The world’s biggest art stage

Tate Modern in London is one of the most visited art museums in the world. Millions of people come every year to see what is happening inside the old power station, now filled with modern art. At the heart of the building lies the Turbine Hall – a space the size of a football field. Here, only one artist at a time is invited to create a work that stays on display for six months. For any artist, this is as close as it gets to having the eyes of the whole world on you.

Getting the Turbine Hall can be compared to opening the Olympics as an athlete, playing Wembley Stadium as a musician, or receiving the Nobel Prize in literature.

That Máret Ánne Sara is the artist who now is taking this space, makes this happening even more powerful. She grew up in Kautokeino and is both an artist and a writer. Her works often explore reindeer herding, land rights, and Sámi culture. She has already received international attention, including at Documenta in Germany and the Venice Biennale in Italy.

A fire in the middle of London

When the Turbine Hall is filled with Máret Ánne Sara’s work, it will be like lighting a fire in the middle of London. People will stop, gather around, reflect – and maybe ask questions they never considered before.

For the world, it will be a chance to encounter Sámi art and culture in one of the most prestigious settings that exists. For Sápmi and Norway, it is proof that stories from the North can shine even in the biggest international spaces.

Sara is the first Indigenous artist ever invited to Turbine Hall. This makes it a historic moment – not only for her personally, but for the region and for Indigenous peoples globally.

Opening a path for others

For Norway and Sápmi, this is also a milestone. It places the region on the world map in a new way and shows that Indigenous art belongs not just in local galleries, but also on the biggest international stages.

Board member of Dáiddadállu, Ánde Somby, is himself a joiker and artist, and he is excited about what is happening now. Having lived in London for several years, he knows how strong the interest in art is there:
– More people go to art exhibitions than football matches – and that says a lot in a country where football is bigger than almost anywhere else, he says.

He explains that it can be hard to grasp the significance of Tate Modern if you are not already into art. To put it in perspective, he compares London in the art world to Hollywood in film – even restaurant waiters dream of becoming artists, the way waiters in Los Angeles dream of acting careers.

– For us Sámi, it can be hard to understand just how important this is for one of our own artists. For Máret Ánne Sara to exhibit there is huge. Some artists never experience this kind of attention in their lifetime, and only get recognition after they have passed away, says Somby.

He believes Sara is now opening a path for Sámi and Indigenous art worldwide:
– It means curators will look more towards Sápmi and start acquiring Sámi art. This creates opportunities for both Sámi and Norwegian art in the future, says Somby.