Author Archives: nannadis

New changes on our website

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We’d like to congratulate Vík Prjónsdóttir, who won in our category Designer of the Year for the Nordic Start Up Awards, we are very honoured to have been nominated.

The Snoop-Around team is interested in expanding its operations in the Nordic countries in the future, so we just say, on with Nordic Start up Awards, maybe we will win next time around!

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At this juncture we wanted to mention a few changes on our website, now the reader can filter the content, such as articles that have appeared in Grapevine or specific events that we have covered. We have added a new page: MISC there we follow up on interesting things, happenings and events in Iceland, all from interviewing people for a short review up to covering events and festivals from a-z.

Sincerely, your Snoop-Around team.




Nordic Startup Awards

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Snoop-Around is now a finalist nominated for the Nordic Startup Awards, which has the main purpose to consolidate the Scandinavian scene on the map, as a great innovation center in Europe. We are now competing in the top three finals, for designer of the year awards. Winning companies and startups of each category will then compete at the grand finale in Copenhagen in December 2012, where the Nordic countries will be competing to be crowned startup kings and queens of the Nordic region.

We are thankful for the attention, the voters who chose us and ultimately being a finalist and now we wait for the results, that will be announced very soon. We will keep you updated, our dear readers. Go Snoop-Around, Scandinavian style!

startupawards.co/#finalists

Fanney Sizemore

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We visited freelance graphic designer and illustrator Fanney Sizemore. She greeted us with warmth, pastries and coffee in her loft apartment in 101 Reykjavík. Her cat wandered around us and we took a look around the cosy apartment, noticing quite a lot of her own work on the walls. We had heard that this Polish poster-loving artist had a thing or two to talk about and we undressed her with our questions as following.

Have you always been drawing?

I drew a lot when I was a child and as a teenager I was an art student. After I graduated college I wanted to study illustration, but they didn’t teach that here in Iceland so I chose graphic design in the Icelandic Academy of the Arts. I went to Berlin as an exchange student and when I rambled the streets there I ended up in a Polish poster Art Gallery where I fell in love. Well, I fell in love with the poster medium I mean. I immediately decided then and there to do my Master thesis in Poland someday to study poster graphic design. My final project from the Art Academy where Polish posters, where I redesigned American movie posters in the Polish style, followed by my BA thesis about Polish posters and politics.

So, did you move to Poland?

Yes, actually I did. I got in to a Polish Art Academy, but the prerequisites were that I had to learn Polish for one-year prior. Then I studied for one year in a Master program with emphasis of making posters. I didn’t continue in the program, because my Polish wasn’t good enough.


Is it a hard language, and how did you manage in the school?

I can speak about the weather and other basic stuff, but i´m not that much into learning languages full time, so i probably could have worked harder on my studies. They say that it takes seven years to learn Polish well enough, so maybe I had the language skills like a four year old. And my accent was maybe not the best either. So to sum it up, the few theoretical courses I had to take where taught in Polish, but in other courses I had professors that spoke in English. I wasn’t sad to leave. Even though the school was wonderful and Krakow is a beautiful city, I was tired of the bureaucracy that I had to go through while I was studying there.

For example, when I was choosing my courses, I filled out an Index form and when we got grades I had to take the same form and wait outside the professor’s offices to get my card filled out. And then one professor told me to come at 10:00 o’clock and the next one at 12:00 o’clock, but I had to wait two hours for my first grade alongside with twenty other students and the professor didn’t show up. I was the only student who was upset about this, I thought it was disrespectful, but one of the students said, welcome to Poland! It took me around three weeks to find where I was supposed to attend classes and I ended up in a wrong poster class. This actually was better for me because it suited my interests better. However, I got to take both poster classes because of this confusion so I was really happy about that.



How do you like the poster culture here in Iceland compared to Poland?

In Iceland? I don´t think we really have a poster culture here. I think that is a result of how small the population is here, they are often a bit too commercal, people are often afraid of doing something different. But as soon as you study the poster culture in other countries, you see more exciting things happening. That has probably something to do with the fact, that they have a longer history in doing posters. Also when it comes to the size of the posters, here A3 is considered a poster, but to me it´s not a poster until it´s at least A2.

“A great design, in my opinion, is all about a good contrast between the picture and the typography”

Some designers overload the posters with information and the posters are overdesigned visually. But a great design, in my opinion, is all about a good contrast between the picture and the typography, but still maintaining the same feel. It´s a tricky balance. I think it is connected to advertisement philosophy, because if you want to get the attention, you need to design a clear message on a poster. What I love about the Polish poster culture is that there is more to it then meets the eye at first. You´ll get the basic clear message at first glance, but when you really study the poster, you can learn something new. I like to think, that is something I´ve taken with me, and effects the way I do my work.

