A summer gift to Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum

The Sami artist Rose-Marie Huuva has given Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum a proper summer gift. This spring she contacted us, wanting to donate several works to us, both installations and sculptures. The donation is a direct consequence of Sámi Dáiddamusea, a museum performance by RiddoDuottarMuseat and Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum, creating a fictitious Sami art museum. The core of the project, the exhibition There Is No is on display at Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum until August 27. Huuva has three works in the exhibition.

-  Rose-Marie Huuva believes we are breaking new ground in the Sami art world, and it's very nice that she trusts us to take proper care of her art, says conservator at Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum, Charis Gullickson.

Huuva is of Sami descent and lives in Kiruna, Sweden. Even though her art has been part of several exhibitions at Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum, the museum owns none of her works.

- This is a great addition to our collection, says Gullickson.

Huuva's works are also present at Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum's latest project, Subsistence, with Shirri (1995), a series of pictures made by reindeer hides.

- She started with that material, and experimented with the hides until she brought out patterns hidden in the skin itself. The result is both unexpected and beautiful, says Gullickson.

Image 1: Huuvas three contributions toSámi Daiddamusea: Iona (1997), Niono (1989), and Áhkku 488 vuorkkát/Grandmother's 488 treasures (2006)
Image 2: Part of Huuva's work inSubsistence: Shirri (1995)