Jón Helgi Pálmason

At an unknown point in history, a great plague is said to have wiped out the entire population of Melrakkaslétta, leaving only two survivors: a man in the eastern part of the region and a woman in the west. As they journeyed through the landscape, moving from farm to farm in search of others, their paths eventually crossed in the middle of Melrakkaslétta, now known as Meyjarþúfa (“Virgin’s knoll”). There, it is said that a new generation was born.

Melrakkaslétta in Northeast Iceland, situated at the very edge of the Arctic Circle, is a vast, barren, flatland constantly exposed to the elements. The only respite from the harsh climate comes with a clear southwesterly wind. Sléttan, Yzta Annesið is a visual exploration of this remote landscape, an investigation inspired by local folklore,  narratives of the past, and inherited memory. Through photography, found objects, and archival intervention, the work examines the emotional and complex relationship between people and the landscape they inhabit.

Informed by my heritage in the area, the work reflects a growing personal connection to the landscape's presence. It considers how it shapes the identity and character of its inhabitants. In a time of accelerating environmental and social change, the work quietly addresses the delicate balance between the resilience and vulnerability of small rural communities and their surroundings, while emphasizing the deep bond between land, identity, and people.