I think the flyer culture is also lacking in space here in Iceland compared to for example Berlin where you can experience that culture in every café, everywhere where you can choose from 20 flyers to take with you. But everything is more and more mediated online, but I’m such a dinosaur, I personally want to create for print.


Is important to go abroad to absorb life?

Yes, I think so. I think it’s always important to seek education and/or experience abroad. I think it’s important for Icelandic people in general, to leave once in a while from the island.

“At the moment I really want to go to Kentucky because I have been studying my genealogy through my grandfather that was an American soldier”

At the moment I really want to go to Kentucky because I have been studying my genealogy through my grandfather that was an American soldier. My mother tried to find out more about him when she was younger, but only found out that he had died around 1955. I started snooping around back in 2007 on ancestry.com, but I only received a reply this year from someone called Ben Sizemore. I started looking at his family tree, and all the dates, locations and names matched with the information I had. But after I got more information, I´ve been looking more into the Sizemore family history, and I can say with 80% certainty that my great great great great great great grandfather was a Cheerokee Indian. So hopefully someday, I can take a road trip to Kentucky to discover my Indian roots!

I hope this is true; this will be an adventure for sure! But where do you get your inspiration from as an artist?

The Polish poster culture has inspired me with its ideology behind their making; I have a few up on my walls as you can see. They were made in the era of communism created by artists and the posters were loaded with symbols to get their messages against the situation across to the people.

I really adore the redesigning of American movie posters in Poland as well, because the design of the poster had nothing to do with the movie itself. I did a film poster myself once, in Polish style for Haukur Már when he released his film GE9N. I was really happy to do that because I really dislike the Hollywood element in Icelandic movie posters here in Iceland. They are all so literal. The poster becomes an independent medium when the design is special or has a deeper meaning behind it. Me, Haukur and Bogi worked on the consept for the poster together and ended up with a pampered police dog barking at the anarchist cat, and the lease goes out of the frame of the poster.




Which of your projects are you the most proud of?

I would have to say the whole idea that I worked with for the band Árstíðir, I had complete artistic freedom in fact for the project. They trusted me to interpret their music with my style. I didn’t want to be literal and make something like four leaves in different colours. I was rather excited to do something like portraying time as a whole in the world I created around their album.

“I was rather excited to do something like portraying time as a whole in the world I created around their album”

The band is actually very popular in Russia so they were really happy with the nature references of the pictures. Because they are acoustic I decided to bring in old school technology intertwined with romantic nature elements.

So what can you tell me about your colour palette?

I really love warm colours, like yellow, orange and greens. It´s strange to think about it, I see it when I look back, that I very often use the same colours. But I love vibrant and strong colours, sometimes my colour palette is a bit retro, but I guess I´m not much of a pastel person.



To turn to a basic question, how is it to be a freelance designer and illustrator in Iceland?

I started off by taking my portfolio and walked around the town and back, mainly to publishers, mainly because I really love to design book covers. I ended up walking from Bræðraborgarstígur to Árbær just in one day, and all of the sudden I realized that I was physically exhausted from trying to get projects.

“I have a really hard time working on pictures by someone else, I want to create and design from scratch”

It’s been OK, but I would love to work on more illustrative projects. In my spare time I try to work on illustrations for my own children´s story. I have a really hard time working on pictures by someone else, I want to create and design from scratch. I love to work with all sorts of footage or things in my surroundings, for example from nature. I like to use my scanner to work with elements that give a certain kind of texture.

Do you like to work with elements from our physical being?

Yes, I think it’s not interesting enough for me to be computer-based designer only. I think it gives the drawings and the designs a more personal effect. I think that my surroundings inspire me on a level that I am not fully aware of.

My inspiration comes from different kinds of mediums, once I did a project about Japanese Lolitas just right after I watched the movie Kamikaze girls. Once I got direct inspiration from the game Bubbles, without realizing it until afterwards, but these are just examples on how the directness of things can affect my designs.



But what about yourself, you aren’t a Lolita yourself miss Sizemore, and what can you tell us about your name?

No, not really. I redesigned myself this summer so I like this look a lot with the hair and all. I love trees and animals as well so that is also an element in my style as an artist. I can go on and on where my interests lie and I am a complete bookworm. I like to escape the everyday life into the fantasy books I read, and in a way I guess my work portray a way to do that as well.

