The exhibition Decolonisation and revitalisation in Sápmi. Ola Røe photographs 1979-2019 deals with the contemporary history of Sápmi. This is a documentation of the cultural-political development in Sámi communities, which started with the Alta struggle in the 1970s and resulted in the strengthening of the Sámi's status as a people. This also marked the beginning of decolonisation in Sámi communities, which continues today.
The project is a collaboration between photographer Ola Røe, who has played a key role in documenting this important period in contemporary Sami history, anthropologist and cultural producer Jorunn Eikjok, who has been active in Sami cultural development, and Davvi álbmogiid guovddáš/Centre for Northern Peoples. The exhibition begins with Altakampen, then Beaivváš Sami National Theatre, Masigruppa, Riddu Riđđu, Heini Wesslin and finally Nils Aslak Valkeapáá - Áillohaš.
– I made Sami friends when I studied in Tromsø in the 1970s. I often sat with them in «the Sami corner» at Prelaten kro. I also went to Sami parties with them. This is what photographer Ola Røe has to say about how he got to know Sápmi.
Ola Røe's photographic work has been in the most eventful time in Sápmi. The exhibition is a documentation of the new era in Sámi society. It starts with the Alta struggle, which resulted in the Sami's status as a people in Norway being strengthened. This also marked the beginning of decolonisation and revitalisation in earnest, with the flourishing of Sami culture. The Sami wanted to get rid of colonisation and revive their own culture.
- I moved to Guovdageaidnu-Kautokeino in the 1980s and lived there for a few years. There I also collaborated with photographer Harry Johansen, who is Sami.
Photographer Ola Røe
Photographer Ola Røe is from Ski, outside Oslo. He has lived in the north since 1976. Ola is an organic farmer and photographer. He lives on Selnes farm in Balsfjord, with his family and many kinds of animals. He began his career as a photographer in 1979, shortly after graduating as a teacher from Tromsø Teacher Training College. He travelled to Alta to cover the fight against the development of the Alta-Kautokeino waterway. He worked as a freelancer for the newspaper Nordlys in Tromsø.
Until the early 1990s, he was a regular freelance photographer for Dagbladet in Oslo, based in Tromsø. He covered all kinds of news from Northern Norway that could be of national interest - as seen from Oslo.
From 1979 to 2016, Hålogaland Theatre - HT was his most important client. There he took press, programme and poster photos. He photographed almost all of HT's performances for 30 years, approximately 230 theatre performances. He has also photographed several performances for Beaivváš Sámi teáhter in Guovdageaidnu. He has also photographed for Stellaris Dance Theatre in Hammerfest and Sampo Theatre in Kirkenes.
Over the years, Ola has worked extensively throughout Sápmi, with Sámi journalists and cultural workers. He has exhibited photographs on various themes, such as the everyday life of oil workers, the northern lights, northern Norwegian landscapes and light. In the 1990s, he produced the multimedia show “Northern Norway in eight seasons”. It was presented at conferences and cultural events in Norway and abroad, with live cello and joik.
He has several times participated as a photographer in the spring migration of reindeer from the Finnmark plateau to the coast.
In 1998, Ola began collaborating with Jorunn Eikjok, a social anthropologist and cultural producer. Since then, they have created several exhibitions with themes from Sápmi. In autumn 2013, their book ”Nine Sami contemporary images” published by ČálliidLágádus - ForfatternesForlag. The book was published in North Sami ”Ovcci sámi áigegova”, in Norwegian ”Nine Sami contemporary images” and in English ”Sami Images in Modern Times”. The exhibition ”11 sámi áigegova” - ”Eleven Sami Images in Modern Times” - ”Elleve samiske tidsbilder” opened in 2017 as a permanent exhibition at the Museum of Cultural History in Oslo. Since then, they have made a documentary and exhibition about traditional Sami knowledge, “Árbediehtu - Sámi agriculture, sheep farming and outdoor industries”.
HERE YOU CAN READ THE EXHIBITION CATALOGUE:
FILM ABOUT HEINI WESSLIN, made by Ola Røe
Contributors:
-Producer and responsible for the text: Jorunn Eikjok.
-Design: Ola Reibo
Exhibition period: 06.02.2023 - 21.04.2023
The exhibition is supported by Norsk kulturfond, Fritt ord and Troms and Finnmark County Council.
Would you like to rent this exhibition? Read more here: Info about travelling exhibition Ola_Røe
