The Institute for Nature and Art does not exist on a daily basis, but only emerges as an exhibition that pushes the limits of its genre. The Gallery of North Norway is transformed into a laboratory in which artists and researchers collaborate. By inviting everyone to witness the work process, The Institute for Nature and Art stimulates interdisciplinary discussions that challenge the relationship between art, research and the audience.
An open experiment
The Institute for Nature and Art is an open experiment whose outcome is uncertain, but it is also a part of an ongoing process of reorganization at UiT The Arctic University of Norway. Selected artists and researchers challenge simplistic explanations and categorizations, and perceive all things, whether bacteria, works of art, trash, algorithms or people, as interdependent.
Is there a distinction between nature and culture?
The distinction between nature and culture is also challenged. The artists Anders Dahl Monsen and Arne Skaug Olsen examine whether it is possible for microorganisms to have a political will. The artist Anne Haaning focuses on parallel structures in technology and language, while cultural researcher Britt Kramvig, along with artists Margrethe Pettersen and Katarina Pirak Sikku, examines the mythologies of landscapes in the southern parts of Troms county.
Focus on the North
The art historians in the research group WONA (Worlding Northern Art) focus their attention on our concept of “the North”. They examine how research and art construct the North as different worlds. Silje Figenschou Thoresen traces the outlines of archaeological maps that show Sami settlements, and not only deconstructs archeology, but she also creates a new and original world.
A new experience every day
This year, both the exhibition space, the artists and their projects will change during the course of the festival. Artist Kåre Grundvåg will continually construct and reconstruct the design of the exhibition, with the assistance of the other project participants. The audience will meet the artist and researchers at work, and there will be a daily program of lectures, artist talks and other events.
The exhibition is curated by Hanne Hammer Stien, in cooperation with UiT The arctic University of Tromsø and the Arctic Arts Festival, in order to celebrate the university’s 50’th anniversary.
The works by Herleik Kristiansen that will be displayed in the exhibition are on loan from the Trastad Collection at South Troms Museum.
Program
23/6
15:00: Performance lecture: Myth, Mirror, Skin by Anne Haaning
16:30: Artist talk: Anne Haaning and Hanne Hammer Stien
19:00: Voices from the past: About healer Knut Lunde by Britt Kramvig and Randi Sørlie
24/6
13:30: Art historical lecture: Poala-Ánde and the drum by Monica Grini
16:30: Conversation: How do we listen to the landscape? by Katarina Pirak Sikku, Margrethe Pettersen, Britt Kramvig and Hanna Guttorm
19:30: Artist talk: Anne Haaning and Hanne Hammer Stien
25/6
13:30: Performance lecture: Myth, Mirror, Skin by Anne Haaning
16:30: Architectural lecture: Hovig`s hall and cave by Elin Haugdal
19:00: Conversation: Landscape, dreams and sámi ontologies by Katarina Pirak Sikku, Margrethe Pettersen and Britt Kramvig
26/6
13:30: Architectural lecture: Hovig`s hall and cave by Elin Haugdal
16:30: Artist talk: Katarina Pirak Sikku and Hanne Hammer Stien
19:00: Conversation: Walking in Darkness by Hanna Guttorm and Britt Kramvig
27/6
13:30: Artist talk: Silje Figenschou Thoresen and Hanna Horsberg Hansen
16:30: Artist talk: Artic Arts Festival Profile Joar Nango and Hanne Hammer Stien, OBS! Place: Rikard Kaarbøs gate 3
19:00: Art historical lecture: To draw a world: Johan Turis` illustrations by Hanna Horsberg Hansen
28/6
13:30: Artist talk: Arne Skaug Olsen, Anders Dahl Monsen and Hanne Hammer Stien
16:30: Scientific Lecture: The future of agumented reality by Puneet Sharma,
19:00: Artist talk: Kåre Grundvåg and Charis Gullickson
29/6
13:30: Artist talk: Arne Skaug Olsen, Anders Dahl Monsen and Hanne Hammer Stien
16:30: Art historical lecture: Artists that work with skin by Charis Gullickson
19:00: Artist talk: Kåre Grundvåg and Hanne Hammer Stien
30/6
13:30: Art historical lecture: An alternative world? Animals and nature in Herleik Kristiansen’s pictures by Ingeborg Høvik
16:30: Artist talk: Silje Figenschou Thoresen and Hanne Hammer Stien
19:00: The end of the world as we know it by Arne Skaug Olsen and Anders Dahl Monsen