Regarding my name, I started using the Sizemore name when I was 18 years old because that comes from my mother’s side of the family and I grew up with her. All my siblings have changed their last name to Sizemore except one.

“Here in Iceland it´s about knowing the right people, because it´s such a small society. You have to be your own PR guy”

You are working in a studio somewhere else?

Yes, I share a studio on Laugavegur 25 with product designer Ragnheiður and more people. I really like to be around people that can be my second eyes. Especially because I have editing problems.

Here in Iceland it´s about knowing the right people, because it´s such a small society. You have to be your own PR guy, so to speak, which has kind of been my problem because I’m not so good at small talk or mingling in the “right” parties. I guess I could be called a mixed media artist/designer, and I have a pretty strong independent style, and hopefully the world will see that one day.

We wish Fanney all the best in the future, wishing her artistic abilities to size more in Iceland as well as in the Universe.

fanneysizemore.roxer
facebook/FanneySizemoredesigner

Interview: Ása Baldursdóttir
Photographs: Nanna Dís

Dynfari

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Jóhann Örn Sigurjónsson and Jón Emil Björnsson form two man atmospheric/post – black metal band Dynfari, which was formed in the fall of 2010 and is now releasing its second album Sem skugginn. We drove up to their rehersal place in Hafnarfjörður, and met with them and asked them questions about music, metal, clichés and life.

When did you start playing music?

Jón Emil: I started out learning on classical guitar, and when i went in college at Selfoss, i met Jóhann and we and my uncle which had the similar taste of music and started jamming mostly Death metal like Autopsy and Death.

Jóhann: I started playing the bass when I was 16 years old, but the first band I played in was a death metal band in 2009, that was called Sacrilege. Jón Emil joined that band a few months later. We started playing together and forming our band, Dynfari, a year later, we had same ideas about music creation and that was great. We had a great time playing in Sacrilege, but it didnt evolve into being something more somehow. We started right away to plan recordings for Dynfari, which we of course financed ourselves.

Jón Emil: We were so fortunate to work with Árni Zoega, he is such a great musician, he helped us with the first album from A- Z. He is known in the scene here in Iceland, and he recorded our album and we are so grateful for our debut to be in his hands.


Are you guys educated in music, or self taught?

Jóhann: I am completely self taught, but I of course think its very important to seek education in music for whatever music you then create. I learned from the internet a lot. I mainly play the guitar now, but I started out as a bass player. But that is kinda funny because I don´t even own a guitar, I just borrowed one.

Jón Emil: I learned from a teacher on classical guitar as i said earlier, which helped of course be musician and so on, Then i kinda began playing drums when we started with Dynfari mostly because we were only two, though i look at it as my second instrument. But now i am a student in an Icelandic music school FÍH, studying percussion.

So what about other instruments?

Jóhann: Well, I also played the electric organ on our album that is soon out, and of course I am the vocalist in our band. I am not afraid of playing various instruments, my grandfather gave me a harmonica recently and we are thinking about playing that on our next album, we are experimental. In our eyes, its not that interesting to form a black metal band, and only play black metal all the time because that has been done, times million. We dare to do things differently and we want to create something new, even though we play black metal in that sense.


So black metal in Iceland, what bands are there?

Jón Emil: The Icelandic band Sólstafir, which have the roots to it, but they are just one of few that we could talk about. Well, my sister has a child with their guitar player, so my connection to this band is on a personal level.

Jóhann: Yes, in reviews they sometimes talk about us in a way that we are a band from Iceland, just like the band Sólstafir, but we are not trying to be them even though we respect them tremendously. But yeah, we listen to all sorts of music, black metal, and what yes, we really like Bonnie Tyler for example. Her rock ballads are amazing. I personally think that I listen to music that has some kind of a meaning, not the mass produced stuff that is the mainstream if you know what I mean. Heavy metal in itself is so complex and various, so many subgenres and influences…

Jón Emil: I listen to everything, basically. My roots lie in the old stuff though, the desert 70´ts rock and so, we could talk about music for months if you would have time for us. We both listen to all sorts of music.
Dynfari will always be our first band, but you never know in what musical direction we will be heading towards. I mean, we are not playing black metal constantly on practices, we also play around with all kinds.

Some people say its not music, only noise. What can you tell me about prejudices towards the music?

Jóhann: Its mainly based on ignorance, I´d say. We are very well aware that this music is not everybody´s cup of tea. Music is of that kind, some like and some don´t and that is it´s very nature. There are very strong feelings portrayed in music that is that loud, and I feel that its very hard to record music like ours properly because its not that accessible in a way.

