Á Landinu

In Icelandic, the term “á landinu” means “in the country”, but it also literally means “on the land”. I once heard an Icelander at the airport use the phrase to ask if a friend had landed in Iceland; were they “in the country”? At that moment I perceived a subtle double meaning that also referred to specifically "on the land (of Iceland)". As a foreigner, this suggested to me that the Icelandic language itself reveals an almost preconscious connection between the land and Icelandic identity. Being in the country means being on the land. This project explores what it means to be “on Iceland” rather than just “in Iceland”.

I have purposely avoided capturing the dramatic beauty of waterfalls and idyllic pastures, instead searching for incidental details of nature and human infrastructure that symbolically reflect the unique Icelandic experience of the land. Clean lines of geothermal pipes against a bare slope of rock and snow. Stairs on a rugged volcanic hillside rising up to a drab gray sky. The bold use of color on gas stations and rooftops contrasting with graffiti on disintegrating old buildings. Some of these structures show a distinct resourcefulness and respect for the pristine and natural world, while others have been weathered and almost defeated by an unforgiving climate. They reflect a country that has lived off the land for generations, but now the relationship to the land has changed. Farming and fishing are slowly being replaced with industry and tourism but the land itself remains both beautiful and formidable. The scenes and artifacts I capture serve as metaphors for the identity and spirit of the Icelandic people and their deep reverence for, but also defiance against, the terrifying but sublime bleakness of the expansive Icelandic landscape.