Maija fox is a British visual artist who spent summer months June and July here at the Fish Factory – art residency. Maija’s work aims to address conscious observations to the places/spaces that she finds herself in. She works in mediums that become apparent through the process of being in the world; crafting site-specific companions; sculptural objects and devices, that encourage the act of paying attention to what’s happening when it’s happening; in this case, responding specifically to the experience and landscape of Stöðvarfjörður East Iceland. Here at the Fish Factory Maija has built a wind-powered device (a similar machoism to a pottery wheel, but the motion powered by the input of the wind). This interactive object creates an interface encouraging communication and engagement between Maija and the wind.

The sculpture was created with the intention to collaborate with the distinctive elements of this landscape, the interest and inspiration that came from the dynamic movement and unique forms that are so apparent in this landscape. The physical process of being in and spending time in the landscape, with the device enabled a deeper understanding and recognition of the perspective of the environment. The importance of ecological thinking and perception of all-encompassing equality in relation to all existence, the device, the wind, a mountain or another being. The work becoming a ritual occasion forcing a deeper understanding and awareness to the immediate environment. A focus on becoming more aligned to the present; in the present with the help of the elements that are already existing, with the aim to create a shared dialogue and narrative through the making of clay forms together. The device is active/live, it travels, deconstructs, the forming/device adapts fluidly as an automatic reaction to the power and movement of the wind.

Maija’s understanding and relationship with the elements are developed through the process of making, journeying, data collection and the activation of the sculpture/ device by her being present in the landscape. A big thank you to the Winds in and around Stöðvarfjörður for making this project happen, for teaching me about the shaping and motion of this landscape, and to the fish factory for the supporting of this project and donating recycled material for the construction of the device. Maija’s project funded by STEP European Cultural Foundation Labs, The Student Project Fund – Glasgow School of Art and The Mason Trust

//More of Maija´s work//

instagram.com/maijajadefox

Check out the interview here:

Thank you, Maija!

Mareiwa is a French-Columbian artist based in San Francisco. Fish Factory – Creative Centre of Stöðvarfjörður was her first art residency experience, and it was an amazing place to execute that. She spent the summer month of July here between the mountains in the east-fjords. Mareiwa came to develop some existing art ideas, and to make a summer-research. During her residency stay, she got the feeling of isolation which gave her time to think, try new things and materials and just have fun while exploring. Mareiwa was developing her ideas for paintings, and she made ceramic parts to hold one of them.  She used metal for the first time in her sculpture. While her residency time she devoted herself to researching, emptying the head and focusing on the object she was working on at that moment.

//More of Mareiwa´s work//

instagram.com/maredoesthings

Check out the interview here:

Thank you, Mareiwa!

Laura Nygren is an American musician based in Amsterdam, Holland, who spent the month of July here at the Fish Factory.  She is a contrabass player and an electrical musician as well. Laura wanted to come to Fish Factory art residency to write music and find more ways to combine her voice with contrabass, so it would be one more comprehensive thing. She also wanted to find a calm place to sit down and focus on music, what she loves.

She got an opportunity to work in Studio Silo for the first two weeks, which just opened in June 2019. This studio is the only facility in Iceland that specialises in analog tape recording. The entire facility is designed by Acoustics Engineer John H. Brandt from Texas, USA and the Studio is situated on the upper floor of Creative Centre.  During Laura´s residency stay, she got to play in Studio Silo Live sessions, and do an unexpected collaboration with an Icelandic singer and a songwriter JFDR. During her residency time, Laura wrote six songs and had amazing adventures. She got inspired by watching other artists work, and saw the process behind it. How did every artwork grow from a small seed to its own piece?

//More of Laura´s work//

lauranygren.com

Check out the interview here:

Thank you, Laura!

Hyesug Park// July 2019

Hyesug Park is a Korean artist and ceramist living in Germany. She spent the month of July here with us in the Fish Factory artist residency. From first sight Hyesung was fascinated by the mountains she saw on our website, and she decided to come to Iceland. Her curiosity towards nature and mountains was so honest, it was beautiful to look at. Her respect for the mountains was real. She crystallized the meaning of her visit in one sentence: I´m here to be here.

Hyesug created multiple artworks while her residency time. As a material, she was using clay, wood, paint, graphic, pen and paper. Hyesug also made a few installations. She was getting inspired during her walks in the harbour by the vibrant colours and colour combinations. By focusing on the moment, she could find inspiration to make art and experiment with new things again.

//More of Hyesug´s work//

www.hyesugpark.com

Check out the interview here:

Thank you, Hyesug!

Galadriel Gonzalez Romero// May – July 2019

Galadriel Gonzalez Romero is a visual artist from Spain and Kenya, who spent three months in the Fish Factory- Creative Centre. With her artwork she mainly uses photography, but currently she started experimenting textiles. She prefers to use local materials, which are reflecting the culture, mythology and natural landscapes depending on, where she is working at the moment. During her visit to Iceland, she was interested in moss, which you can find everywhere. There are many different species of moss and respect towards it. It´s protected in unique areas with lava-rock environment, where the moss becomes fragile. While making her artwork, she was using Icelandic wool, made from the local sheep wool. She was re-creating patterns and textures that the moss does to her textile rock. Gala also learnt, how to knit with traditional style. She knitted a woollen sweater from scratch and covered it with moss patterns. She documented her work progress by photographing.

//More of Gala´s work//

www.galadrielgonzalez.com

Check out the interview here:

Thank you, Galadriel!

Andrew Ihamaki // July 2019

Andrew Ihamaki is a visual artist and writer from Canada. Andrew stayed at the Fish Factory – Creative Centre of Stöðvarfjöður for one month in July 2019. Andrew came to Fish Factory art residency to take a break from his everyday life and centre his energy for artwork. He wanted to find a peaceful place that would allow him to focus on writing the first draft of his novel. He was also going to produce small-scale paintings, as a part of his regular artistic process. As a short storyteller, he was inspired by stories of trolls and other Icelandic mythology characters. He fell in love with the beautiful landscapes around the east fjords. During his residency time, he created watercolour paintings inspired by those mountain views. It was one of the most exciting things for Andrew to be able to explore the remarkable landscapes, which Iceland has to offer.

//More of Andrew´s work//

www.andrewihamaki.com

Check out the interview here:

Thank you, Andrew!