Free as a bird
- Myrra is inspired by the freedom of birds in flight
- She uses mostly recycled materials
- She loves the quiet, contemplative atmosphere in the studio
Roughly translated, Fjaðrafok means 'flight of feathers'. Much like a bird gathering materials to build its nest, Myrra Rós Þrastardóttir gathers materials to create her art. She uses mostly recycled or upcycled elements and it is important to her that her work is eco-friendly. She comically describes her materials as crawling out of a trash can and mixing with her imagination. She transforms the hard, static material of wood into wings that are full of movement. By layering thin strips of veneer, she creates the illusion of flight. She started learning this construction by herself with no training, admitting that her first try looked more like a scarecrow than a raven. From these rough beginnings she worked towards achieving beauty and balance in her craft.
INTERVIEW
I moved to the little town of Stokkseyri and had no work. I would go with my husband and father-in-law, Björgvin Tómasson, Iceland's only organ builder, to his workshop each day. I started going through scrap wood, slowly realising what I wanted to make. Fjaðrafok was born.
Yes, my inspiration is the bird life around us here on the south coast of Iceland, especially the raven – we have lots of them living in this area. The raven is my favourite, and inspired my first pair of wings called Vargur, which means vulture.
I am not afraid of hard work and I make the wings entirely myself, from beginning to end. Some people tend to think I have a few men to help me to do the 'manly' stuff. That is not the case.
I think it was when the biggest interior design magazine in Iceland interviewed me in 2018. They did a nine-page piece about my work. I was elated! Later that same year I was selected to be a part of Kirsuberjatréð, a local design store, run by 11 female designers and artists.
