Iceland

I&I
Issues and Images
Iceland
1 • 2009
Photo: Páll Stefánsson
Issues and Images
Vol. 5 1-2009
Editor: Benedikt Jóhannesson benedikt@heimur.is
Staff writers: Bjarni Brynjólfsson bjarni@heimur.is, Eygló Svala Arnarsdóttir eyglo@heimur.is
Design: Erlingur Páll Ingvarsson
Photographers: Eygló Svala Arnarsdóttir, Geir Ólafsson, Páll Kjartansson and Páll Stefánsson
TCI Editorial Consultant: Lilja Vidarsdóttir lilja@icetrade.is
On the cover: Photo by Páll Kjartansson
Printing: Oddi
Published for the Trade Council of Iceland by Heimur Publishing Ltd. www.icelandreview.com
Copyright Heimur Publishing. No articles in the magazine may be reproduced
elsewhere in whole or in part without the prior permission of the publisher.
icelandreview@icelandreview.com
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Contents
4 On and off
Rannveig Rist of Rio Tinto Alcan Aluminum
named Business Person of the Year.
Unnur Launches New Fishy Collection.
Ólafur Stefánsson named Athlete of the Year.
Lay Low Signs with Nettwerk.
6 Go the Krýsuvík Way
A well-kept secret, as proven by its many unique—and
little-known—attractions.
8 Aluminum, Iceland’s Number One Export
In 2008, aluminum surpassed seafood products as
Iceland’s primary export.
10 HER Time Has Come
An experienced parliamentarian is Iceland’s new Prime Minister.
12 A Remote Village Gets a Safer Road
The residents of Bolungarvík will soon have a tunnel to Ísafjördur.
13 the Adventures of Óli
In the last two years painter Óli G. Jóhannsson has become
renowned in international art circles.
14 Exploring Iceland’s Slopes
Skiing in Iceland can prove as thrilling as at any foreign ski resort.
16 All About Fish: The Reykjavík Maritime Museum
Throughout the centuries fishing has been Iceland’s most important
industry, closely intertwined with the character of the nation.
17 Young Icelandic Athletes to Watch
With promising young athletes on the rise, the nation’s
sporting future looks bright.
18 The European Debate
Will Iceland apply for membership to the European Union?
Trade Council of Iceland
Borgartún 35, IS-105 Reykjavík. Tel +354 511 4000 Fax +354 511 4040
icetrade@icetrade.is www.icetrade.is
INVEST IN ICELAND AGENCY
Borgartún 35, IS-105 Reykjavík. Tel +354 561 5200 Fax +354 511 4040
info@invest.is www.invest.is
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Rauðarárstígur 25, IS-150 Reykjavík. Tel +354 545 9900 Fax +354 562 4878
vur@utn.stjr.is www.mfa.is
20 A Diary of Business and Politics
The top stories in business and politics in Iceland
from September to November 2008.
21 Film Animation
Framestore brings post-production to Iceland.
22 Women at the Helm of two Universities in Reykjavík
Kristín Ingólfsdóttir and Svafa Grönfeldt have high ambitions for
their institutions.
23 Icelandic Design
Three pieces from designer Unnur Fridriksdóttir.
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On and Off
Success:
Rannveig Rist of Rio
Tinto Alcan Aluminum
named Business Person
of the Year
Photo: Geir Ólafsson
Rannveig Rist, CEO of Rio Tinto Alcan in Iceland, was named Business
Person of the Year 2008 by business magazine Frjáls verslun. The
aluminum industry has been prominent in Iceland since 1970 (see p.
8-9) and in 2008 aluminum became the country’s number one export.
Rannveig Rist is an engineer who has been CEO of Alcan (now Rio
Tinto Alcan) for the past 12 years. She has also held a seat on the
boards of various businesses and corporations. The company has
grown and prospered under her leadership and in the spring of 2008
she made a decision to pay up all the company’s debts, a very wise
move in these times of economic uncertainty. c
Sports:
Ólafur Stefánsson
named Athlete
of the Year
After the Icelandic handball team brought home the silver from
the Olympics in Beijing, there was really no question about
Athlete of the Year 2008. The only question was which member
of the team would be granted the honor. It came as no surprise
that the team’s captain, Ólafur Stefánsson, was awarded the
prize. Ólafur has won almost all of handball’s most coveted
prizes with his teams in Germany and Spain. He has certainly
been one of the world’s best players for years and his somewhat
philosophical approach to life continues to inspire both the team
and the Icelandic nation. Ólafur was named Athlete of the Year
by unanimous vote, a fitting end to an excellent year for the
popular handball player. c
ólafur Stefánsson, centre.
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On and Off
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Design:
Unnur Launches New
Fishy Collection
While fish is among Iceland’s most important natural resources,
not many would consider wearing it as a fashion item. Enter
Unnur Fridriksdóttir, a young designer from Akureyri, whose
fashion brand Unnur specializes in bags and belts made from
sea leather. The material in her current collection, featuring
oversized clutches, soft totes and belts in different widths,
primarily originates from fish farms in Iceland and Africa.
“I’m really proud of my roots and I have tried to use as much
Icelandic material in my designs as possible. I find sea leather
incredibly beautiful and it something that is part of my origins,”
says Unnur, who is about to launch her 2009 spring collection.
“The leather I use does not put animals at risk of extinction; I
use fish from aquaculture and leather from other animals that
were used for human consumption.” c
Music:
Photo: Páll Kjartansson
Lay Low Signs with
Nettwerk
Smoky-voiced country-blues singer Lay Low has signed a
worldwide record deal (excluding Iceland) with Canada’s leading independent label Nettwerk. The deal came about after
Nettwerk CEO Terry McBride, who was in Iceland attending the
IMX conference “You are in Control” in October last year, saw
Lay Low perform at Reykjavík’s Fríkirkjan church. The concert
was held to commemorate the release of her second album
Farewell Good Night’s Sleep.
“Terry McBride and Mark Jowett of the Nettwerk Music
Group want to express that Nettwerk is thrilled to be working
with an artist as compelling and beautifully special as Lay
Low, and we look forward to doing our best to spread the word
about this magnificent artist to as many people in as many
countries as possible,” said a spokesperson for the label. c
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5
Tourism
Go the Krýsuvík Way
The Reykjanes peninsula, on Iceland’s southwestern corner, is
considered dull and unattractive by many Icelanders, even the local
population. The truth is that it is a well-kept secret, as proven by its
many unique—and little-known—attractions.
