In pictures: Spotlighting Faroese language and literature in London
On Friday 26 September, FarLit co-organised an event at University College London with UCL Scandinavian Studies and the Representation of the Faroe Islands in London. The event highlighted contemporary Faroese poetry as part of the 2025 European Day of Languages, and for this special occasion, Faroese writers Beinir Bergsson and Lív Maria Róadóttir Jæger were invited to a panel discussion alongside their respective English translators, Marita Thomsen and Bradley Harmon. Dr Mathelinda Nabugodi, Lecturer in Comparative Literature and Programme Director PhD in Creative Critical Writing and Inquiry at UCL’s School of European Languages, Culture and Society, moderated the discussion.
The event was preceded by a special Nordic pop-up exhibition featuring various artworks and pieces from UCL’s collection. Before the actual discussion took place, Elettra Carbone, Director of Scandinavian Studies at UCL’s School of European Languages, Culture and Society, formally opened the event, followed by introductions from Claire Thomson, Director of the School of European Languages, Culture and Society, and Markus Hammer, literary coordinator of FarLit. The discussion opened with readings in both Faroese and English from the writers’ poetry collections Sólgarðurin (2021) and Eg skrivi á vátt pappír (2020). Dr Nabugodi then opened the conversation, which mainly revolved around creative writing processes and the creative and political importance of writing in a small language like Faroese, as well as the two translators’ path to translating Faroese literature into English, and how the anticipated audience of the translations differ from the Faroese audience. The discussion also touched on each panellist’s material sources of inspiration and specific excerpts from the two works. The audience also got the opportunity to ask the panellists questions, one example being whether the writers consciously draw inspiration from the Faroe Islands’ rich tradition of oral storytelling when writing. The event concluded with a closing speech by Kate Sanderson, Head of the Representation of the Faroe Islands in London, and a reception, where the audience could meet the writers and translators and purchase Faroese books in English published by Francis Boutle Publishers. Bergsson’s Sólgarðurin/The Suntrap was published last year, and I Write on Wet Paper by Jæger will be published in October of this year.
View pictures from the event below:
