onomatopoeia

In small print in an old bird guide, alongside a bird’s likeness, I find the words: ‘sings its own name’.

Phrased like this, it strikes me as the strongest, most confident thing any being can do: to sing one’s own name.

As if to say: ‘here I am, here I am’, continuously affirming one’s own existence through song.

Onomatopoeia is a site-specific poem. Inspired by a path in the north of Iceland and the birds that live there, I envisioned a poem that could slowly be read while walking.

With the kind permission of the mayor, I have handwritten the poem in Icelandic and English along the handrail of the bird path, letting the words accompany you as you walk. The rocks, clouds, waves, birds, mountains and poem come together along the path.

On view from August 25th 2026, until the weather takes it away, at Spákonufellshöfði, Skagaströnd, Iceland.

words, watercolour crayons
2026