“F
ara Krýsuvíkurleidina” or “Going
the Krýsuvík way” (literally: “Taking
the Krýsuvík route”) is an Icelandic
expression meaning “to take the more difficult
path.” While driving to Krýsuvík for the first
time on route 42 from Hafnarfjördur, I understood why—on the uneven gravel road the car
rattled so violently that I was afraid it would
fall to pieces. But the drive turned out to be
quite an extraordinary experience. Nothing
but rugged lava as far as the eye could see,
apart from a few green hillocks—a bit like driving on the moon.
Krýsuvík (sometimes also spelled Krísuvík)
is a geothermal area in the center of a fissure
zone in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge on the southern Reykjanes peninsula, only about 50 kilometers from Reykjavík. The origin of the name
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is unclear, but “krýsa” is likely a part of an old
Germanic word for “bend” describing the shape
of the bay after which Krýsuvík is named. (In
modern spoken Icelandic, “Krýsuvík” sounds
like “Crisis Bay,” which some have proposed as
a fitting nickname for Iceland’s capital.)
In the mid-12th century the seaside farm
of Krýsuvík was destroyed when lava flooded
the bay in a volcanic eruption, dramatically
changing the landscape of the region. There
is nothing left of the bay now—it has become
the Ögmundarhraun lava field. However, for
centuries the area remained the largest farmland on Reykjanes with a cluster of 13 farms
in its heyday in the late 19th century, but after
that people began moving away, deserting one
farm after the other. Only the Krýsuvík church
(built in 1857) is left of the old community.
Although these days many roads lead to
Krýsuvík, there is another reason for taking route 42—the Krýsuvík route. It leads to
Kleifarvatn lake, which at 97 meters deep is
one of the deepest lakes in Iceland. Renowned
for its tranquil beauty, the lake also has a folkloric significance: it is said to be inhabited by
a snake-like monster the size of a whale.
Kleifarvatn was also the inspiration for a
more modern tale. It is “the draining lake”
in Arnaldur Indridason’s crime novel by the
same name. Water has been draining from the
lake since a strong earthquake shook Iceland’s
southwestern region in 2000. Since then, the
lake has lost 20 percent of its surface area. In
Arnaldur’s novel, this leak reveals a skeleton
that was supposed to stay hidden forever—
setting in motion a thrilling murder-mystery.
Photos: Eygló Svala Arnarsdóttir
Tourism
Shaking off all those creepy thoughts, it’s
time to move on to the geothermal field of
Seltún, the area’s primary attraction. The smell
isn’t exactly appealing, though… as soon as
Kleifarvatn disappears behind a lava formation, the stench of sulfur—not unlike rotten
eggs—penetrates the senses.
The only thing to do is to grab one’s nose
and carry on, because soon enough the black,
grey and mossy green lava landscape transforms to an amazing color palette of luminous
yellow, lush green, rusty red and surprising
turquoise. Seltún is a natural wonder of blowing steam holes and bubbling mud pools that
can be examined at close range. But beware:
they are scorching hot. If the surroundings
weren’t so beautiful, this could be hell’s kitchen. Among the many explosion craters in the
vicinity is the small lake of Graenavatn. The
water’s blue green color might give the illusion
of being in the Caribbean, although swimming
in it is unlikely to be comfortably warm.
It’s strange to think that, in the past, the
farmers of Krýsuvík and foreign businessmen failed to value the uniqueness of Seltún,
and used the area for sulfur mining. That
utilization has now been banned. However,
rumors have recently been circulating that
the geothermal activity in the area might be
used to power the controversial aluminum
smelter in nearby Helguvík, which is currently
under construction. Meanwhile, some people
would like to preserve the Krýsuvík area the
way it is, establishing a volcano park there to
attract tourists, similar to a park of that sort
in Hawaii.
So Reykjanes, including Krýsuvík, is far
from dull and unattractive. Hiking paths lead
through lava fields, up hillsides, past ancient
volcanic craters and abandoned fishing stations to Krýsuvíkurberg, a seven-kilometer
long and 50-meter high cliff inhabited by
100,000 seabirds. This natural treasure with
its amazing diversity is just a short distance
from Reykjavík and a stone’s throw from the
Keflavík International Airport. The local villages have plenty to offer in terms of restaurants, galleries, museums and swimming pools,
to say nothing of the Blue Lagoon, which is on
the nicely-paved way back to Reykjavík.
There is no need to take the Krýsuvík route
twice in one day, but it should be tried at least
once, the rough ride notwithstanding. c
Eygló Svala Arnarsdóttir.
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7
Industry
Aluminum,
Iceland’s Number One
Export
I
celand’s three aluminum smelters have frequently been controversial. The Icelandic government has been eager to get large foreign
companies to buy energy generated by the country’s hydroelectric
and geothermal power plants, in order to generate revenue and create
jobs. An important goal has been to reduce Iceland’s dependence on fish
and seafood products. However, environmentalists have detracted from
the idea and said that Iceland should stress its “green” image instead.
In 2008, aluminum became Iceland’s number one export. Preliminary
numbers indicate that aluminum now makes up about 39 percent of
exported goods. This is the first time that fish and seafood products
are not the country’s main export. The reason is that Fjardaál, Iceland’s
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newest and largest smelter, reached full-capacity operations in April
2008.
The first agreement to build an aluminum plant in Iceland was signed
in 1966. Negotiations had been ongoing between the Swiss company
Alusuisse and the Icelandic government for several years beforehand.
The Icelandic Aluminium Company (ISAL), now Alcan Iceland, was
subsequently founded and construction in Straumsvík was soon underway. Aluminum production began in Iceland three years later. The
Straumsvík facility is situated just south of Reykjavík by the side of the
road leading to Keflavík International Airport. Most visitors to Iceland
see the plant on their way to the capital.
Photo: Páll Stefánsson
In 2008, aluminum surpassed seafood products as Iceland’s primary export.
Industry
The company has changed considerably since its beginnings and now
produces around 183,000 tons of aluminum a year. Alcan Iceland Ltd.
is owned by the global aluminum leader Rio Tinto Alcan and is one of
the largest industrial companies in Iceland. It plays a significant role in
Iceland’s economy, supplying about 23 percent of all goods exported
from the country. The smelter’s annual capacity is 183,000 tons and it
employs 450 people year-round.
The Nordurál aluminum plant at Grundartangi in Hvalfjördur, about
50 kilometers north of Reykjavík, is owned by Century Aluminum which
has its headquarters in Monterey, California. Century acquired Nordurál
in April 2004 from Columbia Ventures Corporation.
