Shrine

Laborare est orare. Welcome to the shrine, a place of work and prayer. Here creative forces are put to the test in a ritual celebrating both life and death. The iconic images that emerge in action are not merely the product of excavation and research into ancient times. They’re not a specific result of adulation of ancient gods, goddesses or Yaweh, the one reckless, almighty deity and lawmaker. It’s a journey, a joyous and painful struggle with the boundaries and limits of our bodies and our existence. We cannot go back to where we came from, no matter how hard we try. We still feel the remorse. That’s why we want to keep on trying. This is a requiem for the human, for all things lost.

Erna Ómarsdóttir and Valdimar Jóhannsson artistic direction

choreography Erna Ómarsdóttir – in collaboration with the dancers

music Valdimar Jóhannsson, with Sofia Jernberg

lighting Björn Bergsteinn Guðmundsson

costumes Júlíanna Lára Steingrímsdóttir

hair and rubber tubes from Dies Irae

Sofia Jernberg’s costume from Union of the North

donut from Union of the North, designed by Matthew Barney

text Bjarni Jónsson and Friðgeir Einarsson

make-up Fríða María Harðardóttir

performers Aðalheiður Halldórsdóttir, Ásgeir Helgi Magnússon, Elín Signý Weywadt Ragnarsdóttir, Friðgeir Einarsson, Halla Þórðardóttir, Hannes Þór Egilsson, Heba Eir Kjeld, Hjördís Lilja Örnólfsdóttir, Inga Maren Rúnarsdóttir, Lovísa Ósk Gunnarsdóttir, Sigtryggur Berg Sigmarsson and Sofia Jernberg.