Sámi art in the Queen Sonja Art Stable

“I hope this exhibition can communicate some of what I find so captivating about Sámi art and culture,” said Her Majesty The Queen in her speech. She then went on to share several good memories from visiting Sápmi.

Aili Keskitalo, President of the Sámi Parliament, gave the opening speech. She pointed out that art is transcendent. It reaches us across art forms, national borders and generations – as does this exhibition, with works by three generations of Sámi artists from Norway, Sweden and Finland. Many different artistic idioms are represented.

The Art Stable exhibition includes paintings, photography, graphic prints, textile art, video, sculpture and installations. Ms Keskitalo expressed a hope that this could be a first step in establishing a facility dedicated to Sámi art, which does not exist at present.

“What is Sámi art?”

Artist Synnøve Persen, who has also been a member of the exhibition’s advisory board, posed this question in her talk – and she hopes there will never be a definitive answer. It is the role of art to question and challenge, and art should never become fixed or compartmentalised.

This exhibition is a tribute to Sámi art and artists, emphasised chief curator Knut Ljøgodt. It does not seek to define Sámi art but instead to show its range and diversity.