In 1995, Columbia Ventures Corporation decided to build a new
primary aluminum smelter. After evaluating the possible options, a
decision was made to expand outside the United States. In August
1996 it became apparent that Iceland was the most feasible alternative. The first earth moving equipment arrived on the site at
Grundartangi in early April 1997. Only 14 months later, in June
1998, the first pot was successfully started up. Initially the smelter
had a production capacity of 60,000 tons per year, but in summer
2001 this was increased to 90,000 tons per year. In 2006 the production capacity was brought to 220,000 tons and in November 2007 it
reached 260,000 tons per year.
Nordurál is now preparing for the construction of a new aluminum
plant in Helguvík, near Keflavík airport. Over 100 people are presently employed by the project and this number is estimated to reach
800 by late 2009. The first phase of the aluminum plant is expected
to begin operations in the fall of 2010 and is estimated to cost ISK
80-90 billion.
Iceland’s newest aluminum plant is Fjardaál in Reydarfjördur, East
Iceland. Fjardaál (“Aluminum of the Fjords” in Icelandic) is Alcoa’s
first greenfield aluminum smelter in more than 20 years, and one
of the biggest development and economic projects in Iceland’s history. Construction of Fjardaál began in 2004 following an extensive
environmental review and approval by the Icelandic government, and
was completed in 2007. The facility consists of a smelter, casthouse,
rod production and a deep-water port. Fjardaál reached full-capacity
operation on April 8, 2008. The plant produces 940 tons of aluminum
a day and has a capacity of 346,000 metric tons of aluminum per
year for shipment to Alcoa customers worldwide. It also generates
more than 410 permanent Alcoa jobs, plus 300 more indirect jobs,
in Iceland.
With the start-up of Fjardaál complete, Alcoa is currently working
with local authorities and other partners to explore the feasibility of
a second smelter in Iceland, potentially to be powered by tapping
Iceland’s abundant geothermal resources. This smelter, planned for
Bakki in North Iceland, would be the world’s first such operation.
Aluminum production has dropped worldwide due to a reduction
in demand. So far this has not had an effect on the Icelandic plants
and indications are that production will continue at full capacity. This
is because the plants are new, efficient and the price of electricity has
been competitive. c
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Photo Geir Ólafsson
Politics
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Politics
Her Time Has Come
Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir, an experienced parliamentarian,
is Iceland’s new Prime Minister.
Photo Páll Stefánsson
W
hen Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir lost her
bid for chairmanship of the Social
Democratic Party almost 15 years
ago, she proclaimed “My time will come.”
Many smiled and shook their heads as she
resigned from the cabinet and broke with her
party to form her own splinter group. In the
elections for Althingi, Iceland’s parliament,
her new party got only four members out
of 63 and she spent the next twelve years
as a common member of Althingi. After the
2007 elections she returned to her old cabinet
post as Minister of Social Affairs and Social
Security.
Opinion polls have shown that Jóhanna
has by far been the most popular minister in
Iceland’s government. Still it came as a surprise to most people when she was suddenly
the choice of the Social Democratic Alliance
as Prime Minister of the new minority government that was formed at the beginning of
February 2009.
Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir was first elected to
Althingi in 1978. She is the longest-serving
member of Althingi, having been elected nine
consecutive times. She comes from a wellknown family of Social Democrats and her
father was also a member of Althingi. Before
her first election to parliament she was chairwoman of the Air Stewardess’s Union and
was known as a hard-nosed negotiator.
In 1987 she became Minister for Social
Services and held that post for seven years
through a number of coalitions. She was in
the left wing of the Social Democratic Party
and was often in opposition to party chairman Jón Baldvin Hannibalsson. In 1993 she
resigned as vice chairman of the party, a post
she had held since 1984. A year later she ran
against him at the party convention. She lost,
and subsequently uttered her famous words,
mentioned above.
She went on to form her own party
Thjódvaki, or Awaken the Nation. In opinion polls the party appeared to soar above
her old Social Democratic Party, but in the
election the result was a disappointing seven
percent. For the next 12 years Jóhanna was a
member of the opposition. She was one of the
founding members of the Social Democratic
Alliance, which was formed through the
merger of four left-wing parties. In its first
elections in 1999 she took the top seat on the
party’s list in the constituency of Reykjavík,
above then-chairman Össur Skarphédinsson.
After the 2007 elections the Social Democratic
Alliance formed a coalition government with
the right-wing Independence Party.
Jóhanna was one of six ministers from the
Social Democratic Alliance in Geir Haarde’s
cabinet and took over a somewhat changed
version of her old ministry, which is now
called the Ministry of Social Affairs and Social
Security. The national pension system is now
under the auspices of that ministry.
Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir has always been
known as the voice of the common people.
Some of her critics maintain that she spends
government money lavishly. She, on the other
hand, claims she is fighting to allow people to
get their fair share. Everyone acknowledges
that she is a hard worker who is very well
informed about the matters that fall under her
ministry. The general public is happy with her
work. In the latest opinion poll she got a positive rating from 73 percent of the respondents.
The second most popular minister got a 40
percent approval rating. Now she has suddenly
become Prime Minister in a minority government of the Social Democratic Alliance and
the Left-Green Party, a government that will
be in power until new elections are held on
April 25. So it is safe to say that her time has
indeed come. c
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Communications
A Remote Village Gets
a Safer Road
Bolungarvík is the northernmost town on the
West Fjords, standing near the outer edge
of Ísafjardardjúp bay. The village is beautifully located between steep mountains and is
quite close to some of Iceland’s best fishing
grounds. Fishing has been practiced here since
the Settlement, and for centuries Bolungarvík
was one of Iceland’s largest fishing stations.
According to the Icelandic sagas, one of the
first settlers employed men to fish for her. The
village began to take form when trading began
in 1890.
On the way into town, a restored fishing
hut reminds one of the old days. It has a guide
in an old seaman’s outfit, looking like he just
checked in from the 19th century.
Even though the village is ideally located
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for fishing it was traditionally very remote
since it could only be reached by sea. The
community’s isolation was broken in 1950
when the road over Óshlíd was opened. The
road was built into the slope of a very steep
mountain and was always considered one
of the most dangerous roads in Iceland due
to the threat of avalanches in winter and
mudslides or falling rocks in summer. The
danger has been reduced, but not eliminated,
by the installation of safety nets and tunnel
portals.