Jón Emil: Exactly, you would not hear music like ours on the radio on daily basis ….

Jóhann: Our songs are not going to be played in between news programs on Bylgjan, local radio station, that is for sure.



You definently look the part, you both life the lifestyle of being metal guys. Are you going to change that?

Jón Emil: No, its a lifestyle, its like being a hippie or have dreadlocks.

Jóhann: I think it is a statement, being a male with long hair. I can feel the pressure here in Iceland, I mean boys should cut their hair. But this is very natural to me, we were born to be this way, its a cultural thing to cut the hair in my opinion.

Jón Emil: Yes, for example in Iran you would be stoned for not cutting your hair, I think the culture there would not allow it. So we are lucky here in a way …

You both come from the south, Selfoss, that is not the capital of dark music is it?

Jón Emil: I really don´t know, I don´t think so.

Jóhann: Well, maybe there are some Metallica cover bands around or something, but I really doubt that there are bands in the hiding from there playing anything heavier. We have never even played in Selfoss, there would never be anyone that would even show up! Well maybe our family members but that´ts it. Well actually we did get an invitation to play with a couple of other bands on a gig that was supposed to be held in Pakkhúsið, the youth center, but it was cancelled. We recorded demo´s there with Sacrilege in 2010, but yeah, that´s basically it for us in relations to Selfoss.

So, what do you guys do in life, other than making music?

Jóhann: I am a student, in the University which takes a lot of my time. Other than that, I like to read, play computer games, and play music. I recently was diagnosed with autoimmunity, which has taken a toll of my time in life. I take steroids when I get sick, and other medications as well all year round.

Jón Emil: I lived out in the country site, and was a carpenter. But moved to Reykjavík recently so i could go in school here and focus more on music.. So in life, yeah, my life is mainly about music.


When is your new album coming out?

Jóhann: It is just out now, we will play on our release concert on November 17th, in Gamli Gaukurinn. We are very happy about the album. The only thing bothering us was a mistake at the pressing plant, when the album was pressed the last song, supposed outro was made first on the album. We would of course want to play abroad, we are only two in the band and usually we have two more with us for live gigs. Hjálmar, my cousin, usually plays the bass with us and Jón Þór, a superbly skilled guitar player, plays the guitar, we rent the rehearsal studio together with his progressive metal band, Daedra.

Jón Emil: We have been assigned with this Italian record label, and the album is coming out in 1000 copies all around the world, which is a big step for us because our first album came out in 50 copies.

What about your fans, have received fan mails?

Jóhann: Yes we have gotten messages from Japan and Hong Kong, then there is a guy from Columbia that is working for a Chineese record label is very supportive and wanted to help us because he really likes our sound. But yes, I think people that listen to this kind of music, know who we are here in Iceland so we are happy to play for them on our release concert.


We drove off wishing that we would be able to hear more of their music, excited to attend their realease concert. We wish them all the best for the future of metal music! Dynfari release concert of the album Sem Skugginn published by Aura Music/ Code666 Records, on November 17th at 21:00 oclock at Gamli Gaukurinn. The night will start out with a listening party, followed by a Dynfari concert at 22:00 oclock. Warm up bands are Hindurvættir from Akureyri and Auðn.

facebook.com/Dynfari
dynfari.bandcamp

Interview: Ása Baldursdóttir
Camera / Editing / photos: Nanna Dís

Frosti Gnarr Studio

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On a frosty Friday afternoon we dropped by Frosti Gnarr Studio located in a cosy industrial environment by the sea, close to Grótta and were greeted by the studio’s staff, one enthusiastic dog and one little helper. The studio started out as a one-man show, but it is now run by three close friends that all have very different backgrounds and roles. We sat down with Frosti to talk about the concept of the Studio, their friendship, their art magazine and upcoming book publishing.

So, you are one big family here at the Studio?

Well, we all have quite different roles in our company and we have a great professional relationship even though we are close friends. I studied graphic design in the Netherlands, and when I moved back home I became a freelance graphic designer. After a while, I contacted my friend Peppi, and we decided to join forces to run a Studio together since he had a business background he took on the role of overseeing the business side of the company. I am the creative director, and Peppi loves excel so we make a perfect match.

Our friend Hilmir is a filmmaker, and he is my right hand and artistic advisor. He touches things and has to know how they are made. He knows paper types, and programs, well he basically knows how things work. The three of us are the oldest and best of friends. And sometimes we have additional company at the studio, for example my little brother is here visiting now.

