Plane wreckage, Iceland by Joost Jongeneel

About "Plane wreckage, Iceland"

by Joost Jongeneel

About the artwork

In the remote and untouched wilderness of Iceland, where the forces of nature are the dominant force, rests a silent witness to an era long gone. A photograph, taken from the front, shows a crashed plane that has stood the test of time, partially decayed by the inexorable influences of years of exposure to the elements.

The story begins in November 1973, when an American DC-3 Dakota plane was forced to make a soft landing on the desolate black sands of Sólheimasandur, not far from Vik. Although the plane remained intact and all occupants were safe, it was abandoned, becoming a silent reminder of an era of flying adventure.

The photo reveals the front of the plane, where once gleaming metal is now scarred by corrosion and the impact of the Icelandic elements. The weathered cockpit and partly decayed wings tell a story of desolation and the constant struggle of human creations with the untamed forces of nature.

Looking at the picture, you feel the echoes's of a time when this plane sliced through the sky, a symbol of human ambition and exploration. Now it stands as a timeless monument, a strange contrast to the pristine environment in which it resides.

The plane wreckage, which has attracted the interest of travellers and photographers over the years, raises questions about impermanence, resilience and the interplay between man and nature. It is not only a tangible reminder of a bygone era, but also a tribute to the power of nature to influence and shape even the most robust human design.