A tunnel straight to the town of Ísafjördur
is therefore of major importance to
Bolungarvík’s 904 residents and numerous
visitors. The 5.1 kilometer tunnel, which
passes through a mountain, will be com-
pleted in 2009. The design takes into account
the latest research and safety in tunnels and
employs a complex network of sensors to
ensure good ventilation.
The tunnel is very important to tourists as
well as residents. In addition to the restored
fishing hut, which is a must-see, the artifacts
at the West Fjords Natural History Museum
include a polar bear. The outdoor swimming
pool is one of the best in the country. For
those who are not afraid of heights, a trip to
the top of the mountain Stigahlíd is a memorable outing. In June and July one can watch
the sun dipping down to the sea just after
midnight before rising again, without ever
disappearing. That alone might be worth the
trip to Iceland. c
Photos: Páll Stefánsson
The residents of Bolungarvík will soon have a tunnel to Ísafjördur.
Art
Education
The Adventures of Óli
After years of obscurity, artist Óli G. Jóhannsson is finally making a name
for himself, in Iceland and abroad.
In the last two years, painter Óli G. Jóhannsson
has become renowned in international art
circles. His paintings have traveled from the
town of Akureyri to the major art centers of
London and New York and as far as Australia
and the Persian Gulf.
and I somehow got the feeling that it was quite
remarkable to be a painter. I drew and painted
throughout my school years but then decided
to study business at the University of Iceland.
BB: You are not an academically trained artist. Have you always painted?
ÓG: When I graduated from high school I had
a reference from the great Icelandic painter
Svavar Gudnason for admission into the Royal
Academy of Art in Copenhagen, where he had
studied. I had guided Gudnason when he was
fishing for salmon in Laxá in Adaldalur. He
became a great supporter of mine.
ÓG: I hear that people like the complicated
abstract construction, which still has some
figurative implications. They can always find
something new in the paintings which need
time to be fully appreciated..
BB: Why?
Portret: Páll Stefánsson
BB: Do you consider yourself lucky?
ÓG: I’ve always had a love for colors. My
parents encouraged me to draw and paint
and art teachers at school were particularly
encouraging. In summers I was sent to a farm
in Vatnsdalur valley and got acquainted with
painter Eyjólfur Eyfells who visited. The farmers in Vatnsdalur had great admiration for him
BB: In your opinion, what is it in your painting that people admire?
ÓG: I think it’s wonderful to have stumbled
upon this opportunity which is ferrying my
art around the world when the art market here
is undeveloped and partly collapsed. No one
in their right mind tries to break out as an
artist. I am lucky to have a good wife who has
supported me and four children and eleven
grandkids. The old man is becoming grey. c
Bjarni Brynjólfsson
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Skiing
Exploring Iceland’s Slopes
“W
e’re not going on a skiing
trip this Christmas,” a colleague of mine announced
last December with a gloomy expression. For
the first time in almost a decade he and his
wife had decided that, in light of the weakened state of the króna, the annual family
Christmas trip to a foreign skiing destination
had simply become too expensive. “Why don’t
you go skiing in Iceland instead?” I asked
innocently, receiving a you’ve-got-to-bekidding-me look in response. “When you’ve
been to the best ski resorts in the world, skiing in Iceland is a drag,” he sulked.
Iceland doesn’t have especially high mountains, as many of them were scraped flat by
a glacier during the Ice Age. The country’s
highest peak is Hvannadalshnjúkur at 2,110
meters. Iceland doesn’t get especially cold
in winter either; the climate is fairly mild
despite the country’s northern latitude due
to the Gulf Stream, which originates in the
Gulf of Mexico and encircles the country. The
coastal lowlands in Iceland have an average
January temperature just below 0°C (32°F),
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while the temperature usually remains around
-10°C (14°F) in the central highlands.
That is not to say that booking a skiing trip
in Iceland is pointless.
There are lovely little ski resorts all around
the country, in the north, south, east and west.
Many families like to spend sunny winter days
on the slopes and there is hardly an Icelander
that has never gone skiing. Snowboarding is
constantly growing in popularity, especially
among Iceland’s teens, and cross-country
skiing is also a sport favored by many. Some
excellent tracks in beautiful surroundings can
be found throughout the country, such as
in the forested outdoor recreational areas of
Heidmörk, in the outskirts of Reykjavík, and
Kjarnaskógur, outside Akureyri, in the north.
This season, Iceland’s ski resorts opened
unusually early, on October 26 (the best skiing conditions are usually between January
and early spring, Easter being a traditional
skiing holiday). On that day the inhabitants
of Dalvík, a peaceful town nestled at the roots
of Mt. Böggvistadafjall in northeast Iceland,
woke up to a 60-centimeter even blanket of
snow. Despite the fact that the official First
Day of Winter was celebrated the previous
day, such an extensive amount of snowfall
usually doesn’t occur until later in the winter.
The locals were thrilled. “We haven’t seen
these kinds of conditions at this time of year
for many, many years,” Óskar Óskarsson,
chairman of the Dalvík Skiing Association,
told Fréttabladid.
The Dalvík ski resort was the first to open
this winter and others quickly followed, but
the fun didn’t last for long. Since October
the temperatures have risen and dropped,
the snow has melted and new has fallen,
only to melt again. Icelanders were deprived
of a white Christmas this year. Temperature
fluctuations and unpredictability are two
main characteristics of Icelandic weather.
To cope with the situation, some ski resorts
have invested in artificial snow machines,
like the resort in Mt. Hlídarfjall, Akureyri’s
skiing area. Hlídarfjall is regarded as one of
Iceland’s premier ski resorts, accommodating
both beginners and more experienced skiers,
cross-country skiers, off-piste enthusiasts
Photos: Páll Stefánsson
Contrary to popular belief, Iceland doesn’t have especially high mountains and, in
spite of the country’s northern latitude, the climate is fairly mild in winter. Yet skiing
in Iceland can prove as thrilling as at any foreign ski resort.
Skiing
and snowboarders. With illuminated slopes,
the few hours of daylight in winter are not an
obstacle. And with the snow machine, lack of
precipitation isn’t either.
Ski lifts are located in mountain slopes
in various other places—there is plenty to
choose from. In the capital region there
are the Bláfjöll mountains (Iceland’s largest ski resort) and Mt. Skálafell. Ísafjördur,
the capital of the West Fjords, has the Two
Valleys, Tungudalur for slalom skiing and
Seljalandsdalur for cross-country skiing. In
the north, in addition to the two skiing
areas already mentioned, one can ski on
the slopes of Mt. Tindastóll in the region of
Skagafjördur, while Fjallabyggd municipality, renowned for having produced some of
Iceland’s most enthusiastic skiers, offers skiing in Skardsdalur valley in Siglufjördur and
Mt. Tindaöxl in Ólafsfjördur. In the east, the
towns of Egilsstadir and Seydisfjördur jointly
operate the skiing area in Stafdalur valley,
but the largest ski resort in east Iceland is
Oddsskard in Fjardabyggd municipality.
