Nordic competition in painting underway at Reykjavik City Hall

A Nordic competition in painting is currently taking place at the Reykjavik City Hall, featuring tasks such as varnishing, hand-painting logos, and wallpapering. Icelandic participant Hildur Magnúsdóttir Eyrúnardóttir, a student at the Technical School, encourages more girls to enroll in the painting trade.

Tomorrow, the new Nordic champion in painting will be announced, with competitors rigorously executing their tasks. Stands for the competition have been set up in the City Hall, where representatives from the five Nordic countries are competing.

“They are competing here to become the Nordic champion in painting. The tasks are predefined, but they are free to interpret them as they wish,” explains Kristján Aðalsteinsson, chairman of the Painting Masters Association.

Hildur shared her current work: “I am applying a stencil below a logo that I have enlarged and painted by hand. I’m also varnishing a door in two colors, and there is a free wall here, with wallpaper coming on both sides of the door,” she said. Hildur is set to graduate this winter with both a diploma and a craft certificate from her school.

“I have a bit of a theme going on. It’s kind of Icelandic and vintage, with everything being a musky brown,” she added.

Despite the generally equal gender ratio among competitors in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, Iceland lags behind with only 5-10% female painters. Kristján emphasizes the need for more female representation in the field. “More girls need to sign up; this is fun,” Hildur remarked.

The competition results will be determined tomorrow, as the painters complete their tasks. “I just do a light touch over everything, so nothing dark leaks out when I remove this. This requires a lot of precision, which is why I find it enjoyable,” Hildur concluded.