Katrín Ólína - Designer | Graphic Artist
Women of Iceland is a series of portraits and interviews with women
in
Reykjavik. The project aims to share wisdom and inspiration from the women
who live in a country which as been consistently voted the number one country
for gender eqality (World Economic Forumn Gender Global Gap Report).
The inaugural trip was sponsored by Olympus and an exhibition held of
20 images at the Loading Bay Gallery in Brick Lane September 2013.
The project is still in progress, so if you wish to be involved as a subject or as a
suppporter, contact me.
Katrín Ólína - Designer | Graphic Artist
"A lot of searching goes on in an artist's mind. Collecting bits and curiosities and then trying out all manners of ways to connect
the different stuff together. Sometimes unlikely elements fuse. We're looking for something surprising, something that amazes us.
Magic. I think that's what keeps our neural networks lit up. I've always been interested in the small things, hidden things. So I
started early on to draw and its been my passion and my work ever since. I think that studying things on a small scale helps
understand the bigger picture. An artist strives to make the invisible visible."
Vilborg Arna Gissurardóttir - Explorer
First Islander to Ski from 80s to the South Pole
"My passions in life are nature, out-door adventures and taking on challenges
and my mission is to follow my dreams! If you really want to do something,
you’ll find a way. If you don’t – you’ll find an excuse"
Margrét Pála - Hjalli Schools Founder
Margrét founded the first Hjalli school in 1989. There are presently 17 in Iceland. The Hjalli model is mostly known for single-sex
classes to try to liberate the children from traditional gender-roles and stereotypic behaviours. Children at Hjalli model schools receive
training in all human qualities, as they believe that all children should have all the possibilities in the world regardless of their gender.
But the Hjalli model is unique for other sakes as well: they only use open-ended material instead of traditional toys at the schools and
they believe that positive discipline is the way to train social skills.
Steinunn Birna Ragnarsdóttir - Music Director, Harpa Concert Hall, Iceland
"In Iceland you have time for contemplation. There is not stuff always coming
at you all the time like in New York. [Icelandic music] has that original energy
because it is made by people who connect to themselves, who are not just
making music to 'make it.’ It's not thought of as a market tool, it's thought of
as a means to express yourself. And when you do that you get something great.
If you have that connection to what you are doing, you don't let anybody tell you
how to do it or what to do. Like Bjork. She's never made any compromises.
She's never listened to anyone except herself. She's the best example of a
person who's doing it for the right reasons. For a hundred years the Icelandic
Nation dreamed about a Concert Hall. Now the dream has become true and
it is a privilege to experience such important times in the cultural history of Iceland.
It’s an adventure every single day."
Katrin Jakobsdottir - Former Minister of Education, Science and Culture, Chairperson of the Left-Green Movement
The Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre stands today on the shore of Reykjavik thanks largely to the efforts of Katrín Jakobsdóttir.
She served as Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir’s minister of education, science and culture from 2009 until 2013. Harpa was seen by some as a hope
for Iceland’s future and others as an outlandish expense. Private money helped begin the construction of Harpa. The foundations were laid
and a few walls were erected when the crash happened. Many people wanted to stop building it but Katrín rallied to have it finished and with
public money. ‘If we didn’t finish [the Harpa] we wouldn't have a music hall for another 40 years. Of that I was certain. [Without the Harpa]
I don’t think we would have the same dynamics here in Reykjavik.” In February 2013, following her term as minister, Katrín was elected as
chairperson of the Left-Green Movement. Nobody ran against her and she received 98.4% of the votes.
Lísa Kristjánsdóttir- - Assistant to Katrin Jacobsdottir, Left-Green Movement
Katrín introduced Lísa to me as someone who had worked in fish, film, and politics.
On the fishing boat there came a point where Lisa had to admit that the daily physical
labour was too much for her—and she is a strong woman. "I just had to admit I'm
not as strong as they [the men on the boat] are and I never will be. Somebody had
to make the coffee." The issue of physical strength is one which divides men and
women, even if it is a spectrum. That said physical strength alone does not determine
our effectiveness in the world. Consider Ghandi, Mandela and Mother Theresa.