I noticed that you have done branding for your clients, what can you tell us about that?

Well, branding means that we create an overall visual identity for the client, that relates prominently to their brand. We have worked on branding projects for some commercial clients, but we mainly work on smaller projects with artists and musicians to evolve their identity or brand, help them visualise what it is that they stand for.


So, isn’t it hard for you to combine your vision, with that of your clients when they already know what they want?

It can certainly be very tricky, for people with different backgrounds to work together on any project, but this process of being able to deliver a message through imagery is what graphic design is all about. We work on such a variety of projects in this studio, design for stores, branding, CD covers, books, posters, visuals for TV shows and much more that all demand that we communicate the message of the clients through our own vision of what graphic design should be.

What has been the most exciting project, you have worked on in the Studio?

I would definitely say that it is Grotta Zine, our magazine that we are so excited about. Our readers are mainly artists, and the magazine in itself is important as an archive about Icelandic artists of our times. We are documenting the art and the artists that we feel are not accessible enough, we are collecting artistic work in a catalogue.




Who will be the next artist portrayed in Grotta Zine?

Atli Bender, our next featured artist is on his final year in graphic design in the Icelandic Art Academy but will mainly showcase photography and geometrical screen print experiments in his edition of Grotta.

The title of the Magazine is sprung from our Studio’s location because we are situated here by the sea near Grótta but we were also thinking about the Italian meaning of the word, which is cave, and refers to Plato’s allegory of the cave. The artists we feature are those that we believe have been released from their shackles and have seen beyond the illusions.


So, does the surroundings here in Seltjarnarnes near Grótta, inspire you?

Yes, we are so happy to be outside of 101 Reykjavík. We sometimes walk by the ocean and Grótta lighthouse, which is in itself a magical place. We are inspired by the surroundings of course, and from being a part of this industrial area.

So, what other projects are you currently working on now?

Well, we are working on a book featuring the work of photographer Ragnar Th. Sigurðsson. We are focused on using his range and prolificacy as an artist and journalist as a medium for narrating small stories and juxtapositions in urban and rural Iceland. To narrate this we use the duality of each spread. We want our presence to be felt in this book as long as it complements the artist’s work. In essence, that is what we are trying to achieve in all of our projects, be a voice that amplifies the voice of the client.


Our other big book project “Only Human” should also be mentioned. We are collecting visual art, articles, photographs and poetry that relate to the subject of human limitations and our attempts at rising above them. We have confirmed participants such as Matthew Barney, Anya Jansen, Jenny Morgan, Richard Saja, Brian Walker and Arjen Mulder to name a few. This is a project that we work on in our free time and are not rushing. The artists participating either contribute work that fits the concept, or create pieces specifically for the book.

frostignarrstudio
grottazine
facebook.com/frostignarrstudio

Interview: Ása Baldursdóttir
Photos: Nanna Dís

The knitted worlds of Sonja Bent

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We met with Sonja Bent, a fashion and knitwear designer in the production room in Lazy Town, a children Television program that is extremely popular in America, produced both overseas and in Iceland. We noticed her Christmas sweater designs in read and green colours, and wanted to know more about her design projects that we knew were diverse and exciting, both independent and co- produced, for all sorts of mediums.

Sonja-Bent_Snoop-Around-PicNannaDís_01

So, why are you knitting these ugly sweaters?

We are having an ugly Christmas sweater theme, in our closing show of Lazy Town, where I currently work. We wanted to portray this tacky Christmas sweater look, which actually exists in reality in some western countries like Britain. I think its great actually for the reason of making it more like reality of Christmas instead of over-stylising all the characters. Actually I started out as an intern here, when I was studying fashion design in the Iceland Academy of the Arts, and was offered a project of making knitwear for the winter show and now I am a costume design assistant of María Ólafsdóttir, who is the main costume designer for the show. I love working in this kind of an action driven environment, where creativity level is very high. All the characters have their own colour palette, which is a great challenge.

Do you think it’s difficult to design for puppets?

Well their proportions are so different to human shapes, for example one puppet on the show is quite the challenge because of its big belly. We have watched these rough cuts of some of these episodes that we are working on now, its different to watch something that you have made by yourself, coming to life.

Sonja-Bent_Snoop-Around-PicNannaDís_02

Have you worked in other mediums, in the Icelandic film industry perhaps?

