Ann Mirjam Vaikla at Barents Spektakel in Kirkenes
The festival theme for the 2016 Barents Spektakel is Rethinking Location – this theme forms the basis for the program of visual art exhibitions, public discussions and the Visual Art Seminar.
The artworks for the 2016 Barents Spektakel reflect and discuss the vulnerability of our sense of place; whilst simultaneously exploring if our identity is a result of where we live or if we instead make choices to migrate to places that suit us. In these times of economic uncertainty, new migration routes and increasingly cold ideological rhetoric between capitals; the perception of place requires continuous rethinking. Shifting cultural, political and economic factors all play a role in shaping how we perceive our neighbourhood, city, nation, region and most importantly, ourselves. In the North there are lessons to be learned from our past as well the mistakes and triumphs of our neighbours across all borders, there are risks and opportunities as well as both bright and destructive visions for the future.
The visual art program for the Barents Spektakel is a result of Pikene på Broen’s year-round BAR International Artist in Residency program. Through collaboration, discussion and research the invited artists from both sides of the border are provided with impressions of the Barents Region.
Ann Mirjam Vaikla presented her collaborative installation project Sound of Silence of Norwegian weapon industry at the Visual Art Seminar: Cultural Pollution – Polluted Culture.
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