While snowfall may sometimes be scarce
in those areas, there are parts of Iceland
that remain frozen and snowy year-round…
namely the glaciers. Esjufjöll is a subglacial volcano in the southeastern corner of the Vatnajökull icecap, the largest
glacier in Europe. The area is heaven for
back-country skiers, who are provided with
fairly easy access up the glacial tongue of
Breidamerkurjökull. However, skiers must
take great care due to the crevasses in the
glacier and are strongly advised to travel
with a guide or a friend familiar with the
area. Another area suited for back-country
skiing is the shield volcano of Ok in the western highlands, rising to almost 1,200 meters
above sea level. There used to be a glacier on
top of Ok, but it has now disappeared.
The highlands can be dangerous so it might
be safer to book guided tours. The Icelandic
Touring Association, along with other travel
agencies, organizes skiing trips in winter and
early spring. These include cross-country
skiing in the Landmannalaugar hot spring
region in the southern highlands, with overnight stays in cabins, and slalom skiing on
Tröllaskagi peninsula between the northern regions of Eyjafjördur and Skagafjördur,
where the days are spent on the slopes and
the evenings and nights on a farm (fi.is).
Faced with all those options, do we really
need the Alps? At least now that traveling
abroad has become too expensive for the
average Icelander, we should make a point
of exploring the skiing areas in our own
country. As did my colleague. He did cheer
up in the end and took his family skiing last
Christmas—in Iceland. c
A short guide to Iceland’s main ski resorts
Akureyri: One of the largest and best skiing
areas, although it can be crowded, especially
at Easter. The location is perfect, just eight
minutes from Akureyri by car. hlidarfjall.is
Fjardabyggd:
Located
high
above
Reydarfjördur fjord, this skiing area is one of
the most beautiful in Iceland, although the
slopes could be better. oddsskard.is
Siglufjördur: Good snow and steep slopes,
with a fantastic view from the top lift. Many
consider it the best place to ski in Iceland.
skard.fjallabyggd.is
Skagafjördur: Mt. Tindastóll is good for skiing although there is only one lift. The area
is very well maintained and is well suited for
families—but not daredevils, as the lower
part of the area is too flat. tindastoll.is/skidi
Ólafsfjördur: The slopes are steep, but there
is only one lift. Not as good as the nearby
resorts of Siglufjördur and Dalvík, but the
only skiing area in Iceland with a ski jump
platform.
skiol.fjallabyggd.is
Dalvík: One of first places to open every
autumn. The resort is excellent for families
and beginners and is conveniently located.
skidalvik.is
Ísafjördur: A very special ski resort, so close
that you can almost walk from town. The surroundings are beautiful, but the slopes could
be steeper. isafjordur.is/ski
Reykjavík (Bláfjöll): The largest ski resort
in Iceland, with very good lifts. It is only 20
minutes by car from the capital but, unlike
the areas in the north, lacks consistent snowfall. skidasvaedi.is
I&I 15
Museum
All About Fish:
The Reykjavík
Maritime Museum
Throughout the centuries fishing has been Iceland’s most important industry,
closely intertwined with the character of the nation.
Arterial for Country and City: Set up to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Reykjavík
Harbor. Visitors can step onboard the historical
freighter Gullfoss, which Icelandic entrepreneurs constructed in 1912 and which brought
Iceland one step closer to independence from
Denmark. A special ceremony was held when
the vessel first arrived in Iceland in spring
1915. From Gullfoss’s deck, visitors can walk
down to a wooden pier surrounded by seawater, bringing them back to old-fashioned pier
life before the advent of harbor construction.
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From Poverty to Abundance: It is difficult to
imagine what life was like in Iceland 1,000—or
even 100—years ago. Although the country’s
fishing industry has undergone significant
changes throughout the centuries, particularly in the past century, the importance of
the industry to life on this island remains
unchanged. This exhibition illustrates the
development from rowboat fishing to modern
trawlers, and focuses on the lives of fishermen
through the ages.
The Shark—Light and Life Energy: In cooperation with the Reykir Regional Museum,
this exhibition covers shark fishing and the
processing of shark oil, which used to be an
extremely valuable export product for Iceland,
being, for example, used for street lamps in
Copenhagen. Today shark oil and other fish
oils are primarily used for human consumption, and are a life elixir for many Icelanders.
Hidden Craftsman: Víkin’s reception hall
hosts a retrospective exhibition of the works of
photographer Thorleifur Thorleifsson and his
brothers. Among Thorleifsson’s finest works
are three-dimensional pictures of Reykjavík
Harbor.
Special Exhibitions: This hall hosts various
exhibitions, photographs, paintings and visiting exhibition from other museums. Its debut
exhibition is “Herring and the Seaside”, dedicated to the paintings of Sigurjón Jóhannsson.
Coast Guard cruiser Ódinn, built in Aalborg,
Denmark in 1959, is among the museum’s
artefacts. The vessel is docked at a special
pier and visitors to the museum are invited to
walk onboard and explore the ship in a guided
tour. Ódinn participated in the Cod Wars with
Britain in the latter part of the 20th century
and the cruiser’s most powerful weapon, a
57-mm cannon, is still there. However, the
most successful weapon in the Cod Wars was
the trawl-wire cutters that are on display on
the afterdeck. Ódinn was also used effectively
as a rescue vessel, towing nearly 200 vessels
to safety and saving the crews of grounded or
sinking ships.
Iceland’s past, present and future are closely
tied up with fishing and seafaring; they
dominate the atmosphere of seaside villages all
around the island and are closely intertwined
with the character of the nation. Therefore it is
impossible to truly get to know Iceland without getting to know its fishing history. c
Eygló Svala Arnarsdóttir.
Photo: Páll Stefánsson
Víkin – The Reykjavík Maritime Museum is a
young museum on the capital’s seaside, located
inside the facilities of the old Baejarútgerdin
fishing company in the harbor district of
Grandagardur, which has played a significant
part in Reykjavík’s fishing history. The location lends the museum, which is dedicated to
the evolution of fisheries and harbor culture in
Iceland throughout the centuries, an authentic
atmosphere. The museum’s balcony offers a
splendid view of the harbor—giving visitors a
chance to travel from the past back to today’s
harbor life in Reykjavík.
