Breiðholt - at the moment

16th of May 2010
Friðgeir Helgason, photographer

Friðgeir Helgason was born in Vestmannaeyjar (the Westman Islands, off the south coast of Iceland) in 1966.  He moved to Breiðholt after the volcanic eruption and lived in Keilufell, in one of the houses built specially to house the eruption refugees. He attended the local school, Fellaskóli, until the age of 13, when he moved abroad. 

When he visits Iceland, Friðgeir stays in Orrahólar, and it was there that he had the idea of a photographic essay on Breiðholt in summer 2006.  In summer 2008 he came and photographed the parts of Breiðholt where he lived as a child.

“What made me interested in photographing Breiðholt,” says Friðgeir, “is that fact that I felt a close connection with the place; the things I take pictures of are things that most people pass by without seeing in their daily routines.  I try to see beauty in things that are simple and ordinary. I am not interested in taking photos of Gullfoss and Geysir.  That sort of thing has been done to death.
“In its own way, I think Breiðholt has the same beauty as any other district.  You just have to take the time to stop and look at what is in front of you. For example, Bónus at night, an abandoned slide in a playground or shopping trolleys left somewhere out of doors.”

The exhibition opens on 16 May at 2 p.m.
It will run until 30 June 2010
Opening hours: weekdays 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; weekends 1 p.m.-4 p.m.