ICELAND by Alan Gignoux
I have always been interested in belief systems and how they shape our interactions with one another.
While a resident artist at NES, Skagaströnd, on the coast of northern Iceland during October 2024, I spent my time exploring, sometimes sleeping alone in my car with nothing but mountains and the open space around me. It was an eerie experience, but the stars sparkled, and the silence was calming. I felt the power of nature and the energy of the ever-changing weather. I felt humbled by the stark and empty landscape.
I had many conversations with Icelanders on my journey; they talked about a strong connection to the landscape that surrounds them and said that they are constantly reminded of ‘something other than themselves.‘
I had come to Iceland in search of ‘huldufólk.’ Icelandic huldufólk are supernatural beings, like elves, that live in a parallel world and prefer to remain unseen, though they can make themselves visible at will. It is thought that upsetting the huldufólkcan can bring bad luck.
Environmentalists have turned this belief to their advantage. The Nature Conservation Act of 1999 protects huldufólk sites as part of the safeguarding of magical folkloric places of significance and has been used to prevent infrastructure development. In one location, a roundabout was built specifically to protect the huldufólk.
Many people believe in huldufólk, even if they can’t say they are certain; some will completely rule out their existence but still respect others’ belief in the possible presence of these ‘hidden people.’
Photos made with a Fuji XT-3 and lens cap with a pinhole to create a camera obscura.
Some of the photographs have been made into a small Cosintina photobook, see here.
Northwestern Iceland, October 2024
Camera Obscura, The Huldenfolk making their presence known? Iceland, October 2024.
Gullfoss Waterfall, Central Iceland, October 2024.
South Eastern Iceland, October 2024.
Elf’s Rock, which has been turned into a roundabout, Reykjavík, Iceland, October 2024.
Hvammsvik, Western Iceland, October 2024.
Camera Obscura, Hallgrimskirkja Cathedral, Central Reykjavík, Iceland, October, 2024.
Camera Obscura, Geothermal Energy, Tourism is a major and growing industry, Iceland, October 2024.
Camera Obscura, A New Viewing tower, is being built in Seyoisfjorour, Iceland, in October 2024.
Mountains, Western Iceland, October 2024.
Whales fattening up for their journey to the Caribbean, Husavik, Iceland, 2024.
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