Maria Huhmarniemi: Kuvitteellinen sukupuu / Imaginary Bloodline

installation (shoes, interview of Honna Havas (director of the East Sami Museum in Neiden), article Keys to Neiden, available in Finnish)

Imaginary Bloodline exhibition consists of an interview of Honna Havas, who is the director of the East Sami Museum in Neiden, and an assemblage of shoes in Finnish, Sami, Norwegian and Russian style. The work is based on experiences from village Neiden in northern Norway. Neiden is located near the borders of Finland and Russia. It is the most western village of Skolt Sami people. The installation represents the intercultural history in Neiden and the emancipation of the Skolt Sami culture. Sami traditions have been under a threat to disappear because of Finnish and Norwegian influences and discriminatory politics in Norway. New East Sami museum, which will be opened in the year 2009, will support Skolt Sami culture.

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