Travel report from Kalaallit Nunaat
In February, Dáiddadállu traveled to Nuuk, Kalaallit Nunaat, to start pre-production for our anniversary exhibition and performances to be shown during the Suialaat Art Festival in October. This visit was also an important part of our research and collaboration for the project Birgejupmi Through Art.
(All photos: DD)
Birgejupmi is a project that seeks to recognize and communicate indigenous art methods, healing, and reconciliation. Through art and duodji, we want to create platforms for conversations and artistic collaboration that build shared capacity for the role of art in society.
Art and duodji thus become a political coping tool, a means to strengthen indigenous voices and capacity, and an expression of our deep relationships to land and sea.
Together with our artistic director, Alexandra Wingate, artists Kine Yvonne and Joar Nango, as well as our board member Beaska Niillas, DD traveled to Nuuk to present the project, establish collaborations and meet artists, cultural actors and institutions. We were met with warmth, enthusiasm and a strong commitment to further collaboration. An unforgettable gathering, initiated by Nuuk Art Museum, gave us the opportunity to share our work and visions in Dáiddadállu and Sápmi, together with Joar Nango and his project Girjegumpi.
Useful & inspirational
Nuuk, with its approx. 20,000 inhabitants, is a hub for art and duodji with a rich and diverse capacity. There are countless exciting initiatives in art and duodji here, and we have gained important experiences and inspiration that we will take further in the process.
We have had the pleasure of collaborating with and visiting actors such as Nuuk Art Museum, Suialaat Festival, Nuuk Art School, EPI, Kittat, KIMIK, Ajagaq, and not least the many talented artists, duos and cultural actors who work to practice art on their own terms.
Our visit has been an incredible experience – educational, enriching and rewarding. We thank all the artists, cultural workers and capacity builders who have shared their knowledge and hospitality with us through art, food, meetings, tours and inspiring conversations.
Photo: Art by Kim Kleist
Visible changes
An overarching purpose of the Birgejupmi-project is to document and revitalize indigenous knowledge, assess changes related to climate adaptation, and explore the transformative potential of the landscape.
During our journey, we got to see up close what climate change is doing to the country. The weather was mostly very mild, which caused the ice to collapse into the fjord in Nuuk. Many said that this is unusual, and that it can be compared to what climate change is doing to Sápmi, where we currently have an ongoing grazing crisis.
But it is high time that we stand together for our common future. Art and culture are more than ever the key to community and freedom. We must use art as a tool to build a stronger society and ensure that indigenous voices are heard, even when the challenges are great, such as a lack of resources and infrastructure.
As in Sápmi, where the distances can feel great, it is necessary to create a national, spiritual core – a common foundation that gives strength. Arts and culture have a huge role in building this foundation. Unfortunately, it is still not always a priority industry for indigenous people, and artists face many challenges in gaining recognition and support. We hope that the new political self-government in Kalaallit Nunaat will see the value of art as a pillar of society and build on this.
Work continues
Qujanarujussuaq – many thanks to our wonderful partners and hosts: Nivi and her team at Nuuk Art Museum, Joar Nango and Tone Huse, Mark Bennett, Ivinnguaq Stork Höegh, the art school, Arnakkuluk and Malik, Sofia Amundsen, Lisbeth Karline Paulsen, Aka Hansen, Birthe and Laura Lennert in Homoholdet, Aili EPI – Eqqumiitsuliornermik Pinngorartitsisut Ingerlatsisullu/, KIMIK, Suialaat Art Festival, Katuaq, Vivi Sørensen in Nunatta Isiginnaartitsisarfia/Nasjonalteateret, Qisuk/Tupeq Liisi Egede Hegelund and Tukummeq Qaavigaq, Ajagaq Sannavik and Kittat.
We look forward to further collaboration on the power of art, and to continuing to build joint capacity so that art and artists are at the center – free, strong and able to shape the future
We at Dáiddadállu continue our work to organize an international conference on indigenous art methods, healing and reconciliation processes to share knowledge built on sessions involving artists, the elders, academics and the local population.
We plan to announce more in June during KulturSápmi. Stay tuned.
The last photo shows artists Kine and Ivinnguaq who are the first to be assigned to make an art profile for the Birgejupmi-project.
