CREATURES FROM THE PAST ( TRÉKYLLISVÍK )

Creatures from the Past

This collection is inspired by two 17th-century carved wooden boards that once belonged to Árnes Church in Trékyllisvík, in the remote Strandir region of the Westfjords. Today they are kept at the National Museum of Iceland. The carvings depict mermaids, dragons and other sea creatures. One is based on the Icelandic tale of King Flóres, while the other shows men battling a dragon-like monster.

The story behind the collection

Inspiration often finds us in mysterious ways. One day I saw an ad for an exhibition at the National Museum about magic and superstition, featuring pictures of two old carved boards. Something about the mermaid called to me, so I dove into research to learn more.

To my surprise, the carvings come from Strandir, a small, remote corner of Iceland where my family has deep roots, which, in my opinion, is the center of the universe. As if that weren't sign enough, the church they belonged to is where my paternal grandparents are laid to rest. Yet I had never seen or heard of these carvings until that exhibition in Reykjavík.

There was no ignoring a stroke of fate like that. I knew I had to channel this inspiration into a new collection.