effemi-
nate and possibly attracted to men.
“They don’t have definite proof
that he was gay,” Steindór says. “But
there are signs. He sent drawings of
a penis in a letter to his friend, for
instance. He was into dresses and
known for not being a particularly
masculine man—he was in touch
with his feminine side.”
“We don’t know for sure how
he identified,” Anna adds. “This is
based on rumours. Perhaps he was
just ahead of his time,” she laughs.
Starting a conversation
Both Anna and Steindór are
delighted with the response they
have received to the exhibition so
far, and hope to see the project
continue and develop over time.
“This is just the start of some-
thing,” Steindór says enthusias-
tically. “We will probably add to
it—hopefully Samtökin '78 will
come back to us with fresh ideas
and updates.”
“But we are also looking forward
to other kinds of collaboration,”
adds Anna. “Not only with people
from this organisation but from
different groups in society too.”
“It's very important,” she contin-
ues. “And that’s what museums are
for: to be a part of the community
that we live in. A neutral place for
different conversations.”
Thready or not
Flying the flag for queer rights
20The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 08— 2022
“That’s what
museums are
for: to be a
part of the
community
that we live in”
Art