Highlights from 2021
In 2021 we welcomed 10 new residents to Longyearbyen Maja Lunde, Line Prip, Sanaa Aoun, Petter Buhagen, Ramona Salo Myrseth, Katarina Skår Lisa, Andreas Siqueland, Elida Høeg, Jessica MacMillan and Beate Heide.
We hosted over 21 public events from walks with the community, printing workshops, book launches, a large-scale sound installation and coffee clubs, to this month’s closing event with artist Jessica MacMillan. We could not have done this without the support of our key partners Norsk Pen, Office for Contemporary Art Norway (OCA) and The Queen Sonja Print Award. Our supporters Kulturdepartementet, Fritt Ord, Kulturrådet, Samfunnsløfte and Eckbos Legat; and above all, the local community, who have welcomed each resident, offering their time, knowledge and perspectives of our unique home.
We look forward to building on the successes of this year in 2022, welcoming many more national and international residents, and hosting a variety of inspiring public events and workshops, we hope you can join us.
Here are just some of the fantastic moments we’ve had at Artica this year:
Artica Listens 2021
For Artica Listens 2021 Ignas Krunglevičius, created HARD BODY DYSPRAXIA, a sonic installation inside a disused coal power plant in Longyearbyen, Svalbard. In this new short film made during the installation of the project Krunglevičius discussed some of the ideas and themes of the piece.
Image courtesy Dr Frank Nilsen
Artica Writings 2021
This year's Artica Writings was influenced by the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021 - 2030). We shared essays by best-selling British author, artist, film-maker & curator Philip Hoare, artist Dora García, poet and writer Holly Corfield Carr and Professor of Physical Oceanography at The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) Dr Frank Nilsen.
Photo: Tom Warner
In March we celebrated the welcome return of lighter days, with a sun paper & collage workshop where the local children created sun themed pictures, exploring different ways to use light and colour.
In April Artica and Longyearbyen Library hosted an in conversation event with author Maja Lunde and Longyearbyen based writer and journalist Line Nagell Ylvisåker. You can watch this inspiring conversation again here.
Photo: Tom Warner
Artist Line Prip invited local resident Anne Lise Klungseth Sandvik to host a city walk in May, where we heard many personal stories about Longyearbyen and the changes to the city since 1973.
Artist Petter Buhagen arrived in the summer to fill the Artica studio with incredible prints, testing out new techniques and ideas. But there's a fine balance between work and play and we made sure to show him both sides of Svalbard!
Photo: Tom Warner
Collaborative duo Ramona Salo Myrseth and Katarina Skår Lisa, also spent the summer in Longyearbyen, during their stay they hosted a workshop, tested ideas for new performances and made lino prints inspired by the landscape. The prints were then made into a dress by Ramona and worn here by Katarina.
Photo: Preben Irgens
Arriving at the start of the polar night, artist Jessica MacMillan gave us the opportunity to gaze into the future with her project Time Line. A short film about this project will be available soon.
You can read more about all of this years residents here and details on who we look forward to welcoming in 2022.