In her work Valdís Ólafsdóttir uses patterns, colours and textures that are deeply rooted in the harsh landscapes of Iceland. Among other things, the sharp edges of the icebergs that characterise the country’s coasts also shape Ólafsdóttir’s works: her ‘diamond cut’ gives her objects an irregular surface. And from time to time, Icelandic sand and volcanic ash find their way into her works, lending them a tactile richness.
In addition to slip casting, Ólafsdóttir also throws on the wheel and hand-builds sculptural wall pieces, giving her practice a versatile and expressive range. She primarily uses black, gray, and beige stoneware alongside liquid porcelain, allowing her forms to shift between delicate and grounded. She has been creating under the name Dísa – Litlu hlutir lífsins (Disa – The Little Things in Life), a title that reflects her gentle focus on everyday beauty and the quiet poetry of handmade objects.
© Courtesy of the artist
Which place do you currently call home and where do you work on your projects?
I live in Kópavogur, Iceland and I work as a ceramic artist. My studio is based at my home. I also run a ceramic gallery in Reykjavík, called Kaolin Keramik Galleri, with five other women so I also work there a few days every month.
Do you have a favourite place in your area where you like to relax and linger?
I love to go swimming, or rather sit in the hot tub. The local swimming pools here in Iceland are really good. I recommend Salalaug Swimming Pool in Kópavogur. And the hot tubs in Vesturbæjarlaug Swimming Pool in Reykjavík are also one of my favorites. Our swimming pools are geothermally heated outdoor swimming pools.
If I want an active outdoor relaxation, I love to go hiking a little bit. Just a few minutes out of the capital area, there are so many walking paths or little mountains. From the mountain Esja you can see all over the capital area and from the mountain Helgafell in Hafnarfjörður is a nice view over old lava fields and Reykjanes and of course the capital area. It really clears my head and gives me inspiration to take a little hike.
© Visit Reykjavik
Are there any urgent political issues or problems in your region?
For the region I live in, or the capital area, I would say that we have too many towns in the capital area instead of one big city. We have one city and four smaller towns, all with their own policy and mayors and tariffs and so on. But then there is so much more, like building more inside the city and not thinking about the extra traffic that comes with more people and space for kids, like more kindergartens. It’s always something but I think these problems are almost everywhere, not just in Iceland.
In your opinion, what has developed well in the last 5 years – and what has not?
The things that have developed very well here in the last five years is, I think, good improvement in the field of energy. We have more electric cars on the streets, walking and cycling paths are always getting better. We have more variation of restaurants and local design stores, the tourist industry gets bigger every year so more and more people make a living working in that field.
What has developed for worse is maybe that the gap between the rich and the poor. It is always getting bigger. Politics are more extreme and people debate about climate issues. The main tourist places can’t handle the massive amount of tourists every year and there are always debates if we should charge people for visiting places just to be able to maintain them. Some charge, others don’t.
Do you know a hidden gem when it comes to local manufacturers – whether it’s arts and crafts, sustainable products or food?
I have to say my gallery Kaolin, for example, has only handmade ceramics from the six of us, the owners. And we have many galleries and little local stores that have beautiful things, made locally. We are proud of that. Icelandic people love ice cream and we eat a lot of it all year round. My favorite ice cream shop is called Skúbb. They make their own ice cream and for me as a vegan, they make a delicious vegan ice cream.
Is there anything particularly innovative in your region? Also in comparison to other places you have already visited?
In my opinion there is nothing particularly innovative in my city, except for that, old houses are taken down and new & bigger apartment buildings rise up instead. I don’t think that is a good thing. I would like to see more parks, plants and trees. Like in some cities I have visited, there are more green areas than I see here in my city. I love exploring the cities I’m staying at, I don’t really go out of the cities. But I think when people come to Iceland they explore the whole country, or a part of it, they are not only in the city. Or that is at least what I hear from people that come to our gallery in Reykjavík.
Do you have a secret restaurant tip that you would like to share with us?
We used to have a really good restaurant in my town, called Pure Deli. It’s now in Reykajvík but I go there regularly. I also love all the food halls. In Reykjavík my favorite food hall is called Pósthús Food Hall and Bar. I can recommend that place. And if I want a dirty vegan burger (because I’m a vegan) I love to go to Hagavagninn in Vesturbær in Reykjavík. They serve both vegan and non vegan burgers and they are so yummy. I recommend getting a burger and then go to the hot tubs in Vesturbæjarlaug Swimming Pool (same street) and relax and enjoy.
© Fuku Mama
Is there a local shop whose products are only available in your region?
We have many stores that offer things that are only available here. If I have to mention a few then I would of course say for ceramics, Kirsuberjatréð – a design store with Icelandic design and Rammagerðin also has all kinds of Icelandic design. I love the jewelry from Aurum, Mjöll, Orrifinn and Lín design has really beautiful bed linen. The list can be so long.
What are your 3 favourite apps that you use every day and couldn’t live without?
I use Instagram, Facebook and Messanger the most.
Do you have any favourite newspapers or online magazines? And how do you keep up to date with politics or social and cultural issues?
I usually check out the online newspapers Visir and mbl.is daily. I don’t have the urge to look at all issues and to tell the truth, I don’t like politics so I usually never read about political issues. I read about things that interest me.
I have an online subscription for Ceramic Review magazine and I love reading about ceramics and seeing different artists and techniques and so on.
Imagine you could be mayor for a year – what would you change?
If I were the mayor of my city for a year I would first and foremost start with trying to fix the big kindergarten problem we have. We don’t have as many kindergartens as we need and also not enough staff. Many children cannot start kindergarten at the right time and parents are not able to return to work. This is a big problem.
There are also many selfish things I would like to do, like don’t charge in the swimming pools and buses, put more charging stations for electric cars, more green areas and outdoor areas for families and kids and plant more trees.
© Visit Reykjavík
One last question: If you could choose another place to live – regardless of financial or time constrains – which one would you choose?
It has always been a little dream of mine to live in Denmark. I love the country and I have been there many times. From there it’s possible to drive all around Europe. I just love the Danish vibe, if I can say so.
© Courtesy of the artist
