Merry Christmas.

ICELANDIC FEMINISM

Iceland is often considered to be "the most feminist country" in the world. And indeed, it has topped the Global Gender Gap Index for six years now, with the lowest gender gap regarding health and survival, political empowerment, educational attainment and economic participation and opportunity. This year, 100 years of women's suffrage are celebrated. Last year, a #freethennipple-campaign against double standards in censoring female breasts hit the headlines. Some weeks ago, I experienced how nearly everybody in a room of rather conservative students raised their hand to the question: "Do you consider yourself a feminist?"

However, there are several difficulties with this post. First of all, definitions and premises are left unclear (What shall be regarded as "feminism"? What is the relation between "feminism" and "gender equality"? How is "feminist" success to be measured? What, after all, is "gender equity"? And what about the fight for gender equity that refuses the label "feminism"?). Secondly, I write about this as a foreigner, lacking real, continuous insight. And thirdly, there are doubts from "the most feminist country" itself.

In many respects, the (partial) myth of "equal Iceland" seems to be another version of the "nordic paradise" narrative that ghosts many western (equality) debates. But what is true, is that there is an over-average sensibility for "feminist questions" in Iceland (compared to what I've experienced in Middle Europe at least). That relatively seen a lot of people get somehow involved in "feminist actions" and that the combination of this mentality for change with a certain "Icelandic creativity" I've experienced again and again, can do magic. I strongly recommend to watch this year's winning performance "Dear girls" at "Skrekkur", a secondary schools talent contest in Reykjavik.

JÓLASVEINAR

From today on, the 13 Icelandic "Jólasveinar" (Yule Lads) will come to town. The first one is "Stekkjarstaur", here you can read more about him and the Lads in general.

ICELANDIC DESIGN/ /HÖNNUN

Since the 19th century, Iceland has been a nation dedicated to linguistic purism. The Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies regularly suggests new (archaic) words to substitute loanwords from other languages. The Icelandic term for design ("hönnun") was formed in the 1950s which already indicates that the local design scene is rather young. In 1998, the Museum of Design and Applied Art started and three years later The Icelandic Academy of the Arts opened.

Looking at Icelandic design, one can see that most people get educated abroad but never lose touch with their native landscapes and materials. I recommend the websites of the Design Museum and the Icelandic Design Center to get a first overview. This June, the latter also launched "HA", a magazine about Icelandic design and architecture.

MILKYWHALE

Best music video in a while! I saw them live at Iceland Airwaves in November. Milkywhale. Remember that name.

SNOWPOCALYPSE

And then it snowed.

REYKJAVIK HARBOUR

To me, Reykjavik's harbour is as windy, loud, colourful and smelling of fish as it is unknown and secretive. You never catch sight of what happens in the big factory halls and stores or on the vessels that leave and arrive. In 2014, Reykjavik was homeport to 73 fishing fleets. Last month's catch amounted to 8,586,717. There must be a lot going on behind these walls. Next to one of the processing plants, there is an outdoor art piece by Ólöf Nordal named "Þúfa". It's basically a small hill with a fish drying shed at the peak. Somewhere I read that the artist was inspired of this very processing plant's staff that comes from many different countries, creating a microcosm of its own.

IMAGINE PEACE

Yesterday, the "Imagine Peace Tower" was lit again. Yoko Ono came over, choirs sang and people wrote down their wishes to hang on "wish trees". You can see a video about the tower here.

Some days ago the sky opened up and all of a sudden Mount Esja was covered in snow. A harbinger of the quiet new winter world that slowly arrives...

Reykjavik, city of cats and construction sites.

OF ICE (AND) BEARS

I've heard many examples and explanations for the (literal) confusion of Iceland and Greenland. The most popular one might be about polar bears (they are not native to Iceland). When I came across this photo of one of the plushie bears on Laugavegur, it made me think of Allison Warden's 

"Where Did All The Ice Go?"

SUN BLISS

Friday was a beautiful day of sunshine. People left their houses and offices and shops, put sunglasses on and had some waffles. It made me think of the "Sun Voyager" which I tend to read as a wish for better weather. But as the autumn sun shows: There is no need to sail away!

REYKJAVIK CULTURE NIGHT

This was Reykjavik's colourful Culture night 2015.

REYKJAVIK RAMBLINGS

I moved to Iceland. Or to be more precise: I have the privilege to spend some months in trending Reykjavík. As far as I can see there are definitely reasons for the hype. Though in some parts Iceland seems to suffer from the boom and feels like a country in transition - which then again effects even more interest, I guess.

I thought it would be fun to blog a bit about this very cool, very stylish yet totally approachable, cozy Nordic vibe. So I will try to get my camera with me as often as possible and let my upcoming "Reykjavík Ramblings" just happen. Above you can see the ever-growing collection of stones I pick at different stunning scenerys in the west and south of Iceland.