{"id":31215,"date":"2026-01-07T10:21:28","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T10:21:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/?p=31215"},"modified":"2026-01-08T10:23:49","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T10:23:49","slug":"olafur-helgi-moberg-olafsson-vidtal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/en\/olafur-helgi-moberg-olafsson-vidtal\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00d3lafur Helgi M\u00f3berg \u00d3lafsson - interview"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u00d3lafur Helgi M\u00f3berg \u00d3lafsson is a master's student in art education at the art education department of the Iceland Academy of the Arts.<\/h3>\n

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\u201eI was raised in Laugarnes and lived on Kleppsvegi. I had my childhood at Laugarnes School and then Laugarl\u00e6kjarsk\u00f3li. At Laugarl\u00e6kjarsk\u00f3li, my interest in acting was sparked and from there I went to the Polytechnic School in Brei\u00f0holt (FB) where my interest in acting got to flourish. I went to a handicraft course in FB, which sparked my interest in costume design and fashion, says \u00d3lafur, but he has also long been very interested in acting and drag.<\/p>\n

\u201eIn 2002, I got around to calling myself a drag queen and then I created the character Star\u00edna. I've been drag queen Star\u00edna for 23 years, but in recent years I've focused on reading children's books for children in libraries and at various other events around the country in the guise of Star\u00edna\u201c.\u201c<\/p>\n

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Photo: City Library<\/p><\/div>\n

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In 2009, \u00d3lafur graduated and then went to Milan to study design at the school Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti (NABA), from where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in fashion design in 2013.<\/p>\n

\u201eAfter my studies, I moved back to Iceland and wanted to deepen my skills in sewing. I started studying dressmaking at the Technical School and subsequently got a job with dressmaker \u00de\u00f3runni Sigur\u00f0ard\u00f3ttir, who then ran Katr\u00edna's wedding dress rental there, I worked for eight years and completed a dressmaking leaving exam in 2022\u201c.\u201c<\/p>\n

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NABA Final Project: Starina Couture 2013<\/p><\/div>\n

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After \u00d3lafur finished his work at Katr\u00edna's Bridal Dress Rental, he wanted to focus more on the drag.<\/p>\n

\u201eI felt certain, however\" creative drought<\/em>, or need for new challenges, and physical difficulties began to take hold as my mobility worsened After I started reading to children as Star\u00edna, I have always wanted to write a children's book or put on a children's play I wonder what a message should be in such a work.<\/p>\n

Many people told me that despite my mobility impairment, I had unique technical knowledge in textiles and design. I could easily explain my hands to others and share the knowledge, even if the mobility impairment sometimes makes it difficult for me to do certain things myself. It pushed me to look at the teaching, says \u00d3lafur, but his experience of studying in the art education department has been very empowering.<\/p>\n

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Photo: David Terrazas<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u201eAfter a long time appearing as a drag queen, but never seeing it as my art form, because it's all been the case that I have to be a fashion designer, visual artist or actor, those in the art education department have encouraged me very much in seeing drag as my art form and as how can I use drag to pass on knowledge\u201c.\u201c<\/p>\n

The program has taught \u00d3lafi to look at artistic creation and design in a wider context.<\/p>\n

\u201eAlthough physical challenges have changed the way I work with my hands, the program has shown me that my ability to guide and spark interest in others is even more valuable than the craft itself\u201c, says \u00d3lafur, who envisions using the program to bridge the gap between fashion design, craftsmanship and performing arts.<\/p>\n

\u201eI want to work in art communication where I use drag as a powerful tool to help others find confidence, language and courage to better understand their own identity. \u201c Namely, drag is an art form where all my passions combine; colors, storytelling, music and costumes in complete freedom. \u201e<\/p>\n

\u00d3lafur Helgi is particularly passionate about showing that art studies and crafts are accessible to everyone, regardless of physical ability.<\/p>\n

\u201eI myself have faced prejudice and know that life is complicated and obstacles can be big, but I want to teach others to write their own story and be true to themselves. \" My message is about meeting the world with love, calmness and humor.<\/p>\n

The teaching qualifications will give me professional tools to develop courses and projects that combine technical knowledge with theatrical expressionI would like to show that every person has infinite potential and power to transform their life through courage, creativity and kindness My goal is to show children and adults that love is always stronger. \u201c<\/p>\n

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Photo: Erna L\u00f3a Gu\u00f0mundsd\u00f3ttir<\/p><\/div>\n

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There are exciting times ahead in a new place.<\/p>\n

\u201eMy boyfriend and I recently moved to B\u00fa\u00f0ardal with our dog, but my boyfriend started working there as a music and music education teacher. I look forward to introducing Star\u00edna to a new community and continuing to read to children in libraries and events, but now with a deeper understanding of pedagogy and pedagogy in my suitcase. Through Star\u00edna, I want to continue to convey the joy and softness she represents\u201c.\u201c<\/p>\n

\u00d3lafur plans to use the stillness of the Valleys and the rest of his studies to lay the foundation for his big goal; to write a children's book or design a children's play.<\/p>\n

\u201eThere I want to interweave craftsmanship, diversity and the important message that everyone has the power to manifest their true nature unashamed.\" I would like to use this work to show that while life is complex and obstacles can be large, we can always write our own story and meet the world with hope and empathy.<\/p>\n

It is important for \u00d3lafi to convey that art has no limits.<\/p>\n

\u201eWhile mobility impairments can change the way they work, they don't stop creativity. \u201e I look forward to being a role model for others who want to find their own ways in the arts and show that there are many ways to be a \u201cmaster\u201c in their profession. \u201c<\/p>\n

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Photo: Eva \u00c1g\u00fasta Arad\u00f3ttir<\/p><\/div>\n

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Article title: David Terrazas<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":31216,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"wds_primary_category":115,"wds_primary_departmens_cat":0,"wds_primary_global_cat":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[115],"tags":[187],"departmens_cat":[109],"global_cat":[],"class_list":["post-31215","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-frettir","tag-listkennsla","departmens_cat-listkennsludeild"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31215","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31215"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31215\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31245,"href":"https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31215\/revisions\/31245"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31216"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31215"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31215"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31215"},{"taxonomy":"departmens_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/departmens_cat?post=31215"},{"taxonomy":"global_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lhi.is\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/global_cat?post=31215"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}