Víkin is in constant growth. The museum’s
exhibition space was recently enlarged, and
now measures 700 square meters, accommodating exhibitions in five separate halls.
Sports
Young Icelandic Athletes
to Watch
Photo: Páll Stefánsson
Soccer and handball are the most popular sports in Iceland and
those in which Icelanders have been the most successful in the
international arena. And with promising young athletes on the
rise, the nation’s sporting future looks bright.
The year 2008 marked a turning point in
Iceland’s sporting history. In August the
Icelandic men’s handball team brought back
the silver medal from the Olympics in Beijing.
The players were celebrated as heroes upon
their return, as never before had Icelanders been
so successful in a group sport. Then, in October,
the Icelandic women’s soccer team qualified
for the UEFA European Championship—the first
Icelandic soccer team in category A ever to
secure a seat in the 12-team finals in a major
tournament.
The following young athletes are about to
launch their international careers as professional soccer and handball players and are likely to
make Iceland proud on foreign ground.
Gudný Björk Ódinsdóttir (born 1988), soccer player with Reykjavík club Valur, signed
an agreement with Swedish women’s premier league team Kristianstad in November.
“It is […] a big step forward because the
Swedish league is among the world’s best,” she
told reporters. Other Icelandic soccer players
have also played with Kristianstad: Erla Steina
Arnardóttir, Hólmfrídur Magnúsdóttir and Rakel
Hönnudóttir, who has now been signed by
Danish club Broendby. Icelandic soccer trainer
Elísabet Gunnarsdóttir, who coached Valur to
victory in the Icelandic national championships
last summer, recently became Kristianstad’s
trainer.
Gudlaugur Victor Pálsson (born 1991), soccer
player with Danish club AGF and previously
with Reykjavík clubs Fylkir and Fjölnir, signed
an agreement with English premier league team
Liverpool in January. Gudlaugur Victor first
caught Liverpool’s attention last summer and
was subsequently invited to practice with the
club for one week in September as a tryout. “I
was very nervous to go to Liverpool for a tryout
last fall, but after that experience I’m not nervous anymore,” Gudlaugur Victor said. “But it
will certainly be difficult. It is a new challenge
for me and I will do my best.” The contract
expires in June 2011.
Rúnar Kárason (born 1988), handball player
with Reykjavík club Fram, signed a two-year
agreement with German premier league team
Füchse Berlin in December. He will join their
ranks next spring. Danish handball clubs GOG
and FCK also expressed interest in Rúnar, who
was initially more interested in playing there. “I
have been dreaming about playing with FCK in
Copenhagen,” he said before being taken on by
Füchse Berlin.
Aron Pálmarsson (born 1990), handball player with Hafnarfjördur club FH, signed a fouryear agreement with German premier league
team Kiel in December. His contract takes effect
in July 2009. “It is amazing to have reached an
agreement with Kiel. It is my dream team and
I couldn’t possibly turn them down,” Aron told
reporters. c
Eygló Svala Arnarsdóttir.
I&I 17
Iceland and the EU
The European Debate
Will Iceland apply for membership to the European Union?
T
he debate on whether Iceland should
join the European Union (EU) has been
lively and it is very difficult to see which
direction it is taking. Iceland is currently
cooperating very closely with the EU through
membership in the European Economic Area
and the Schengen agreement on common
border control. Most people seem interested
in adopting the euro to replace the battered
Icelandic krona. However, the country is divided on the question of whether or not to apply
for membership to the expanding club.
The political parties
Only one political party has EU membership on its agenda, the Social Democratic
Alliance (SDA) of Prime Minister Jóhanna
Sigurdardóttir. However, membership application is not on the agenda of the new coalition
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government with the Left-Green Party. SDA
party leader Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir had
previously stated that the SDA would no
longer cooperate with its previous coalition
partner, the Independence Party (IP), unless
the IP agreed to start the application process.
Now, however, the issue does not seem to be
as pressing for the SDA.
The Left-Green Party has always been
strongly opposed to EU membership. Still,
Chairman Steingrímur J. Sigfússon has said
that he would not be opposed to starting the
application process. The party has said that,
rather than joining the EU and adopting the
euro, Iceland should form a monetary alliance
with Norway. Norway’s Minister of Finance
Kristin Halvorsen said she was willing to discuss the matter with Steingrímur J. during her
visit to Iceland in early February. Minister of
Business Affairs Gylfi Magnússon and Prime
Minister Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir both doubt
that this can be a future solution for Iceland
in monetary matters.
The Independence Party is a right-of-center
party that has led Iceland’s coalition governments for most of the past 18 years. Former
Chairman David Oddsson is a staunch opponent of the EU and the party has followed
that line. In November 2008, party Chairman
Geir H. Haarde called a special party convention to debate whether to consider applying
in light of Iceland’s changed circumstances.
The convention was to have been held in
January 2009 but was postponed until March
as it was discovered that the chairman would
need treatment for a small, malignant tumor
of the esophagus. The EU question has made
for a very lively debate within the party and
Iceland and the EU
the outcome at the moment seems uncertain.
In January 2009 the Progressive Party supported a proposal for applying for membership to the EU with very strongly worded
conditions. It seems likely that, under those
conditions, the EU would not accept Iceland
for membership.
was when the NATO base in Keflavík was one
of the outposts of US military policy. A small,
independent nation in deep economic trouble
needs political allies. By joining the EU the
country would become a fully-fledged member
of a very big market and would have a voice
at the table where decisions are made. Iceland
could then concentrate on the areas that matter to it the most, especially fisheries.
Photo: Páll Stefánsson
The pros …
In light of the economic collapse, most
people seem to agree that the Icelandic
krona cannot be the currency of the future
for Icelanders. However, there is strong
disagreement on which course to take. If it
were possible to join the European Monetary
Union (EMU) without joining the EU, that
option would probably be the number one
choice for the majority of Icelanders. The EU,
on the other hand, has ruled out that option.
The only way to join the EMU would be to
apply for EU membership and then fulfill the
stability conditions for taking up the euro.
Secondly, many people have seen that
Iceland appears politically isolated. The old
alliance with the US is not as strong as it
… and cons
The common fisheries policy of EU is the issue
that most Icelanders cite as their objection to
membership. If Iceland were to join, a final
decision on fishing quotas would be taken in
Brussels, not in Reykjavík. This may be a formality, but decision-making might not be as
swift in light of new information as it is now.
