Nature, Nostalgia, and Narrative. Material Identity in Icelandic Design

• Main Author: Sigfúsdóttir, Ólöf Gerdur
• Other Authors: Isleifsson, Sumarlidi R., Chartier, Daniel
• Format: Book Part
• Language: English
• Published: Presses de l'Université du Québec 2011
• Subjects: Nature; Nostalgia; Narrative; Material Identity; Icelandic Design; Iceland; North; Nordicity; Nostalgie; Récit; Identité matérielle; Design islandais; Islande; Nord; Nordicité; Tourism; Tourisme; Reykjavik; Anthropology; Anthropologie; Reykjavík
• Online Access: http://www.archipel.uqam.ca/10459/1/222023438.pdf

This paper studies design objects in two tourist outlets in Reykjavík from the perspective of material culture studies and anthropology. The two cases are put into context with public discourse on Icelandic design in general, with a particular emphasis on the genre of product design. It discusses the rather recent development of Icelandic design as a cultural commodity, while looking at it as a cultural agent of identity formation. The paper highlights the relationship between product design and souvenir objects and points to issues of the past that seem to prevail, both public discourse and the production of Icelandic contemporary design.