Raisa Porsanger
(She/her)
Address: Nannestadgata 7, Nannestadgata 7, 0654 Oslo
Floor: 2. etasje
The studio is open Saturday 27 April from 12-17
I’m a North Sámi artist working with Sámi identity and culture through installations, video art, photo and illustration.
I use materials from the Sámi culture in installations, like reindeer hide and tanned reindeer leather, in both traditional and experimental ways, i.e. treating it by dying the hide and let the material decide its own shape. I have, among other things, made image frames decorated with duodji (Sámi traditional techniques) in various shapes, connecting duodji traditions of my own family and home place, and Western art history.
I also work with curating exhibitions with a Sámi perspective.
Sámi, reindeer skin, installation, threedimensional
Raisa Porsanger: Scenografphy for Nordting, at Ušllu Álbmotgaskasaš Teáhterriemuide 2023 / Oslo International Theater Festival 2023, Black Box Teater, Oslo. Table decorated with reindeer leather, goat leather and pink reindeer fur.
Photo: Jamie Michael Bivard
Čiegadit oidnosis čájehettiin / Å skjule i det åpne / Hide in plain sight, Raisa Porsanger, frame decorated with dyed reindeer hide, and tanned reindeer and goat leather, 90 x 80 x 8 cm, 2021, Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum.
Photo: Kim Skytte/NNKM (Painting by Francois-Auguste Biard)
Go čájeha de čáhkeda / Å inkludere ved å vise frem / Inclusion through exposure, Raisa Porsanger, 2021, frame decorated with reindeer leather and wool, 81 x 73 x 6 cm, Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum
Photo: Kim Skytte/NNKM (Painting by Francois-Auguste Biard)
Váibmo coahkká, gulat go skája? / Hjertet banker, ser du ekkoet? (The heart is beating, can you hear the echo?), Raisa Porsanger, dyed reindeer hide and plexi glass, 40x40x40 cm, 2022. Public art at Narvik ungdomsskole (Narvik secondary school).
Photo: Irene Rasmussen
In my studio
In my studio, I have a collection of reindeer hides, both dried, tanned, and pink-colored reindeer skins and hides. I will also showcase one or more hides that are in the process of being tanned with bark.
In the studio, I am also working on research for the June exhibition 2024 at Kunstnerforbundet, which will focus on “manndalsgrener” (Sámi woven carpets) and the Sámi artist John Savio (1902-1938), featuring several contemporary artists with Sámi background.
Furthermore, I have sketches, material experiments, and a small library on Sámi art.
Here, you can also get to know my Sámi artist colleague and studio neighbour Hanne Grieg Hermansen and Kunst på Arbeidsplassen, where we rent our studios. If you come to Kampen, you will also join the crowd in the Hanami festival which is happening on the same day.
We offer complimentary coffee and snacks.
(NOTE! The reindeer skins come with hair/fur, so be cautious if you are allergic or sensitive to strong/weird/unpleasant odors.)
Planned projects and exhibitions
2024 Arctic Voices, Riddu Riđđu, Kåfjord
2024 NATURETUR / Eatnemevööstede, Sverresborg, Trøndelag Folkemuseum, Trondheim
2024 Indigenous Histories, KODE, Bergen
2025 Blaker Skanse
Curating the June exhibition in Kunstnerforbundet, 2024
Guided tours in Northern Sámi in Britta Marakatt-Labba’s exhibition “Moving the Needle” at the National Museum: April 13, June 1 and medio August, 2024.
CV
EDUCATION
2017 – 2018 Design and Communication in Digital Media, OsloMet
2014 – 2016 Physics and Mathematics, University of Oslo
2012 – 2015 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Academy of Fine Arts, Oslo National Academy of the Arts
2010 – 2011 Oslo Fotokunstskole
2008 – 2010 Kunstskolen i Bergen
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2023-2024 Indigenous Histories, Museu de arte de São Paulo, Brazil and KODE, Bergen,
2023 Girjegumpi, Joar Nango, The Nordic Pavilion, Venice Biennale for architecture
2023 Gába – female resilience, Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum, March-December 2023
2022 We come from the other side, Palace de Nations, Genève, Sveits
2021 Lives of Others – Stories by Francois-Auguste Biard et al., Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum/Northern Norway Art Museum, Tromsø
2021 Art Acquisitions by the Sámi Parliament 2018-2020), Sámi Dáiddaguovddáš/Sámi Centre for Contemporary Art, Karasjok
2019 40 jagi, Samisk kunstfestival, Alta Museum
2019 Hábmet hámi/Making form, Tromsø kunstforening
2019 Hábmet hámi/Making form, Terminal B, Kirkenes
2018 Borgen museum, Hvittingfoss
2018 Hábmet hámi/Making form, Sámi Dáiddaguovddáš/Sámi Center for Contemporary Art, Karasjok
2017 Grip, Folkelarm, Riksscenen, Oslo
2016 Tegnebiennalen, Galleri Format, Oslo
2016 Oppstandelser, Kristiansand Kunsthall
2015 Avgangsutstilling/Bachelor exhibition, Kunstakademiet i Oslo, Oslo
2014 ++ (Pluss Pluss), Black Box Teater, Oslo
2013 Winter Solstice, Norsk Billedhuggerforening, Oslo
2013 Reahpenráigi (solo exhibition), Galleri Skylight, Kunsthøgskolen i Oslo
2013 Cantina Special, Kunsthøgskolen i Oslo
2011 Building identities, Casa de la Poesía, Havana, Cuba
2011 Stipendutstillingen, Cyan Galleri, Oslo
SCENOGRAPHY
2023 Scenographic work for Nordting (the Northern Assembly) at Ušllu Álbmotgaskasaš Teáhterriemut/ Oslo International Theatre Festival
2022 Scenographic concept for teatre play Eadnemáddu by Siri Broch Johansen, Det Norske Teater, Oslo
2017 Grip, scenografic video installation for dance performance, Folkelarm, Riksscenen, Oslo
PUBLIC ART
2022 Narvik ungdomsskole (Narvik secondary school)
ACQUIRED BY
2022 Nordnorsk kunstmuseum
2019 The Sámi Parliament’s art collection
CURATORIAL WORK
2020 – 2021 Sámi Pavilion, curatorial assistant for exhibition in the Nordic Pavilion, Venice Biennale, 2022
2020 – 2022 Curatron, Jeg kaller det kunst, Facilitator for exhibition with four artists, shown separately within the opening exhibition of the National Museum, 2022
2019 – 2020 Let the River Flow. The Sovereign Will and the Making of a New Worldliness, Sámi Dáiddaguovddáš/Sámi Centre for Contomeporary Art, Karasjok (2019), Sør-Troms Museum, avd. Trondenes Historiske Senter, Harstad (2020), in collaboration with OCA Norway
2019 40 jagi, Sámi Art Festival, exhibition design, Alta museum
2018 Member of event committee for the 70-year anniversary of Oslo Sámiid Searvi, Samisk Hus Oslo
2017 Coordinator for mural work by Anders Sunna at Samisk Hus Oslo
ILLUSTRATION
2017 Illustrations for Sami youth’s book: Lohkanfieski 10-11, Hadia báhtara soađis, written by Haldis Balto, published 2017, Davvi Girji, Karasjok
2009 Illustrations for Sami children’s book: Muitalusmohkit, written by Bodil Utsi and Kirsten Marit Olsen, published 2010, Davvi Girji, Karasjok
GRANTS
2023 Ad-hoc project funding, Dáiddafoanda
2019 Sámi Parliament artist grant, two-year work grant for young artists
2011 Production grant, Cyan Galleri, Oslo