The Nordic House

Red paper mache hotdogs hang from a ceiling in a grocery shop.

The Pylsu project


Atrium
Free entry

Hot-Dog Poetry by Estelle Pollaert. 


Do you have a poem in your belly?
Put it on paper and tuck it into a hot dog.
About anything, in any language,
With a name or without — it doesn’t matter.
We look forward to reading it.

Estelle Pollaert is a French illustrator based in Reykjavík, Iceland. Originally trained in product design and glassblowing in France and Finland, she now focuses on playful, imaginative art projects. Working across illustration, papier-mâché, ceramics, glass, and textiles, she creates colorful, whimsical works often inspired by food, absurd characters, and curious situations. Estelle is also a staff member at The Nordic House, where she has contributed to a variety of projects, including illustrations, creative workshops, and teaching classes for children and adults.

For this year’s Pølse&Poesi, she has installed her work, Spádóms pylsa and Teppa pylsa, in the Atrium of The Nordic House for all visitors to enjoy. The work was originally created for Hamraborg festival but has now been reimagined for Pølse&Poesi 2026.
Enjoy!

Artist Estelle Pollaert standing in a lava field. Hugging a giant paper maché pretzel. She is wearing an orange coat and blue skarf. She has dark brown hair.

“This project was created for the Hamraborg Festival. Using discarded materials and trash, I built giant food sculptures displayed across the Icelandic countryside and lava fields.

Food has always been one of my favorite subjects in art. I frequently paint, draw, and construct food-inspired projects. When I travel, I love exploring unusual or quirky foods—smelly, oddly shaped, or emblematic of a country’s culinary obsessions.
The project began with sausages. After living in three Nordic countries—Iceland, Denmark, and Finland—I became fascinated by their collective obsession with hot dogs. Since then, I’ve been painting, building, illustrating, sewing, screen printing, and even making ceramic sausages. Over time, the project has expanded to other foods, including pretzels, giant carrots, and more.

My dream is to create an exhibition celebrating food in all shapes, colors, and sizes—something that makes people hungry just by looking. So far, the giant food on display in my living room seems to work: it’s not uncommon for guests to leave jokingly craving a hot dog!”

 

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