Yes, my first film project was to assist for the film Brúðguminn (White Night Wedding, 2008) for the wedding scene in the beautiful island of Flatey. These circumstances are very fast paced, and it can be very exciting artistically, it’s a huge change to go from all the doodling to working with a challenging team of filmmakers that need things to be done on the spot. My largest project in film has to be when I was the costume designer for the film Kóngavegur (King’s Road, 2010), portraying Icelandic trailer trash characters in a trailer park.

“The costumes were reality based worn out eccentric pieces”

What was the outcome, since we don’t have the actual culture of trailer trash in Iceland?

Well, we had influences from America of course, but the director, Valdís Óskarsdóttir, had such a strong vision for the characters so that was very helpful in the process. The costumes were reality based worn out eccentric pieces that we paired very thoughtfully together for each character. We thought of the Icelandic eccentric, in fact, that is what made the creation of the costumes come to life. I think some things work on camera, that doesn’t necessarily work in the real presence.

So, the actors from the theatre- based group Vesturport were involved in this film. How was it to work with them?

I really enjoyed working with the group; the Vesturport actors had strong opinions on their interpretation of the characters in the film. We had so much fun, brainstorming about the costumes, they where thinking about, “what would I wear, if I was this guy,”

I dug up old knitted sweaters, for one of the character, that I borrowed from old eccentric men, relatives and others that I know personally. We invited one of those guys we borrowed the most from, to the premiere and he must have found it a little strange to see his clothes worn, on the big screen in different kinds of scenes in the trailer trash park of Iceland!

So you borrow most of the clothing for these kinds of projects?

No, we have many fantastic second- hand shops here in Iceland, the Salvation Army, and Red Cross market that are very important for the film industry.

So, they are not too smelly one might think?

No, not at all. I use a magical chemical that eliminates odours and germs. This has made life much easier for us, using used clothing as costumes in general.

Sonja-Bent_Snoop-Around-PicNannaDís_03

So, what about new film projects, are you working on something right now?

Yes as a matter a fact, I am working on a short film Stúlkan á rauða hjólinu (The girl on a red bicycle) that is now in production, which my husband directs, and our friend that is also a filmmaker co-produces with us. My costume design for this film is pretty special, because it evolves around this married middle-aged man, which his story is displayed through clothing. This man is always waiting to win the big lottery pot. But the thing is, the audience sees his emotions on how he is dressed, it’s very extroverted. If he feels like he is a clown, he is dressed as a clown, and if he feels like a million dollars, he is very sheekly dressed. He is dressed like he feels; this concept is very interesting to me

So you are a fashion designer and knitwear specialist on top of all this, how is that going?

Yes, I think you can’t just be a fashion designer all the time, especially not in Iceland. Sometimes you have to work in projects, but for me it’s a great blend, its not as if I’m working in a café alongside being a designer. I am a knitwear designer, and I sell my pieces in Kirsuberjatréð in Vesturagata 4. I think my projects; both in Lazy Town, Icelandic films, theatre and commercials go very well alongside my personal freedom of being an independent designer. That’s what makes me happy, and I will probably want to do more of in the future!

“I am crazy about pastels”

What about colours, what is your colour palette about?

I don’t like blacks, its unlikely for me to design black clothing in general. But I am crazy about pastels, and I have been for such a long time actually. And ethnical colours, Tibetan and Greenlandic colours many many colours together.

I am very colourful in my designs, when I was studying in the Iceland Academy of the Arts people were so surprised by that because I was myself dressed maybe in something complete opposite. Steinunn Sigurðardóttir, my teacher didn’t get that I was going all over the colour palette, being myself in the woollen sweater colours all the time. But I don’t follow the rule of being in what I design all the time. People have commented on my Farmer´s Market sweater that I wear and ask me why I would buy knitwear since I am a knitwear designer myself. But I am myself a consumer, so I think its fine to be dressed in other designs as well.

Sonja-Bent_Snoop-Around-PicNannaDís_04

What project has had the most influence on in your carrier?

Well, I think it had a massive amount of influences on me when me and my three friends founded the Guerrilla Store in Slippurinn, Reykjavík around 2005, I was really inspired by our collaboratives Comme des Garçon but in fact they had been my favourite designers many years prior. But everything that we do, and as time passes by, the influences keep piling up and the various projects always influence me in a way. I am always planning of taking my masters abroad as well, so maybe in costume design or in fashion design. But I have had this dream of becoming a textile conservator, just repairing old textile works of all sorts. So that would be an idea as well.

Who are your clients?