Strength, power and greatness lay in their hearts and minds and it would seem
Iceland is cultivating this in women at a pace arguably ahead of most of the world.
Heiða Kristín Helgadóttir - Leader of the Best party and vice-chairperson of the Bright Futures party
Heiða is mayor Jón Gnarr's right hand. We discussed men's essential role in the success of feminism. Heiða is a mother of two and major
political force at 30. "Men like Jón are very important to our feminist movement here because he actually genuinely wants it to advance.
There is no hesitation anywhere in him. Because I find that there are some men who portray themselves as being feminists and want us
to succeed and be everywhere we should be and whatever. Then you go into meetings with these men and they don't even realise that
they are not even talking to you, they always look at the men."
Jófríður Ákadóttir - Singer, Samaris
Icelandic teenage wunderkind Samaris' first UK release is an unusual combination
of a clarinet (Áslaug Rún Magnúsdóttir), electronics (Þórður Kári Steinþórsson)
and Jófríður Ákadóttir’s distinctive vocal. Samaris combine down tempo
electronica and bold, percussive beats with haunting chant-like vocals - the
lyrics culled from nineteenth century Icelandic poems. One Little Indian Records
released their debut album Samaris in July 2013.
Áslaug Rún Magnúsdóttir - Clarinet, Samaris
Icelandic teenage wunderkind Samaris' first UK release is an unusual combination
of a clarinet (Áslaug Rún Magnúsdóttir), electronics (Þórður Kári Steinþórsson)
and Jófríður Ákadóttir’s distinctive vocal. Samaris combine down tempo
electronica and bold, percussive beats with haunting chant-like vocals - the
lyrics culled from nineteenth century Icelandic poems. One Little Indian Records
released their debut album Samaris in July 2013.
Ólöf Arnalds - Singer, Multi Instrumentalist, Mother, Thinker
"Everyone is talented. You just have to get over that you are an odd one out."
Hildur Lilliendahl - Radical feminist
"
Iceland is no different from the rest of the western world when it comes to sexism. Campaigning here means campaigning in the first
world in general. But in other parts of the world, women deal with completely different problems. I’m a straight, cisgendered, non-poor,
educated white girl – that’s almost the most privileged a girl can be. It's important to remember that we who are this fortunate must
also fight for the underprivileged women who don’t have a voice.
María Rut Kristinsdóttir - Chairman of the Student Council
University of Iceland - Slut Walk Spokeswoman
"It is now at the heart of the issue to draw attention to sexual violence
and ensure the responsibility does not lie with the victims but perpetrators."
Dr. Guðbjörg Ásta Ólafsdóttir - Director of Vör Marine Research Centre
"Human creativity inspires all innovation and development. No society can afford to ignore the creative potential of any individual
based on predefined social or personal roles. I choose to spend my time researching the conservation and sustainable use of marine
resources and raising three amazing kids."
Dr. Irma Erlingsdóttir - Director Center for Women's and Gender Studies, University of Iceland
Irma Erlingsdóttir is an Associate Professor of French Contemporary Literature at the University of Iceland. She also heads three university
institutions: the Center for Gender Research (RIKK), EDDA – Center of Excellence in Critical Contemporary Research and the GEST-programme,
a UN gender equality studies programme for students from developing and post-conflict countries. She has led several large-scale academic
projects in the fields of gender studies, globalization, contemporary politics and critical theory. She studied at Sorbonne University, Vincennes
University and Paul Valéry University in France. She has a Ph.D. from Sorbonne University. As a specialist in contemporary French literature,
gender, and philosophy, she has published articles and book chapters in these fields. She is currently completing a monograph on the work
of French writer Hélène Cixous with a special reference to the emancipatory aspects of art and transformative politics. She is also working
on a cultural critique project on the implications of the 2008 economic and political crisis in Iceland.