A more serious objection would be that foreigners would be allowed to invest in Icelandic
fisheries companies. Current legislation forbids
this. The fear is that this might lead to “quota
hopping”—the transfer of fishing quotas to
foreign vessels.
It should be stressed that joining the EU
would not automatically open up fishing
grounds for foreign fleets since EU policy
dictates that quotas be allocated based on
previous fishing experience. Almost no foreign ships have fished in Icelandic fishing
grounds in the past decades.
The agricultural sector, meanwhile, fears
competition from abroad and less support
from the government than it receives now.
Lastly, many think that by joining the EU
the Icelandic nation would be giving up a
part of its sovereignty. Important decisions
would be made in Brussels and Strasbourg,
not Reykjavík.
The likely outcome?
Public opinion on whether or not to join
the EU seems to fluctuate from month to
month. The current economic and political climate requires a decision to be made
soon on whether to apply for membership.
Advocates of membership say that Iceland
could get some permanent concessions;
opponents hold that such exceptions would
only be temporary. One thing seems certain:
this issue is going to be wildly debated in the
coming months and perhaps years. c
I&I 19
November 14: Prime Minister Geir H. Haarde
and Minister for Foreign Affairs Ingibjörg Sólrún
Gísladóttir unveiled extensive measures aimed at
helping the general public cope with the impact
of the economic crisis, including allowing homeowners to apply for the possibility of delaying
up to 20 percent of their monthly mortgage
payments.
November 16: An agreement was reached
between Iceland and the European Union member states on compensation for Icesave account
holders in the UK and the Netherlands. Iceland
agreed to pay the minimum deposit insurance.
November 19: The executive board of the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved
Iceland’s request for a loan. The IMF will contribute USD 2.1 billion (EUR 1.7 billion) and the
Nordic countries (Norway, Sweden, Denmark,
Finland and the Faroe Islands), Russia and
Poland USD 3 billion (EUR 2.4 billion) in additional loans.
November 24: A resolution proposal on a vote
of no confidence in Iceland’s government, submitted by the opposition three days earlier, was
rejected in parliament with 18 votes for and 42
votes against, following five hours of debates.
November 24: A well-attended open meeting
where the public could pose questions to members of the cabinet, including Prime Minister
Geir H. Haarde and Minister for Foreign Affairs
Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, was held at the
University of Iceland Cinema. Almost 2,000
people filled the theater. Eight cabinet ministers
out of 12 attended the meeting.
November 28: Iceland’s Althingi parliament
accepted a bill on amendments to the laws on
currency issues, providing the Central Bank
with extensive authority to temporarily limit or
halt currency flow out of the country. The laws
also provide the Central Bank with the right to
demand that Iceland’s export companies transfer
all profits earned in foreign currency to Iceland.
December 1: Thirteen seed companies began
operations at Torgid, a new trade center opened
by the Innovation Center Iceland in the facilities of Landsbanki bank on Austurstraeti 16
in Reykjavík. At Torgid, young companies are
offered office space and a framework to develop
their innovative business ideas.
December 2: Leaders of Iceland’s government,
Prime Minister Geir H. Haarde and Minister for
Foreign Affairs Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir,
presented a 12-step plan to help companies cope
with the economic crisis. According to the plan,
the boards of the new banks will have extensive
responsibilities. They are to establish clear and
transparent criteria on how to undertake extension of loan periods and change the compositions
of loans, reduce loans and merge companies.
December 17: Icelandic singer-songwriter Björk
and Icelandic financial services provider Audur
Capital established a joint venture fund called
BJÖRK, named after the singer. The fund will
be used to invest in seed companies in Iceland.
A Diary
of Business and Politics
Audur Capital has already contributed ISK 100
million (USD 867,000, EUR 614,000) to the fund.
It is hoped that the fund will soon have close to
ISK 2 billion (USD 17 million, EUR 12 million) in
capital and that companies will be able to apply
for grants from the fund this year.
December 20: Iceland’s Althingi parliament
agreed on a legal framework for the rights to
search for and harness fossil fuels in the socalled Dragon Zone off Iceland’s northeastern
shore, to be launched on January 15, 2009. The
National Energy Authority (Orkustofnun) will
supervise operations in the Dragon Zone.
December 22: Althingi, Iceland’s parliament,
passed the new budget bill with an estimated ISK
150 billion (USD 1.2 billion, EUR 870 million)
deficit to the state budget in 2009. The Ministry
of Finance is predicting that the year 2009 will
be the worst year of the economic crisis.
December 29: Rannveig Rist, CEO of Alcan
in Iceland, was named Businessperson of the
Year 2008 by business magazine Frjáls verslun.
The selection committee concluded that Rist
has great leadership abilities. Rist was the first
woman in Iceland to become a CEO of a company the size of Alcan.
December 29: Iceland saw a 20 percent increase
from 2007 in the number of foreign tourists who stayed at hotels and guest houses in
Reykjavík during Christmas 2008, according
to the Icelandic Travel Industry Association.
Approximately 1,200 people booked accommodation in Reykjavík on Christmas Eve, mostly
from the UK, the Nordic countries, Germany, the
US, Russia and Japan.
December 31: Prime Minister Geir H. Haarde said
that a national referendum should not only be
held on whether or not Iceland should join the
European Union but also whether Iceland should
begin membership talks in the first place. A special committee within the Independence Party is
currently looking into the pros and cons of EU
membership for Iceland and will present its findings at the party’s general meeting in January.
January 4: Minister for Foreign Affairs and
chair of the Social Democratic Alliance Ingibjörg
Sólrún Gísladóttir said that early parliamentary
elections could take place in spring 2009, following changes to the constitution aimed at enabling
Iceland’s accession to the European Union.
January 4: Representatives from the airline
Iceland Express and travel agency Ferdaskrifstofa
Íslands signed a declaration of intent on the airline’s acquisition of the travel agency. The price
of the acquisition has not been revealed.
January 6: The resolution committee of the old
Kaupthing bank, which has now been nationalized, announced its decision to sue British
authorities with support from the Icelandic state
for seizing the assets of Kaupthing’s subsidiary in
the UK in October 2008.
January 13: Ólafur Thór Hauksson, the sheriff of
the Akranes region in west Iceland, was appointed special prosecutor to investigate the events
leading up to the collapse of Iceland’s banking
system in October 2008.
January 16: Minister of Fisheries Einar K.
Gudfinnsson increased the cod fishing quota
from 130,000 to 160,000 tons for the current
fishing season in light of the economic difficulties
facing the nation and because of positive reports
on the condition of the cod stock. The Federation
of Icelandic Fishing Vessel Owners welcomed
the move, estimating that export revenue would
increase by ISK 10 billion (USD 78 million, EUR
59 million) as a result.
