Wax, ash, particle board, steel, tin, paint, syrup, flour, paper, glue. Sculpture with various
elements (mixed media),
This work takes its title from a reimagining of the first line of O Canada, the Canadian national anthemila deliberate act of disruption meant to draw attention to the ongoing realities of colonialism. By inserting “New Iceland” into this familiar phrase, I aim to question not only Canada's national myths but also the specific narrative of Icelandic settlement in what is now known as Manitoba.
New Iceland was founded in the late 19th century by Icelandic immigrants fleeing family, poverty, and ecological collapse. While this history is often told as a story of courage and endurance; they were taken, negotiated under pressure, and misrepresented. In this work, I confirm the duality of disability: the trauma carried by Icelandic settlers and the violence their argument possible. What causes it to become?
The use of both English and Icelandic in the title acknowledges the preservation of cultural identity while also recognizing that language, like land, can be a tool of power and exclusion. By naming this contradiction, I hope to invite others into a space of reflection, discomfort, and absolutely, accountability, accountability.
Photo credits: Sisters Lumière/ @sisters_lumiere
The work in pictures.