In a fishing village in the West Fjords of Iceland, as summer ends and winter approaches, a stranger comes down out of the mountains, fleeing the approach of the dark. The people of Ísafjörður invite the stranger in, signaling with flags that it is safe, that the light of community is present here.
These 30 photos span the two weeks before and after the autumn equilux - a date shortly after the equinox when day and night are of equal length. Each day, a photo was taken at the time of sunset on September 24th, the date of the equilux in Iceland. In the series, semaphore flags - also known as signal flags - spell out the phrase “perpetual light” in Icelandic and English. These flags are primarily used on ships and boats to communicate in times of emergency. Each flag position represents a different letter of the alphabet.
“Perpetual light” is a wish for others and a desire for ourselves. In times of darkness, both literal and emotional, when we yearn most for the light, where will we find it? Only in the other humans around us, in the people who will shine their light on us and show us the way out of the dark.
Created with Annska, Sofia, Úlfur, Matta, Ásgeir, Hulda, Fjölnir, Íris, Guðrún, Matta, Omar, Elma, Gunnar and Gummi while in residence with ArtsIceland. The series is installed on a semi-permanent basis in the town's small shopping mall.
