Atlantica - 01.03.2001, Qupperneq 55

A T L A N T I C A 53A T L A N T I C A 53
What’s the most frustrating thing about being an Icelander
or living in Iceland and what makes you most proud/happy
to live here?
The most frustrating thing for me is that I can’t take a drive any-
where and find myself in another country. The thing I’m most
happy about, as an Icelander, is that Iceland is pretty up-to-date and
the groups that are the most progressive can always find a voice.
If someone wanted to get some sense of the Icelanders
from reading one book, looking at one picture, watching
one film, eating one meal and listening to one CD, what
would these be and why?
The book would be Brennunjálssaga, because it is a testament to
our roots which most Icelanders still feel in touch with in some way
or another. I think a lot of Icelanders will respond to paintings by
Þórarinn B. Þorláksson depicting the sublime in Icelandic nature.
The film, Children of Nature, by director Fridrik Thór, shows a lot of
traits I would associate with Icelanders... things like pride, inde-
pendence, stubbornness and optimism. Go to any hladbord (buffet)
and think “home-made variety... hmm”. For the CD – The Pottþétt
(compilations) series would probably give you an idea of the com-
mon consensus.
Where would you go in Reykjavík if you wanted to have a
quiet moment, maybe do a bit of soul-searching?
I would take a stroll around Thingholtin (an old residential area
downtown) or down to the Sun-vessel (sculpture) by the sea.
Name your favourite cinema, pool and café, and say why.
My favourite cinema is Háskólabío, for its good auditoriums, and
also the film club, Filmundur. I don’t have a favourite pool. My
favourite café is Kaffibarinn for good coffee, excellent food and my
friends that go there a lot.
I quite often see you marching about town with your head-
phones on. What are you listening to at the moment?
Eat Static, Señor Coconut plays Kraftwerk, Candiria and the Black
Coffee single by the All Saints.
Who, in your opinion, are the most significant living
artists in Iceland. Where can their work be found?
Björk Gudmundsdóttir, and you can find her work in any record
store, just about anywhere. Then I would have to say Sigurdur
Gudmundsson. You can find books on him and by him in book
stores, or see his work in galleries if you are lucky. Mostly in
Europe, I think.
If you had a holodeck at home, like on the Starship
Enterprise, and you could summon a cast of six charac-
ters, dead or alive, for a party at your place, who would
they be?
PARTY!! Wow. Hmm, I better think of people who would be of
the party kind. Cleopatra, Jesus, Earnest Hemmingway,
Marilyn Monroe, Blondie, William S. Burroughs, and last but
not least Jennifer Lopez. However the party wouldn’t be much
without my friends so I would have to invite every one I know
also.
In your opinion, which cultures have the most influence
on the Icelanders and how does this manifest itself?
British and US influences are predominant and most apparent
in fashion and music.
If you could build your own summerhouse anywhere on
this island, where would it be?
In the highlands in the east.
What do you make of the Icelandic music scene at the
moment? Which of the new bands do you rate?
The Icelandic music scene is on the rise again after being
dominated by DJ’s in the nineties. A lot of new interesting
bands have surfaced recently. I would like to mention new-
comers Singapore Sling and their sleazy sixties-underground
true rock’n roll, and Fidel’s heavy atmospheric soundscapes.
Phew... remind me to never mess with the Inquisition – úlfur©.
Compiled by Jennifer McCormack
The Atlantica
INQUISITION
Standing up bravely to this edition’s Inquisition, is
Úlfur Chakka, frontman of rock-funk-dance hybrid,
Stjörnukisi, and student at the Icelandic Academy of
Art. In true rock’n roll form, the band have been
kicked out of their rehearsal studio, and are setting
up their own instead. This unfortunately puts back
their album release date, but you can probably pick
up any of their three ep’s released to date in any
decent record store downtown.
P
H
O
TO
P
Á
LL
S
TE
FÁ
N
S
S
O
N
i-site ❍
45-53 ATL 2/01 i-site cmsx 26/2/01 10:48 am Page 53