This year’s LungA treated its guests, once again, to a wide range of experiences. With an experimental music scene and interesting diversity of art exhibitions and workshops, LungA offers as much diversity as any creative soul could ask for. We spoke to Gudmundur Úlfarsson, one of the members of the LungA Board, to hear more.

Words by Cecilie.e // Highly Dazed

First of all, what should a stranger know about LungA?
LungA is a week long arts festival for young people (aged around 16-30) that takes place every year in the small village of Seyðisfjörður in Iceland. We have workshops running throughout the week all culminating in a big bang of exhibitions and outdoor concerts.

Why call the festival “LungA”?
LungA is a kind of abbreviation of ‘Listahátíð ungs fólks, Austurlandi’ which translates as ‘Art festival for young people, on the East coast of Iceland’. That’s the reason for the uppercase ‘A’ in the end.

Which workshops this year were particularly worth taking part in?
We had exceptionally good workshops this year. But if I absolutely had to choose one, I’d say that the ‘Magic’ workshop could have been one big festival on it’s own. But like I said, all the workshops were amazing and the atmosphere and the working spirit in all the workshops was really great.

In what way has LungA had an influence or changed the artistic environment on Iceland?
It has a big influence on the art environment in Iceland on both the participants and all the people that come to see what’s happening at the festival. LungA has become a sort of annual meeting ground for people involved in the art scene in Iceland.

What’s the strangest thing that has happened on the grounds of LungA?
This one is very hard to answer! But after this years festival, the strangest thing that I can think of was the opening ceremony. It started with an experimental piano concert in a church. When the concert was coming to an end, a man in diving gear and with a painted black face escorted the pianist out of the church. Then they walked towards the lake and jumped in and started playing with a sculpture or a fountain that was in the lake.. it’s actually very hard to explain without photos.

What are the plans for LungA in the future?
We try to plan only one festival at a time. We’ve already started planning next year’s festival now that this one is over. It was a very good festival this year, but every year we try to improve it. I think that is the best answer – we will attempt to make next year’s LungA even better!

Interested in more knowledge about the LungA festival?

Go to the LungA site, check out their Tumblr or follow LungA’s Facebook page.