Casting in All Directions
Spreading the word on Gislander's 100 Faroese paintings on local radio.
Brush-like curves sweep across the concrete façade. Rather than forming a perfect circle, the lines seem to be in motion, like waves spreading outward.
This is the logo of Kringvarp, the islands’ radio station. In Faroese, kringvarp means ‘to cast in all directions’. This is exactly for what we came: spread word of this project across the eighteen islands.
I meet Solveig on the parking lot. Earlier that week, she reached out to Gunnar from the station. “He’ll have us on Summarmorgun (‘Summer Morning’) on Wednesday”, she said with excitement right after the call.
Latin vibes fill the studio we enter that Wednesday morning. Los Ángeles Azules are still playing – the football season is in full swing on the Faroes. The hosts Gunnar and Ingi weave a transition from the World Cup to the early chapters of the islands’ art history.
Solveig speaks first. As director of the National Gallery of the Faroe Islands, she introduces the project in the national language, also touching on the inspirational role Gislander played on the most famous artist of the islands.
Then, I take over. The hosts do a great job to create a relaxed atmosphere. There is plenty of room to speak about the project and the mission on the islands, which is connecting with the people whose help this project depends on.
Solveig takes over again and wraps up in Faroese, inviting listeners to help solve this hundred-piece research puzzle and to attend Sunday’s talk. We thank the hosts for the conversation and the opportunity to speak on air, and Gunnar leads over to the next song.
The red light on the microphones goes off. Then, Ingi turns to me.
“You know, my grandmother – she has a Gislander painting in her cottage,” he says. “It’s a likka – I don’t know the bird in English.1 But she really, really loves it.”
If you cast something into the air on the islands, you might be surprised where it lands.
This work was produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union.
References
A seagull. Perhaps, the painting identifies as no. 31 from the Search List (verification pending).