ÍSLENDINGAR! Sex Before Coffee: A Love Manifesto
Analog Photography (Mamiya RZ67), Spatialized Sound Design, Tulle Projections & Living Archive — Reykjavík, Iceland (2009–2026)
THE HUMAN AS A REFLECTION OF THE LANDSCAPE: A TELLURIC OSMOSIS
Iceland is not a mere backdrop; it is the matrix of those who inhabit it. A land of fire and ice marked by sudden atmospheric shifts, the island shapes a singular interiority within its people. Here, human temperament merges with the territory, engaging in an absolute osmosis with an environment in perpetual motion. Accustoming body and soul to such natural volatility demands an intimate dance with the unexpected. This environmental harshness coexists with a remarkable cultural and social sophistication. Driven by a radical ideal of equality, the population functions as a deeply interwoven family. This spirit of interconnection infuses every aspect of daily life, including their relationship with the Huldufólk—the “hidden people” of elves and earth spirits. Far from tourist folklore, this collective belief reflects a persistent poetic sensitivity, a sacred respect for the living, and an abiding anchor in the invisible.
Shot on medium-format film (Mamiya RZ67), Íslendingar! explores the atavism of a people sculpted by the fragility of existence. The territory manifests not through direct landscape views, but through its echo within human bodies, postures, and gazes.
DECONSTRUCTING THE GAZE: A MANIFESTO FOR THE URGENCY OF LOVE At the core of this inquiry lies an existential posture: an optimistic fatalism. Confronted with unpredictable forces that can reclaim everything at any moment, Icelanders respond with total presence. They devour life, love, joy, and grief with radical spontaneity, embracing climatic chaos as the very rhythm of their existence
The phrase "Sex before coffee"—used locally to describe this instinctual approach to intimacy—has often been distorted by Western media, notably The New York Times, reducing it to casual hedonism or transactional consumerism. This research fundamentally refutes that sociological misunderstanding.
Photographing this youth on medium format reveals that this spontaneity is a direct response to terrestrial instability: the pure expression of a capacity to love without waiting, without protocol, and without hesitation. It is the victory of the vital drive and the heart over relational calculation.
Omel & Atli, Reykjavik 2008
Geoffrey, Reykjavik 2008
Magga, Reykjavik 2008
3. DEEP TIME & THE COMMUNITY MIRACLE (2009–2026)
Embracing deep time is the essence of the Mamiya RZ67 photographic ritual. The slowness of the medium-format camera, the tactile grain of analog film, and the contemplative framing enforce a suspension of time—mirroring Iceland’s mineral eternity.
Captured in 2009 in the immediate aftermath of the historic financial crash, this series remained unreleased in the darkness of the darkroom for seventeen years. In May 2026, the reactivation of the project through a participatory campaign revealed the organic strength of the island's social fabric: within 72 hours, collective solidarity allowed for the re-identification of 42 out of the 49 individuals photographed.
This contemporary quest transforms the archival object into an active dialogue between past and present. The project demonstrates that a true human and environmental footprint does not reside in capturing a frozen instant, but in sustaining an altruistic, poetic, and conscious bond with the world.
Íslendingar!
Sex Before Coffee
A Love Manifesto
A 2009 unreleased analog time capsule and community reunion.
In 2009, during a pivotal moment of historical and social transition, the streets of Reykjavík were vibrating with a unique energy:
—raw, resilient, and profoundly free.
Armed with a Mamiya RZ67 medium-format camera, I captured the people of Reykjavík in intimate and dignified analog colour portraits.
Left unreleased in the darkroom for 17 years, this series is finally stepping into the light, with an unique intention:
A Celebration of Life, beyond measure.
'Íslendingar! Sex before coffee: A Love manifesto' is a tribute to the Icelandic spirit.
On the 22nd of May 2026, driven by an overwhelming viral crowdsourcing campaign on social media—which successfully identified 42 of the 49 subjects in just 72 hours—this project has transformed into a living community reunion.
UPDATE (June 2026): This living archive will be presented in a solo exhibition at Les Ostals de Béziers for the Festival Hors Cadre Béziers Images (October 2026).
UPDATE 17 June 2026 : A spectacular community wave on social media successfully identified 42 out of the 49 subjects so far.
This living archive will be presented in a solo exhibition at Les Ostals de Béziers for the Festival Hors Cadre Béziers Images (October 2026).
Please Help us find the remaining 8 7 6 faces
May 22nd-24th Out of 49 people photographed in the streets of Reykjavík in 2009, 41 have already been reunited with their portraits thanks to the incredible local community in 72 hours between May, 22nd & May, 24th. Can you help us identify the last 8 ?
If you recognize someone, a friend, a family member, or yourself, please contact me below.
June 5th 2026 ( update ) Out of 49 people photographed in the streets of Reykjavík in 2009, 42 have already been reunited with their portraits thanks to enthusiasm among the Icelandic community. It happens to be one of the 3 little girls I photographed, number 48, who is a grown up now ! Takk Kaerlega
We are still trying to identify n° : 5 - 6 / 17 - 18 / 36 / 40 / 41
June 6th 2026 ( 2nd update ) : N° 49, Vala, was identified by her friend on the picture, little girl n° 48, Sóley along with the dog, Táta