Women of all ages basically. But what I find the most interesting now is when for example, I go out and I see someone wearing my knitted sweaters, I really really enjoy that. What can I tell you, oh yeah, It’s always nice when Björk buys your design. She has bought design wear from me twice but as we say in the fashion design community here in Iceland, we always celebrate that as a milestone if she buys our designs. She pulls off so many different things, she is magnificent.

But now this will all change, because I am currently working on a line for children that will soon be out, which I am producing in Portugal. Well, in Iceland it’s very common that you can be occupied in diverse projects all the time, but I am happy to be able to work in the field of design both as an independent designer and working on projects that are offered to me in different mediums.


We wish Sonja all the best in the future, with her designs for Lazy Town, her own contemporary knitwear design line, her upcoming children’s line and basically everything that her future brings.

kirs.is/art_work/sonjabent

Interview: Ása Baldursdóttir
Photographs: Nanna Dís

RIFF 2012 – Italy, Love it or Leave it

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Italy – Love it or Leave it was one of the documentary highlights at this year´s RIFF. One of the films´s director Luca Ragazzi, visited Reykjavík and did Q&A´s with audiences. The other director of the documentary and Ragazzi´s partner, Gustav Hofer, did however not make it to Iceland this time around since he was busy promoting their film at another film festival. In collaboration with Docs & Film Festivals we interviewed director Luca Ragazzi at RIFF. Enjoy!

The documentary is in a way a travel story where the two directors travel around Italy to come to a conclusion if they should continue to live in Italy or leave it. Gustav wants to move to Berlin and Luca needs to convince him that Italy is worth living in. They set on a six month journey in an old Fiat 500. They meet a lot of people along the way who may or may not help them make up their minds about Italy.

Italy – Love it or Leave it has had great film festival success, being screened at more than 75 film festivals around the world – and still counting. Luca and Gustav are not unfamiliar with traveling to film festivals with documentaries, but their previous documentary Suddenly, Last Winter (2008) is a multi award-winning documentary about civil rights for same-sex couples in Italy, what also had a great film festival success.



Luca Ragazzi & Brynja Dögg

Italy – Love it or Leave it has also been recently been released theatrically (or soon to be) in Australia, New Zealand, Germany and Canada.

italyloveitorleave.it
docsandfilmfestivals.com

Text / interview / editing: Brynja Dögg Friðriksdóttir
Photos / camera: Nanna Dís


Reiðhjólaverzlunin Berlin

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On a rainy afternoon we visited Reiðhjólaverzlunin Berlin, the new bicycle shop on Snorrabraut and met with owners Alexander Schepsky and Jón Gunnar Tynes. They welcomed us wholeheartedly, sat down with us in their relaxing shop and let us ask them some questions about their goods up for sale, Icelandic bicycle culture, and their hopes and dreams.

Is this your first venture in the bike-biz?

Alexander: Yes. We both enjoy riding around on classic style bikes. We also really like nice clothing. Last spring we noticed that Iceland’s bicycle culture was growing, but we saw room for improvement. We wanted to introduce fashionable clothing to the cyclists, and decided to make a business plan and the bank immediately green-lit it because they liked the idea.

Would you call this the dream job?

Alexander: Opening my own store has been a dream of mine for a long time. Since I was raised in Germany I got used to German bike culture. There, I would usually fix my own traditional bike, which was quite easy. I liked that culture a lot. I wanted to help to make life easier for people in Iceland, because they are used to mountain bikes which are harder to fix. That’s the reason we opened this shop. I called up Jón Gunnar [my now business partner] and asked him if he’d be willing to venture into the bicycle business with me. Even though he didn’t fully understand me with my german accent he immediately said “Yes, let’s do it!”

Jón: Sometimes when I don’t understand him I just nod my head and say “Sure, why not?”

What is the main idea?

Jón: I’ve always thought of this to be more than just a bike shop. It’s really a lifestyle shop. We wanted to introduce Icelanders to a new way of living. Our main idea is that you spend more time thinking about where you’re going and less how you get there. Your means of transport should not affect your choice of clothing.

Is that why you thought it was important to sell both bikes and bike related clothes in the same spot?

Alexander: Yes, we wanted to show people that they could wear fashionable and/or everyday clothes while cycling around the city on nice bikes. Spandex is unnecessary. Many of our customers have lived either in Denmark or Sweden and have noticed this element in those cultures. There, bicycles are eye catching and used for transport to and from cafés and theatres for example. Icelanders should have no less. Demand for traditional bikes for women, with accessories like baskets, has been high recently. We’ve had a lot of women come in and ask for bicycling clothes too.

