Karasjok, Norway – June 2024 – The Sámi Center for Contemporary Art is proud to announce “Performance Studies in Sapmi,” a pioneering performance festival spotlighting politically charged performance art from the Sámi and Baltic region. The festival, initiated by Dr. Marija Griniuk, a performance artist, scholar, and postdoctoral researcher at Vilnius Academy of Arts, will take place from June 15th to 18th, 2024, in Karasjok.
Part of the festival, specifically performances Guoddi and Suoidnekaboom are marking DÁIDDADÁLLU 10 YEARS anniversary and are part of the exhibition DÁIDDADÁLLU 10 YEARS, which is currently shown at Sami Center for Contemporary Art.
The festival is a meeting space and discussion framework with the focus on how it is possible to establish an annual performance festival in Karasjok, focused on performance artworks dealing with postcolonial, decolonizing, transgenerational memory themes and history in Sapmi and Baltic region.
The festival is presenting established artists, as well as young artists from Sapmi and the Baltic region. Six artists from Sapmi and Lithuania are involved in collaborations and will present three collaborative performances, developed specifically for the festival in Karasjok.
Festival Program
June 15, 2024
- 12:00 PM – Guoddi, marking DÁIDDADÁLLU 10 YEARS This performance celebrates the 10th anniversary of Dáiddadállu, blending avant-garde duodji with performing arts. Featuring Ánna-Katri Helander (dancer), Anthoni Hætta (composer), Ann-Sofie Kallok (designer and duojár), and Sebastian Björkman (dancer).
- 45 Guoddi Artist-Talk
- 2:00 PM – Experience Sharing by Dr. Jelena Škulis (LT) Škulis will discuss her experiences engaging with communities through creative practice, followed by a short workshop.
- 3:00 PM – Workshop by Dr. Adomas Danusevičius (LT) This workshop focuses on enhancing intuition, creativity, self-awareness, interconnectedness, and emotional understanding.
June 16, 2024
- 12:00 PM – Workshop by Laila Labba (SA): Sami Symbols Laila Labba, an artist from Karasjok, will lead a workshop on Sami symbols.
- 2:00 PM – Collaboration Performance uniting Sami and Lithuanian artists: Marit Bringedal Anti (SA) and Greta Balčiūnaitė (LT)
- 3:00 PM – Performance by Vaida Tamoševičiūtė (LT)
- 4:00 PM – Performance by Dr. Marija Griniuk (LT) Griniuk’s performance uses Arctic moss to symbolize endurance.
- 5:00 PM – Performance Presentation by Prof. Eglė Ganda Bogdanienė
June 17, 2024
- 12:00 PM – Collaboration Performance uniting Sami and Lithuanian artists: Ina Tretnes (SA) and Milda Paukštė (LT)
- 2:00 PM – Collaboration Performance uniting Sami and Lithuanian artists: Inka Rauhala (SA) and Giedrė Mačiulaitytė (LT)
- 3:00 PM – Performative Actions by Dr. Marija Griniuk
- 4:00 PM – Performance by Kaspar Aus (EST): “Dancing Karasjok” This performance is a journey through Karasjok, exploring memory and presence.
- 5:00 PM – Studio Visit to SGD Artists-in-Residence Laila Labba (SA) and Ulivia Uviluk (CA)
June 18, 2024
- 4:00 PM – Suoidnekaboom, marking DÁIDDADÁLLU 10 YEARS This work explores the intersection of reindeer stomachs, senna grass, and performing arts. Created by Maret Anne Sara with choreography by Alexandra Wingate and performances by Anja Saiva Bongo Bjørnstad, Anitta Katriina Suikkari, and Li Taiga.
- 00 PM Suoidnekaboom Artist-talk
About the Festival
“Performance Studies in Sapmi” aims to create a platform for artists to engage with politically charged themes through performance, fostering cultural exchange and dialogue between the Sámi and Baltic communities. The Daiddadallu performances are supported by Dáiddadállu, Dáiddafoanda, Kulturdirektoratet, Finnmark Fylkeskommune, Arts and Culture Norway, and Davvi Center for Performing Art. “Performance Studies in Sapmi” is supported by Nordic Culture Point Opstart and the Lithuanian Science Council S-PD-24-49. Internships are supported by Sparebank Nord Norge and KUNO. Individual participant supported by Erasmus +.