Friends you haven't met – a visual narrative about young people

The exhibition „Friends you haven't met,“ a visual narrative about young people from the twin towns of Frederiksberg in Denmark and Hafnarfjörður in Iceland, was officially opened yesterday in the foyer of Ásvallalaugar and the SH Banqueting Hall by Kristinn Andersen, Mayor of Hafnarfjörður, Guðbjörgu Oddnýju Jónasdóttur, Chair of the Culture and Tourism Committee of Hafnarfjörður, and Eva Egesborg Hansen, Danish Ambassador to Iceland. Light refreshments were served and Tómas Vigur, who is also taking part in the exhibition, performed a musical piece. The exhibition will be open until 23 June.

A visual narrative about young people in their hometown 

At the exhibition, visitors meet young people in their home town, who tell us what it's like to be young, what they dream of for the future, and what they're most interested in at the moment. How does it bring them joy and a sense of freedom? The two twin towns are very different, but the young people have a lot in common. The concept, photography and design are by Shazia Khan and Mette Lauritzen, and the project is supported by the City of Hafnarfjörður, the Frederiksberg Fund, the Municipality of Frederiksberg, the Danish-Icelandic Fund and the Danish-Icelandic Cooperation Fund.

70th anniversary of the twinning of the towns

In 2021, Hafnarfjörður and Frederiksberg celebrate their 70th anniversary as twin towns. Hafnarfjörður became part of a Nordic twinning association in 1951 with Frederiksberg in Denmark, Uppsala in Sweden, Bærum in Norway and Hämeenlinna in Finland. Cooperation between the towns began after the Second World War when they felt the need to strengthen the bond between the Nordic nations. Today, these twin towns focus mainly on cultural exchange, sporting and business links.

Bright days all summer long 

The exhibition is part Bright days. Since the festival began on the last day of winter, a special emphasis has been placed on youth culture in the festival's programme to encourage young people to take an active part in cultural activities, provide them with opportunities to enjoy art and culture, and harness their creativity. In a normal year, this first town festival of its kind in the country runs for five days, but this year the festival, which began on the last day of winter with the selection of Hafnarfjörður's town artist, the presentation of cultural grants and a summer concert by students, will run all summer and be the highlight of a diverse programme of festivities.