The Weather Diaries: A Book, An Exhibition And A Video Documentary Celebrating The Nordic Fashion Biennale 2014
Words by Yatzer
Location
The Weather Diaries: A Book, An Exhibition And A Video Documentary Celebrating The Nordic Fashion Biennale 2014
Words by Yatzer
''Enigmatic, magical, [retaining] aura and tradition as inherent elements of the artisan’s creative and life processes.'' In these words, Matthias Wagner K, the Director of Frankfurt’s Museum Angewandte Kunst, refers to the elements (more specifically, the materials) pivotal to the fashion of the Nordic Islands. Incidentally, or perhaps not at all, these very words could also serve as a particularly apt description of the recent tome by acclaimed photographic duo Cooper & Gorfer dedicated to the roots of the fashion and design traditions of the three West Nordic countries, namely Iceland, Greenland and The Faroe Islands. Titled ‘The Weather Diaries’, the truly enthralling Gestalten’s publication coincides with this year’s edition of the Nordic Fashion Biennale {Norræna húsið} which will be held at the aforementioned Museum Angewandte Kunst in Frankfurt later this month, and which Cooper & Gorfer have been invited to curate.
The Weather Diaries by Cooper & Gorfer, Nordic Fashion Biennale, copyright The Nordic House, Iceland & SEEK 2014. Image courtesy of Gestalten.
Bibi Chemnitz, The Fifth Daughters.
By Cooper & Gorfer from The Weather Diaries, Nordic Fashion Biennale, copyright The Nordic House, Iceland & SEEK 2014. Image courtesy of Gestalten.
Najannguaq Lennert, Malu at the Nuup Kangerlua Fjord Holding two Spit Skinned Birds.
By Cooper & Gorfer from The Weather Diaries, Nordic Fashion Biennale, copyright The Nordic House, Iceland & SEEK 2014. Image courtesy of Gestalten.
Barbara I Gongini, The Disciple.
By Cooper & Gorfer from The Weather Diaries, Nordic Fashion Biennale, copyright The Nordic House, Iceland & SEEK 2014. Image courtesy of Gestalten.
Steinunn, Birna in the Water.
By Cooper & Gorfer from The Weather Diaries, Nordic Fashion Biennale, copyright The Nordic House, Iceland & SEEK 2014. Image courtesy of Gestalten.
Known for their otherworldly, poetic and somewhat nostalgic imagery which frequently references the aesthetics of traditional 18th and 19th painting, in ‘The Weather Diaries’ Sarah Cooper and Nina Gorfer have combined their unique photographic style with the sombre, and at times fantastical scenery of the North with moody yet undeniably wondrous results. The resulting portfolio showcases the works of both young and established Nordic designers and artists such as Mundi, Shoplifter, Jör By Guðmundur Jörundsson, Steinnun, Barbara í Gongini, Gudrun & Gudrun, Bibi Chemnitz, Nikolai Kristensen, and Najannguaq Davidsen Lennert, Kría, Jessie Kleeman and Rammatik. Additionally, the book, published by the Berlin-based Gestalten, also features a number of insightful essays on the Nordic Countries’ relationship with clothing and fashion, as well as a collection of interviews with the featured creatives. The titular weather diaries also feature in the book as a series of actual diary excerpts which date back to 1975. Written in a north Icelandic town Akureyri by Baldur Helgi Kristjánsson, the sparse yet personable memories are accompanied by a series of beautiful landscape photographs, again by Cooper & Gorfer.
So for those of you who happen to find themselves in Frankfurt in the upcoming months, ‘The Weather Diaries’ exhibition dedicated to the photographic works presented in the book will open, along with the Nordic Fashion Biennale this coming Friday (21 March 2014) and will remain on show until 22 June 2014.
Nikolaj Kristensen, Ena With Eyes Shut.
By Cooper & Gorfer from The Weather Diaries, Nordic Fashion Biennale, copyright The Nordic House, Iceland & SEEK 2014. Image courtesy of Gestalten.
Guðrun & Guðrun, SaÌra, Armgarð and Alda on a Hill.
By Cooper & Gorfer from The Weather Diaries, Nordic Fashion Biennale, copyright The Nordic House, Iceland & SEEK 2014. Image courtesy of Gestalten.
Bibi Chemnitz, Sara and the Dog.
By Cooper & Gorfer from The Weather Diaries, Nordic Fashion Biennale, copyright The Nordic House, Iceland & SEEK 2014. Image courtesy of Gestalten.
Najannguaq Lennert, Running Malu.
By Cooper & Gorfer from The Weather Diaries, Nordic Fashion Biennale, copyright The Nordic House, Iceland & SEEK 2014. Images courtesy of Gestalten.
Mundi, Mundi Sinking.
By Cooper & Gorfer from The Weather Diaries, Nordic Fashion Biennale, copyright The Nordic House, Iceland & SEEK 2014. Image courtesy of Gestalten.
Guðrun & Guðrun, Girls as Twins.
By Cooper & Gorfer from The Weather Diaries, Nordic Fashion Biennale, copyright The Nordic House, Iceland & SEEK 2014. Images courtesy of Gestalten.
By Cooper & Gorfer from The Weather Diaries, Nordic Fashion Biennale, copyright The Nordic House, Iceland & SEEK 2014. Image courtesy of Gestalten.
The Weather Diaries, Nordic Fashion Biennale by Cooper & Gorfer.
The Weather Diaries will be on show at the Museum Angewandte Kunst Frankfurt from March 22 to June 22, 2014.
Presenting: Barbara í Gongini (FO), Bibi Chemnitz (GL), Cooper & Gorfer (US, AT), Guðrun & Guðrun (FO), Hrafnhildur Arnardóttir a.k.a. Shoplifter (IS), Jessie Kleemann (GL), JÖR by Guðmundur Jörundsson (IS), Kría (IS), Mundi (IS), Najannguaq Lennert (GL), Nikolaj Kristensen (GL), Rammatik (FO) and STEiNUNN (IS).
Mundi, Brynja in the River.
By Cooper & Gorfer from The Weather Diaries, Nordic Fashion Biennale, copyright The Nordic House, Iceland & SEEK 2014. Image courtesy of Gestalten.
Bibi Chemnitz, Holding the Sea.
By Cooper & Gorfer from The Weather Diaries, Nordic Fashion Biennale, copyright The Nordic House, Iceland & SEEK 2014. Image courtesy of Gestalten.
Barbara I Gongini, Kristin Against Black.
By Cooper & Gorfer from The Weather Diaries, Nordic Fashion Biennale, copyright The Nordic House, Iceland & SEEK 2014. Image courtesy of Gestalten.
MURMUR by Rammatik. Film stills © Rammatik.
By Cooper & Gorfer from The Weather Diaries, Nordic Fashion Biennale, copyright The Nordic House, Iceland & SEEK 2014. Image courtesy of Gestalten.
Gudrun & Gudrun, The White Boat.
By Cooper & Gorfer from The Weather Diaries, Nordic Fashion Biennale, copyright The Nordic House, Iceland & SEEK 2014. Image courtesy of Gestalten.
Kria, The Nest.
By Cooper & Gorfer from The Weather Diaries, Nordic Fashion Biennale, copyright The Nordic House, Iceland & SEEK 2014. Image courtesy of Gestalten.
Mundi, The Wind Portrait.
By Cooper & Gorfer from The Weather Diaries, Nordic Fashion Biennale, copyright The Nordic House, Iceland & SEEK 2014. Image courtesy of Gestalten.