January 16: Almost 1,000 apartments in Iceland
are listed at Leigulistinn rental housing agency, of
which 825 are located in the capital region. At the
same time last year, only 200 apartments in total
were listed for rent. Since last summer the price of
rent has dropped by 20 percent on average.
January 18: Sigmundur Davíd Gunnlaugsson
was elected the new chairman of the Progressive
Party after a heated contest against Höskuldur
Thór Thórhallsson (who, by mistake, was initially declared winner of the elections). The previous chairman of the Progressive Party, Gudni
Ágústsson, resigned from politics in November
last year.
January 23: Prime Minister of Iceland Geir H.
Haarde announced that he had been diagnosed
with esophageal cancer. It was also announced
that he will not seek reelection as chairman of
the Independence Party, that the party supports
elections on May 9, and that the party’s national
convention will be postponed until the end of
March.
February 1: The government of Jóhanna
Sigurdardóttir, Iceland’s first female Prime
Minister and the world’s first openly gay PM, was
formally appointed at the presidential residence
Bessastadir. The Social Democratic Alliance and
the Left-Green Party form a minority government
with support from the minority of MPs in parliament, and the Progressive Party will defend the
coalition against a motion of no confidence. The
previous Independence Party-Social Democrat
coalition government collapsed in the week prior.
There are ten ministers in the new government
and for the first time in Iceland’s political history there is an equal number of male and female
ministers. Four ministers come from the ranks of
the Social Democrats, four from the ranks of the
Left-Greens and two from outside parliament.
Former Minister for Foreign Affairs Ingibjörg
Sólrún Gísladóttir is retiring from the cabinet
but will continue as the chairperson of the Social
Democratic Alliance. The new coalition will only
be in power until the upcoming parliamentary
elections, scheduled for April 25. c
Eygló Svala Arnardóttir
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I&I
Film Animation
Framestore brings post-production to Iceland.
Framestore has been working in digital film and
video for over twenty years. Under the leadership of Dadi Einarsson, lead animation supervisor and Framestore veteran, a small outpost
of talented individuals has recently opened an
office just off Reykjavík’s Austurvöllur square.
“Framestore is a highly successful company
that has been growing pretty steadily for over
20 years. Recently we’ve begun looking at ways
in which we might de-centralize some of the
work we do. There are many approaches to this,
and I’m always interested in exploring original
ideas. Dadi impressed me as someone with all
the necessary initiative, drive and know-how
to carry it through,” says William Sargent,
Framestore’s joint CEO.
Dadi grew up in Iceland with animation in
his DNA. “My mother and her partner were
both traditional animators,” he says, “so when
I was starting out I borrowed their college
notes, attempted to translate them into 3D
and produced CG character animation and
visual effects for Icelandic and Swedish TV.”
Ten years ago, he took the plunge and relocated
to London. After a period in New York, Dadi
returned to Framestore in 2006, where his work
has included the role of Animation Supervisor
on the Academy Award winning VFX for The
Golden Compass.
Of his return to Reykjavík, Dadi says, “It felt
like the right time to go back home. Iceland has
all the ingredients needed for a visual effects
and animation studio and there’s huge interest
in Framestore opening here. There is a strong
history of film here on the production side, and
there are also an amazing number of talented
individuals who have studied animation or
worked in visual effects both in Iceland and
abroad. They will thrive on the kinds of projects
that Framestore has to offer.”
There’s plenty of fun to be had. As Dadi
points out, “From Reykjavík, you can drive
to see geysers, glacial waterfalls, drive over a
glacier on a monster truck, swim in natural hot
springs under the northern lights and have a
crazy night out on the town, all in one day.”
Of course not forgetting “produce world class
digital animation.” c
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I&I 21
I&I
Education
Kristín Ingólfsdóttir, Rector of The University of Iceland.
Svafa Grönfeldt, Rector of Reykjavík University.
Women at the Helm of two
Universities in Reykjavík
22
I&I
of Iceland as a special college. The number of
students at the University reached 13,650 in
January 2009, a new record.
Reykjavík University (RU) is a much younger
institution, operated by the Icelandic Chamber
of Commerce. It was established in 1998 and
initially focused on Business and Computer
Science. Since then many more programs have
been added, including Law and Engineering. The
Technical University was incorporated into RU
in 2005. Currently a new university campus is
under construction at a location near Reykjavík
airport.
The Rector of RU, Svafa Grönfeldt, is not the
first woman to hold that position. She took over
in 2006 when the first Rector of RU, Gudfinna
Bjarnadóttir, decided to stand for election to
Althingi, Iceland’s parliament. Svafa has had
extensive experience in the business community;
she was previously a high-ranking executive at
pharmaceutical company Actavis and has served
on the boards of many companies and associations.
The women heading Iceland’s two main universities have both made their mark and it is
clear that each institution is headed for a very
different and exciting future. c
Photo Left: Morgunblaðið
The University of Iceland was established in 1911
and will soon be reaching the respectable age of
one hundred years. In 2005, Kristín Ingólfsdóttir,
a professor of pharmacology, became the first
female Rector at this temple of higher learning in
Iceland. She soon set high goals for the university, stating that she wanted it to become among
the top 100 universities in the world. Everyone
agrees that this is a great challenge and that the
goal may be very hard to reach, but also that it
may induce significant improvements, even if it
is not reached. The university has gone through
a restructuring, which includes incorporating
the University of Education into the University
Photo right: Geir Ólafsson
Kristín Ingólfsdóttir and Svafa Grönfeldt have high ambitions for their institutions.
Icelandic Design
Three pieces from designer Unnur Fridriksdóttir.
Unnur
Sea leather has unique qualities. It is a resilient material that can be used as regular leather but because of the scales, the
texture changes continuously with growing use. My inspiration for the current collection was a friend’s painting mixed
with Icelandic autumn colors, while the shapes of the bags were inspired by the personalities of the women after which
they are named. All the names of my products are very personal—they come from great valkyries in my family.
Materials: Sea leather (Icelandic salmon/African Perch) and Italian leather. Size: Approx. 2”x5”x13.5” to 3.5”x14”x16”. Year: 2008.
unnur.com. Photos by Emily Sandifer.
I&I 23
Photo: Páll Stefánsson
. Trade Council of Iceland .
www.icetrade.is
. invest in iceland agency .
www.invest.is
. Ministry for Foreign Affairs .
www.mfa.is
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