Jón: We started out with classic style clothing for men as well as bikes for both genders. We’ve had so much positive reaction that we decided to add a lot of women’s clothing to our stock. Right now we are selling some overcoats but this fall we’ll be adding a whole line of clothing for women.

How do you divide the workload?

Alexander: I handle the bicycle department. That’s my specialty. We both find clothes that we like. That’s Jón’s strong suit though. I contact the companies and ask if they are willing to trade with us. A lot of companies have shown us support since we opened up our doors. Without having to buy a large quantity from their stock, which means less risk for us, they collaborated with us. There is definitely a growth in sale of bike related clothing these days. A lot of opportunities.

Do you collaborate with Icelandic clothing designers?

Alexander: We are really into it and already, we’re selling a line called Blik. It is a knitwear collection for women and men designed by Laufey Jónsdóttir for Varma Design. We also designed a few accessories ourselves. For example, a must have for the next picnic,- a wine bottle holder.

What’s your target group in regards to age, gender etc.?

Alexander: We sell bikes from two bicycle manufacturers based in England which suit different age groups. First it’s Bobbin Bicycles. They fit the twenty-something crowd with a little less between their hands. They are designed with influences from 1940s design and come in a variety of colors. Bobbins bikes are designed in England and produced under strict quality control in Taiwan but we get them straight from Britain. The latter is Pashley. Those bikes are a little more expensive and suit a more mature age group.

Jón: The Pashley bikes are specialty made. People can come to Berlin and try on different sizes and styles. Then we measure the correct size that fits you and order a unique bike from England, handmade just for you. It started in 1926 and is one of the oldest bike companies in England. The fact that they only manufacture around 10.000 bikes per year says something. Their quality control is very strict.

Is England on top in the city-bike game?

Alexander: Originally I wanted to sell German and/or Danish bikes. They have a lot of good companies. Icelanders are generally moved by the British lifestyle. We decided to go with Pashley because of their high standard and interesting history. When we get a better feel for what’s popular amongst Icelanders we will start stocking up on a variety of manufacturers.

Will you be hosting some events in the near future in Berlin?

Alexander: We’ve hosted a few quite successful bicycle trips recently. There we invited people to bring their own picnic and ride their bike with us through town. Then we found a tranquil setting for a nice picnic. We’d like to host a course that would help Icelanders brush up on their traffic safety rules. The focus would be for cyclists. We are also thinking about offering special nights on Thursdays for either ladies or gents, introducing new fashion lines or bike models or show how to fix minor things on your bike.

Are Icelanders good cyclists?

Alexander: Recently we’ve ridden our bikes downtown a couple of times for an after work drink. We were surprised how few young people in Reykjavík were biking. Many of them get rides instead of riding their bikes.

Jón: Yes, in fair weather a bike trip can be an ideal and fun activity for almost anyone. Going on a tranquil trip downtown and sitting down at a café with your family for example.

Has the number of cyclists in Iceland increased in the past few years?

Alexander: Yes, definitely. The “ride your bike to work” program is quite popular here and has had a great influence. People keep riding their bikes even when the program is brought to an end. Icelanders have started riding their bikes earlier, in April or May and don’t generally stop until well into the fall. Some are more willing than ever to bear up in the snow.

Do you feel the Icelandic bicycle community is lacking in some way?

Alexander: I feel the Icelandic bicycle community is really on the rise. It is progressing in a cool way. I hope that cycling routes will continue to grow in numbers, quality and distance.

What do you think is the main reason for this growing enthusiasm?

Alexander: Economizing has a lot to do with it in post-recession Iceland. There are many however that are aware of their health and use bicycle riding for fitness. A daily 10 minute bike ride can be enough. A direct result that follows more bicycling is a decrease in risk for stroke and heart attacks. This means less burden on the Public Health Authority and money is saved. Icelanders have also started thinking in added measure in terms of environmentally friendly and green energy. The bike community is a part of that.

Do you have any advice for young cyclists out there?

Alexander: Reykjavík really isn’t too rural. You can get between places relatively fast on your bike. Here, it’s an ideal mode of transportation. Invest in a city bike on which you can sit upright so won’t get back aches. Naturally it doesn’t hurt that they look hip and come from a shop like Berlin!

We say farewell to the two entrepreneurs, both wearing comfortable yet stylish clothing for cycling, as we ponder their ideas about riding your bike done as a means of transport and leisure activity at the same time. They really practice what they preach and we wish them the best of luck.



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Biking in Reykjavik is Underrated

Interview: Alexander Jean Edvard Le Sage de Fontenay
Photographs: Nanna Dís