Svanhildur Konradsdottir - Director of Culture and Tourism, City of Reykjavik
Svanhildur's department is responsible for running the cultural institutions
run by the City i.e. The City Library, Reykjavík Art Museum, Reykjavik Municipal
Museum, Museum of Photography, a Cultural Center and Reykjavík UNESCO
City of Literature. Svanhildur is also a member of the board of Harpa, the newly
opened Concert Hall and Conference Center in Reykjavík.
" I firmly believe in life after work."
Maria Kjartans - Photographer | Artist
"
For me there is nothing more amazing than the magic of nature. To visit the charming places that scare us and to do the things that
take us out of our comfort zone. To be somewhere, in the middle of nowhere, where there is nothing to relate to and still feel we belong."
Maria Kjartans - Photographer | Artist
Begga Rist - Tour Guide and Owner of ÍSLENSKI HESTURINN – The Icelandic Horse
"
In autumn 2008 Iceland was hit by the economic crises and I was hit by car in a collision. In early 2011 when “both“ the economy
and I were getting better I decided to realise my dream - to ride on the great Icelandic Horses and introduce their famous “tölt“ gait to
everyone. When I founded my firm I owned just one horse. Starting a horse rental with one horse sounds quite optimistic, but I am an
enthusiastic optimist who is rich in good friends. My optimism and good friendships made it possible for me to grow my business into a
success."
Rakel Sölvadóttir - Computer Engineer - Founder/CEO of Skema and reKode Education
"
Being the typical ADHD (Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder) person, I know what it’s like to feel like you are outside the
‘educational box’. I did not get the chance to shine with my talents inside the school system when I was young, and as the years passed,
I saw that the school system was not about to change. I founded my company because I wanted to give more children the opportunity to shine."
Ólína Helga Sverrisdóttir - Skema Assistant Teacher, Student, Programmer
At 11 years old Olina Helga, Rakel Sölvadóttir's daughter, won the middle
school part of the Alice Challenge 2012 a programming competition held by the
FBI in co-operation with Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. Olina Helga
is an assistant teacher at reKode Education (Skema in Iceland) - a start-up
company that started in Iceland and has been building up a methodology based
on research in psychology, education and technology to teach children how to
code from the age of six.
Liv Bergþórsdóttir - CEO, Nova Iceland Telecommunication Company
"The Global Gender Gap Report, introduced by the World Economic Forum,
shows that Iceland tops the overall rankings in The Global Gender Gap Index
for the last four years. Iceland has only around 320.000 inhabitants so one can
imagine the importance of both genders contributing to the society. I don’t
assume that Icelandic women are any different than women in other parts of
the world, how this small society has evolved has resulted in a supporting
infrastructure for both men and women to work outside the home. The equality
is of course something one must not take for granted. I am thankful for it and
aware that I, like anyone else, must be a conscious participant in its maintenance."
Brynja Guðmundsdóttir - Gagnavarslan/Azazo Founder/CEO
"
I had a dream for many years to start a company, but I was always trying
to find a way to do it without putting my home on the line. I´m a single mother
with 4 children, in order to secure a loan I didn't´t want to risk losing the home
of the family. I then started to think. A home is not a house. If I started a
company and it failed I could be losing my "house“ but I could rent and make
a "home“ for my children anywhere. I didn't want to wake up an old woman
and realise that I didn't live my dream. So I quit work, and put my house on
the line. I found a bank that was willing to give me a loan and I started Gagnavarslan.
Today we have 50 employee´s and it is going very well."
Íris Ólafsdóttir - Kula3d, Inventor and Founder
Kúla Inventions Ltd. was founded in 2011 by Íris Ólafsdóttir around an idea where four mirrors are used to project stereoscopic reality
into a camera lens. It has been funded by the largest technology fund in Iceland, the Icelandic Technology Development Fund and is
the first company in its history to receive all the four grants they are offering.
Kúla develops devices for all kind of single lens cameras,
turning them into 3D cameras.
