A reader sent me a link to an interesting article written by a [non-Icelandic] panel member for the 2009 Icelandic press photography prize [thanks Bill!].
Make sure they pay upfront… no-one could resist a wisecrack when I was invited to lead the jury for Icelandic Press Photography Prize 2009. Arguably, there’s never been a more interesting time for Icelandic photography, or at least the need has never been more urgent for a critical tradition of documentary photography to emerge.
[...]
I think that this unprecedented national disaster will inevitably lead to a period of reflection in which that which has previously been taken for granted or has remained unexplored will be seen with fresh eyes.
The annual press photography exhibition has always been one of my favourite culture events of the year here in Iceland. The photographs are usually excellent, and more often than not deeply symbolic and funny. One of the best from 2008 is this one, in which Davíð Oddsson, who then was Central Bank director, was snapped driving a car with then-PM Geir Haarde in the passenger seat and then-Minister of Finance Árni Mathiesen in the back. It is so infinitely, perfectly symbolic of what went on here as the meltdown was occurring in the autumn of 2008 that you don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Incidentally, this photo was taken just as Glitnir was being nationalized.]
[photo credit]
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Sometimes a single photo can sum something up in a way that a thousand words of prose cannot. Sometimes it takes s0mething big to jar you out of your habits of perception, and view something as if new.
At least Oddsson let Geir sit up front. I guess Geir had eaten all his greens that day.
I’m sure, there are a lot of such symbolic photos taken in 2009, too.
I like those photography exhibitions – particularly with photos from Iceland, of course. Visiting the Museum of Photography in Reykjavik is always obligatory for me, when there is an interesting exhibition running, while I’m in town.
As far as I understand, the annual press photography exhibition is running in the Gerðarsafn museum in Kópavogur. Are the dates already given?
Joerg – not sure of the dates – I haven’t seen them advertised anywhere. Sometime in March I think. And yes – this is always held in Gerðarsafn.
Just cry, don’t cry for me Argentina, IMF review held up, no money retrieved,Swedes hanging back on loan (I thought you Scando’s were one and the same IKEA=ABBA=FINNISH SAUNA=ICELANDIC VOLCANIC HOTPOOL=THE MERMAID IN THAT TOWN CALLED GLOBAL CLIMATE CATASTROPHE HOPEHAGEN=VOLVO=SAAB=THAT MOVIE WITH KIRK DOUGLAS WHERE HE WRECKS NAZI PLANS FOR A NUCLEAR BOMB).
Never mind Alda just keep the red blog flying there and remember that not everyone thinks you are pussycats.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXuEUc_O9Go
Kevin, how can you associate Iceland with Scandinavia, Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden and Denmark) is far to the east of Ireland, Icealand is to the north-west.
Iceland was, for the most part, settled from Ireland and Scotland (a few Norsemen moved to the British isles and settled there and went with their familes and associates (mostly Irish/Scottish) to Iceland)
so we have more in common with you than with the Scandinavians.
@Sigvaldi Eggertsson yes point taken ,I was just having a laugh most of my posts are in a light vein especially after I have consumed Alchol, In fact I myself am only 20 meters away from a wall constructed by Vikings back in whenever, hence the name Waterford or should that be Waterfjord.