L I M I N A L I T Y
2021-2022
Location: Reykjavik
Collaborator: Reykjavik Ensemble
Director: Pálína Jónsdóttir
Filming & Editing: Martyna Daniel
Music: Halldor Smarason/Manchester Collective
Writer/Poem: Ewa Marcinek
The Polish diaspora, with over 16 million Polish citizens living abroad, is considered one of the biggest in the world.
There are stories about the first waves of Poles coming to Iceland after the European borders opened to them in 2004. Plane after plane, first hundreds then thousands of Poles arrived at Keflavik airport looking for a seasonal job in construction, fish industry, or simply a better place to live. Many more have come since, lured by the stories about the jobs in the blooming Icelandic tourism industry, an easy life, the cultural and natural richness of Iceland.
Today, there are over 20 000 Poles living in Iceland, constituting the biggest minority group. Most often, even if highly educated, they occupy low paid or basic service jobs. They are useful, yet foreign bodies. An internal, but often overlooked, part of the Icelandic social tissue.
Who are they? Do they feel at home? What do they dream about?
In this project, we explore personal stories, anecdotes of Poles who migrated to Iceland. We asked them about their sense of belonging. To what extent is their cultural heritage part of their newly constructed identity? Is it an important element of their everyday life? How do they navigate between two cultures? The material collected from the interviews, discussions and creative writing inspires a new piece of visual and sonic artwork. The music and film interwoven together invite the audience into the private reality of Poles living in Iceland, their personal journeys, their sense of belonging and displacement in a new land.
Development & Research - APRIL 2021
Meeting between Einkofi Production and Reykjavik Ensemble 7th of April to plan a collaborative film production in coming weeks.
The collaborative process between visual artists Reykjavík Ensemble and composer Halldór Smárason started right from project kick off.
Pálína Jónsdóttir, Ewa Marcinek, Halldór Smárason and Martyna Daniel
June 2021
On Location - Reykjanes Peninsula
August 2021
On Location - Þykkvabær
Following a successful filming in June around the Reykjanes Peninsula our Creative Team headed to Þykkvabær on the South Coast to film the growing potato fields, just before harvest. The Team was eager to catch these images to further add to the poetic approach of landscape representing the sense of displacement of the Polish population in Iceland.
March 2022
Music score recordings - Manchester
Following months of film editing and music score development Composer Halldór Smárason travelled to Manchester to record with Manchester Collective Ensemble members at 80 Hertz Studios in The Sharps Project in Manchester. Score, composed for Violin, Cello, Piano and Bass Clarinet was recorded on the 18th of March 2022.
Violin - Ian Watson
Cello - Peggy Nolan
Piano - Chris Illingworth
Bass Clarinet - Jillian Allan
Huge thanks to:
Adam Szabo, Chief Executive of Manchester Collective
Brendan Williams, Recording Producer 80 Hertz Studios
